Organizational Setting

The Office of Innovation (OIN) is an important instrument within FAO to provide strategic direction and help drive and coordinate innovation across the Organization's work, i.e. to consolidate and strengthen FAO's innovative spirit, including the innovation of approaches and cooperation models. Reporting to the Office of the Chief Scientist, OIN supports the Programme Priority Areas, ensuring that FAO mainstreams innovation in its programmes, facilitates cross-collaboration among FAO units, and aids in forging and reinforcing transformative partnerships.

The position is located in the Office of Innovation (OIN) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Young Professional Officer (Community-driven Innovation) reports to the Innovation Officer (Farmer Field Schools) and works in close collaboration with other relevant OIN teams and units across FAO.

Technical Focus

Innovation in agrifood systems with emphasis on community-driven and grassroots innovation, including co-creation processes, multi-actor learning, and the generation of evidence and knowledge to support agrifood systems transformation including through agroecology.

Key Results

Research, technical analysis and project related services to support the delivery of assigned projects, products and services.

Key Functions

• Analyses relevant technical social, economic, environmental, and technology information, data and/or statistics for input in various documents.

• Maintains records and updates databases and web pages.

• Provides technical support to various projects.

• Collaborates in the development of training tools and materials and the organization of workshops/seminars, etc.

• Participates in the organization and follow-up of meetings, consultations and conferences, the production of required materials and the provision of information and assistance to partners.

Specific Functions

• Supports identification, documentation and analysis of grassroots innovations, farmer innovation and community-driven innovation processes in particular on agroecology, and development of related methodologies.

• Supports design and implementation of community-driven, grassroots and frugal innovation activities in agrifood-systems and development of related methodologies, including promoting innovation through Farmer Field Schools.

• Provides support to the Global Farmer Field School Platform, including coordination, knowledge management and communication to highlight innovations emerging in, from and through FFS.

• Contributes to co-development and facilitation of multi-actor learning and innovation processes (e.g. Global Farmer Field School Platform, Living Labs, Innovation Think Labs, communities of practice).

• Supports the generation of evidence, knowledge products, learning outputs and training material on innovation in agrifood systems, including on agroecology.

• Contributes to analysis of key challenges in grassroots and community-driven innovation, including scaling, governance, policy engagement and innovation ecosystems.

• Supports implementation of the OIN Learning Agenda on Community-driven innovation in coordination with partners and stakeholders.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in agricultural innovation, systems agronomy, agricultural economics, or related field.

• One year of relevant experience in international development, with a focus on agrifood systems, rural development and innovation.

• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

• Results Focus

• Teamwork

• Communication

• Building Effective Relationships

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable.

• Extent and relevance of experience in community-driven, user-driven or participatory approaches in agrifood systems for food security and agroecology.

• Knowledge of agrifood systems and rural development contexts.

• Understanding of innovation systems, grassroots and farmer-led innovation, community-driven innovation, user-driven innovation and multi-actor learning processes.

• Ability to support co-production of knowledge and participatory research processes; for defined outputs, outcomes and impacts.

• Experience with Farmer Field Schools or similar farmer participatory approaches is desirable.

• Knowledge and experience of: participatory methods (PRA, human-centred/co-design approaches) for working directly with farmer communities; Results-based M-E log frames, theory of change - KoboToolbox; Data analysis (Stata, R, Python), knowledge of food security metrics (IPC classification, FIES, HDDS); Value chain and market systems analysis; Gender and social inclusion analysis.

• Field experience in developing country contexts is desirable.

Additional Information:

Please note that candidates should be 32 years of age or younger as of 31 December of the year of application.

The Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is a recruitment initiative targeted for talented, qualified professionals who are mainly nationals of non- and under- represented countries. Priority consideration will be given to candidates from Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and developing countries in general, to start a career as an international civil servant with FAO.

Young Professional Officer (Community-Driven Innovation)