Organizational Setting
The UN Food Systems Summit (hereinafter UNFSS), held during the 2021 UN General Assembly, set the stage for global food systems transformation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Under the leadership of the Secretary-General, the UNFSS made it clear that transformative action in food systems is fundamental to achieving the SDGs.
At the global level, to support countries implementing food system transformation pathways towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda in line with these priorities, the UN Secretary-General has committed the UN system to establish a UN Food Systems Coordination Hub (hereafter the Hub). The Hub is hosted by FAO in Rome on behalf of the UN System.
Since 2021, two global UNFSS Stocktakes have been convened: the first in Rome (2023), Italy, and the second in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (2025). These Stocktakes brought together national delegations and non-state actors to review progress on country-level food systems transformation and to identify needs and priorities for advancing transformation and achieving the SDGs, culminating in the Secretary-General’s Call to Action "From Rome to Addis and Beyond" expanding across six priority areas, urging for countries and partners to grow momentum and investments around six priority areas: Urgent Delivery in Complex Settings; Dialogue, Policy and Coordination; Finance and Investment; Integration; Science, AI and Technology; and Intergenerational Collaboration.
In the Europe and Central Asia Region, FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU) is supporting countries to transform food systems, in line with the implementation of National Pathways, commitments made at the UNFSS+4, responding to context-specific challenges, and contributing to more sustainable, resilient food systems in the region. Furthermore, FAOREU provides the Secretariat to the regional UN Issue-based Coalition on Sustainable Food Systems (IBC-SFS) which conducts advocacy and knowledge sharing activities to support UNRCs, and UNCTs further the food systems agenda.
The Hub has a coordinating and connector role drawing on the capacities of the UN system and leveraging on the advice and expertise from a wider ecosystem of support, serving countries, by incentivizing existing institutions to deliver on their mandates in a systemic way. In this context, the Hub covers four key functions:
• Enabling Country Solutions, including in Complex Settings
• Global Advocacy and convening
• Science, Innovation & Knowledge
• Cross Cutting: Strategic Financing and Strategic Partnerships
The Regional IBC-SFS and the Hub collaborate and work together on joint activities in the region.
Reporting Lines
The Food Systems Regional Specialist for Europe and Central Asia will report to the Senior Programme Coordinator of the Hub and will get technical guidance from the Food Safety and Consumer Protection Officer in the Europe and Central Asia region (FAOREU).
Technical Focus
The assignment will provide state-of-the-art advisory services and technical support to the various Hub workstreams, in relation to food systems transformation challenges and opportunities in the Europe and Central Asia region, in order to support the effective roll-out and implementation of the Hub mandate and workplan in the region.
The imcumbent will additionally support the work of the Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia on food systems, including the . implementation of the IBC-SFS work plan in Europe and Central Asia, support to the IBC-SFS Secretariat and engagement with the IBC-SFS members from the regional UN ecosystem of support, and support the delivery of FAOREU programme of work on food systems transformation in the region.
Tasks and responsibilities
Policy and Technical input
• Provide advice to inform the policy, governance, finance and science-related priority activities of the Hub and Regional Office.
• Ensure appropriate follow-up to requests for technical support on policy matters coming from countries and partners in the region.
• Produce comprehensive written outputs on regional policy issues e.g., draft background papers, briefing notes, analysis including foresight, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, concept notes, etc.
• Contribute technical elements to the drafting of speaking points for meetings and conferences.
• Support the Hub’s engagement in global policy discussions to ensure regional dimensions are duly covered.
• Facilitate and support policy alignment and coherence in fostering integrated capacities to cope with current and emerging trends and interests including environment and climate change, demographic, health care and nutrition, social protection and prosperity, as well as across all related SDGs.
• Support the implementation of the convergence initiative in the region.
Partnership
• Identify strategic regional partners and create a channel of communication with key regional organizations with the goal of sharing strategic information between the Hub and the region and vice versa.
• Liaises and maintains strong working relationships with National Convenors, UN Resident Coordinators, UN Regional Directors and UN Representatives, regional bodies, coalitions and key food systems partners and actors in the region; create and leverage opportunities for new strategic partnerships.
• Support the FAOREU Secretariat of the Issue-based Coalition on Sustainable Food Systems (IBC-SFS) to align regional UN efforts on food systems transformation, supporting the UNRCs and UNCTs.
• Facilitate knowledge management, exchange of lessons-learned and best practices, peer learning and cooperation amongst countries in the region, including sharing of results from projects in the region, support capacity building initiatives at regional level.
Regional focal point for Convenors in Europe and Central Asia:
• Serve as the regional focal point for national convenors, facilitating their active involvement in regional processes and ensuring their contributions align with FAO’s objectives.
• Develop strategies to enhance the engagement and capacity of convenors in Europe and Central Asia, promoting regional collaboration and knowledge exchange.
• Support review process of Food System Pathways as per country request
• Support the organization of regional meetings, side events and webinars aligned with the Hub and FAOREU programme of work
Support the implementation of the Hub’s flagship initiatives and FAOREU food systems work in the region
• Organize and co-facilitate Convergence Initiative Workshops in Europe and Central Asia
• Participate where relevant to workshops or conferences in the region to present the Convergence Initiative and share findings
• Respond to country requests, needs assessment and project formulation, including to the UNJP SDG Fund.
• Fostering effective collaboration among UN partners and member countries
• Support the implementation of activities under other relevant initiatives of the Hub (Joint SDG Fund Food Systems Financing Window, Youth Leadership Programme) in close cooperation with FAORs, government partners, as required
• Support information exchange with the FAO Country Office food systems focal point network, and support country level projects
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in sustainable development, environment, economics, law, social studies or other area related to food systems transformation and UN FS Coordination Hub work.
• 5 years of relevant experience providing advisory services in the area of sustainable development policy, partnerships and or governance.
• Working knowledge of English.
FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
• Familiarity with the work of UN FS Coordination Hub or other multilateral organizations
• Knowledge of the content of global agendas such as the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement and Agenda 2063.
• Knowledge and expertise in food systems and sustainable development in Europe and Central Asia region.
• Excellent writing skills, excellent interpersonal skills with liaising with different stakeholders and presenting ideas and exchanges
• Working knowledge of Russian will be considered as an asset