Organizational Setting
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Subregional Office for the Pacific (SAP) supports member countries in meeting their national priorities in the areas of agriculture, fisheries, forestry, agrifood systems, nutrition and rural development. FAOโs member countries in the Pacific include the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. FAO SAP is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing agreed strategies for addressing subregional agriculture, food, nutrition and rural development priorities. FAO SAP develops and maintains relations with subregion-wide institutions including the Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific (CROP). The Subregional Office is a subsidiary of FAO's Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) in Bangkok.
FAO SAP is seeking a National Food Safety Specialist to conduct activities aimed at strengthening the national food control system in Tonga by identifying food safety challenges and delivering targeted solutions. The role involves supporting the assigned FAO international consultant on the project to complete project activities, providing organizational support for workshops and meetings with relevant stakeholders and preparing and submitting reports on project work.ย
The post is based in Nukuโalofa, Tonga and funded under a Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP), under the project โStrengthening the food safety system in Fiji and Tonga, to support public health and food securityโ. The project aims to strengthen food control management systems in Fiji and Tonga by identifying food safety challenges and delivering targeted solutions, including raising awareness and providing practical tools and resources to industry stakeholders, enforcement agencies, and consumers to enhance food safety standards and practices
Reporting Lines
The National Food Safety Specialist will be under the overall supervision of the FAO Subregional Coordinator for the Pacific, technical supervision of the FAORAP Senior Food Safety and Nutrition Officer in close collaboration with the International Consultant for Food Safety and Nutrition, and reporting and liaison with the Assistant FAO Representative for Tonga. He/she works in coordination with relevant FAO technical and support staff and contributes to activities involving government institutions, consultants, and partners, under the guidance of the International Consultant for Food Safety and Nutrition.ย
Technical Focusย
The National Food Safety Specialist will report on workshops and project activities and supports activities related to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests (MAFF), under the guidance and coordination of FAO technical staff to undertake the collection of data/information from relevant sources, including Government Ministries, as required. He/She will undertake review, assessment and judgment of the data/information in close consultation with the International Consultant for Food Safety and Nutrition, and in support of activities involving MAFF. The Specialist will facilitate presentations and coordination of the stakeholder workshops/consultations organized as per the agreed work schedule.
Tasks and responsibilities
The incumbent will assist the international consultant to complete the following project activities:
โข ย ย Coordinate an assessment/review of the national food control system in Tonga
โข ย ย Provide support in the preparation of national food control system assessment report for Tonga
โข ย ย Provide support in the development and implementation of a surveillance and monitoring plan in Tonga
โข ย ย Provide support for building a robust food control network in Tonga through increased engagements in international and national forums dealing with food safety, trade, and standardization.ย
โข ย ย Coordinate overseas and in-country laboratory training for food safety laboratory personnel
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
โข ย ย University degree in Food Security, Nutrition, Agriculture, or a related field.
โข ย ย Five years of relevant experience in food safety and food standard regulation practices, including developing and preparing training and guideline materials, and conducting training workshops.ย
โข ย ย Working knowledge (level C) of Englishย
โข ย ย National of Tonga or resident of the country with valid work permit.
FAO Core Competencies
โข ย ย Results Focus
โข ย ย Teamwork
โข ย ย Communication
โข ย ย Building Effective Relationships
โข ย ย Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skillsย
โข ย ย Work experience in more than one location or area of work
โข ย ย Extent and relevance of experience in the Pacific Islands/Small Island Developing States (SIDS) contexts are considered a strong asset
โข ย ย Knowledgeable in food safety and national food control systems
โข ย ย Relevant qualification supporting an understanding of national food control systems.
โข ย ย Ability to draft reports and materials from workshops and relevant project activities to be shared with the international consultant.
โข ย ย Familiarity with donor-funded projects and reporting requirements is desirable
โข ย ย Able to work under pressure and adapt to an evolving and complex humanitarian context and within multidisciplinary and different cultural background teams.
โข ย ย Ability to work and plan at strategic as well as operational levels.
โข ย ย Facilitation and communication: experience of high-level coordination and chairing of meetings; ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders and develop consensus and joint working.
โข ย ย Excellent command of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel or other reporting and visualization software
โข ย ย Excellent command of the English language, and ability to write clear and concise reports in English.
โข ย ย Knowledge of key food security, agricultural and livelihoods indicators.
โข ย ย Ability to solve problems and provide creative solutions.
โข ย ย Excellent organizational skills