Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in October 1945 with the objective of eliminating hunger, improving nutrition and standards of living by increasing agricultural productivity. FAO contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through its 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.

Accordingly, FAO complements the efforts of governments and technical agencies in programs for developing agriculture, forestry, fisheries, land, and water resources. It also carries out research; provides technical assistance on projects in individual countries; operates educational programs through seminars and training centres; maintains information and support services, including keeping statistics on world production, trade, and consumption of agricultural commodities; and publishes several periodicals, yearbooks, and research bulletins.

FAO has more than 180 member states with offices throughout the world.

Through the Botswana Office, FAO is collaborating with the Ministry of Health, through Department of Public Health, to implement a national project on Development of Food Safety and Food Control Strategy. A Technical working group has been mobilized and it managed to approve the inception report for development of the strategy. With all the necessary information collected, the next phase is to formulate appropriate strategy. Therefore, the National Food Safety expert will support a process to develop a comprehensive Food Safety and Food Control Strategy for Botswana.

Reporting Lines

The National Food Safety Consultant will work under the overall managerial and operational guidance of the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Botswana, with technical supervision of a Lead Technical Officer (LTO) of the project in the Sub-region Office of Southern Africa and Ministry of Health and support from a Technical Officer based in Regional Office for Africa in Ghana and FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy as well as guidance from the TCP National Project Coordinator.

Technical Focus

Development of Food Safety and Food Control Strategy for Botswana based on relevant global, continental, and national policy and legal instruments, FAO guidelines and other established methodologies.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Contribute to the Project Inception report lead by the international consultant.
• Stakeholder engagement:
o Identify relevant stakeholders to be consulted in developing the National Food Safety.

Strategy. This information forms part of the inception report
o Develop tools for stakeholder consultations.
o Support the liaison with the stakeholder consultations
o Write a detailed report on the stakeholder consultations findings that will form part of the situational and landscape analysis (parts of which are developed by an international consultant).
• Organise Facilitate workshops:
o Inception report
o validation of the National Food Safety Strategy.
• Monitoring and Surveillance: Develop the Food Safety Monitoring and Surveillance Guidelines, tools, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s).
• Training: Train officers from competent authorities on the developed Monitoring and Surveillance Guidelines, tools and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s).
• Support the TCP implementation:
o Project documentation management and facilitation of all meetings and any project activity.
o Timely progress reporting of project activities to track implementation by the project team.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• National of Botswana or resident in the country with a valid work permit.
• Advanced university degree in Food Safety, Food Science and Technology, Food microbiology, chemistry, biotechnology, Public Health, or related field.
• At least five years of relevant experience in Food Safety and Food Control regulation, policy development and any related field.
• Working knowledge of English

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience in organizing participatory processes and contribution to processes related to program development through engagement of a wide range of stakeholders from the government, civil society, academia, and the private sector.
• Experience with development of policies.
• Specific professional experience with food and nutrition-based projects is required.
• Experience with projects in Botswana is desired.
• Excellent writing skills
• Experience with UN projects is desired.
• Good analytical, presentation and training skills.
• Leading, engaging, empowering and an excellent team player.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, handle multiple tasks, work under pressure and deliver assignments on time
• Selection Criteria
• Demonstrated expertise in working with government agencies and international organizations on food safety issues.
• Proven track record of conducting policy reviews and formulating evidence-based recommendations.
• Working knowledge of English with strong analytical, good report-writing and communication skills.

Knowledge of other language used in Botswana is considered an asset.