Nutrition Field School Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level.

The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.

Specifically, FAO Country Offices:

(i)    advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate.
(ii)    provide technical assistance and deliver core services. 
(iii)    assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation. 
(iv)    position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation. 
(v)    ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.

Given the socio-economic vulnerabilities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and climate-related stresses in the target area, the “Improved Food and Nutrition Security through Diversified Income Generation and Empowerment” project emphasizes inclusive, climate-resilient agricultural practices, community-led nutrition interventions, and institutional strengthening of Producer Organizations (POs).

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of FAOR and the direct supervision of AFAOR (Programme) and technical supervision of the FAO designated Technical Officer (LTO) in the FAO Regional Office in Bangkok and/or FAO HQ, close consultation and coordination FAO Nepal Programme and Admin team, and in coordination with the NACCFL designated project Coordinator and FAO Technical Assistance (TA) team, the National Consultant will have the overall responsibility of supporting and supervising the planning, implementation and management of activities related to adoption of climate resilient livestock and crop production technologies and agriculture production interventions, contributing to the outputs of all project components. He/she will supervise the activities and provide technical support to POs as per necessary.

Technical Focus

The Nutrition Field School (NFS) Specialist will be expected to work closely with and support the Programme team in delivery of country-level programmes, projects and interventions related to nutrition-sensitive agriculture, agroecology, and community-based resilience building. He/she will coordinate and support the implementation of ongoing NFS activities as well as the formulation and development of new project proposals contributing to this priority area. More specifically, she/he will contribute to capacity building, quality assurance, and technical backstopping of NFS implementation, including promotion of climate-adapted crops, nutrition-sensitive practices, inclusive participation, and household dietary diversity in line with priorities set forth by FAO Nepal’s Country Programme Framework (CPF) (2023–2027).

Tasks and responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Nepal and close coordination with Programme team of the FAO Representation in Nepal, the Nutrition Field School Specialist will perform following tasks:

Develop NFS Curriculum, Strategy and Planning

• Contribute to the development and refinement of the project’s NFS curriculum, strategy and implementation plan, including integration of agroecology, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, climate adaptation, and gender equality as per local context.
• Identify priority nutrition sensitive crops, themes, and community needs through participatory assessments.

Capacity Building and Backstopping

• Support in design/refinement and facilitation of Training of Facilitators (ToF) for local resource persons, field coordinators, and agriculture technicians, staff of municipalities, partner organization and Govt organizations of the Bardiya district. 
• Provide technical backstopping and mentoring support to NFS facilitators during NFS cycle implementation.
•  Support team to organize capacity building training to the Government officials and technicians (local level extension workers) on climate change adaptations in nutrition sensitive agriculture.
• Assist POs in implementation of Home/School nutrition gardens (H/SNGs), document the results of H/SNG on dietary diversity and consumption of nutritious food and income. 
• Assist POs to conduct on spot H/SNG training to members of nutrition groups and provide follow up support on seasonal vegetable production and backyard poultry/ duck rearing with the help of Pos. 
• Assist POs in the formation and mobilization of nutrition groups, conduct baseline, endline and other outcome surveys for tracking project achievements on nutrition.  

Quality Assurance and Technical Oversight

• Support in technical consistency and quality of the FFS sessions, curricula, and facilitation methods across project sites.
• Support to review and standardize NFS training materials, IEC materials, guides, and modules based on national priorities and FAO standards.
• Ensure consistency and quality in NFS sessions, methodologies, facilitation techniques, and learning materials across all target areas.
• Support integration of key messages on maternal and child nutrition, WASH, food safety, and gender equality.
• Assess the effectiveness of the BCC and nutrition education programme by visiting households and interacting with nutrition groups and farmer groups.
• Ensure that project-supported activities follow the appropriate code of practices for social and environmental safeguard, public health and food safety.

Monitoring, Documentation, and Learning

• Develop and apply practical tools for monitoring NFS implementation, including progress tracking and outcome mapping.
• Document good practices, success stories, challenges, and lessons learned to support adaptive management and knowledge sharing.
• Generate databases on nutrition sensitive crops and pests, pollinators, and other issues and cost benefit of good practices over local practices. Prepare report by collecting the data from Nutrition Field Schools.  
• Prepare training reports, final reports and other reports as needed by the project.

Support Gender, Disable, Nutrition, and Inclusion

• Ensure that NFS activities are inclusive, gender-sensitive, disable friendly and promote women’s empowerment, nutrition awareness, and youth participation.

• Perform any other duties as assigned.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•     Advanced university degree in Nutrition, Public Health, Food Security, Agriculture, or related field.
•     Minimum of 5 years of proven working experience in nutrition education, community-based nutrition, or food security programmes with relevant government agencies and/or non-profit organizations.
•     Fluency in written and spoken Nepali and English. (Knowledge of Tharu language is an asset.)
•     National of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal or a resident of Nepal with a valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

•     Results Focus
•     Teamwork
•     Communication
•     Building Effective Relationships
•     Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

Competency and Experience in:
•     Proven expertise in participatory training methods, community mobilization, and capacity building.
•     Experience in designing or implementing Nutrition Field Schools, Farmer Nutrition Schools, or similar approaches.
•     Familiarity with FAO’s tools, including nutrition-sensitive agriculture and participatory extension models.

Selection Criteria

•     Experience in designing and/or implementing Nutrition Field Schools (NFS), Farmer Nutrition Schools (FNS), or similar participatory approaches.
•     Strong facilitation, mentoring, and adaptive learning skills.
•     Demonstrated commitment to community empowerment with particular focus on women, youth, and marginalized groups.
•     Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders and communities.
•     Willingness and ability to travel frequently to remote project sites for field implementation and backstopping.
•     Proven track record of documenting success stories, case studies, and lessons learned.
•     Ability to work independently as well as within a multidisciplinary and multicultural team, with strong organizational and result-oriented approach.