Nutrition Field School Specialist

Job Description

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.

Improved Food and Nutrition Security Through Diversified Income Generation and Empowerment project targets 8,593 households in Badhaiyatal Rural Municipality, Bansgadhi Municipality, and Barbardiya Municipality. As the project aims to enhance food and nutrition security and increase the income for vulnerable groups, scale up climate-resilient sustainable agricultural practices, and provide agricultural inputs and services for the 8593 project beneficiaries by placing strong emphasis on supporting female farmers (target beneficiaries are 75 percent women and around 55 percent from the indigenous Tharu communities). The project targets to increase household income, improve the Food Consumption Score (FCS), and improve dietary intake for pregnant, nursing women and children (6-24 months age).

One of the key components of the project is the promotion of nutrition practices through Nutrition Field Schools (NFS). The NFS approach serves as a participatory, community-led learning platform that strengthens the technical knowledge and decision-making capacity of women including adolescent girls, pregnant and breastfeeding women, elderly people, and farmers, with a focus on agroecology, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, climate adaptation, and gender equality and the inclusion of marginalized groups.

To effectively roll out and scale up the NFS methodology within the GAFSP project, FAO Nepal seeks to engage a National NFS Specialist who can provide strategic, technical, and hands-on support to ensure quality implementation and capacity development at all levels.

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 close coordination with the Nepal Agriculture Cooperative Central Federation Ltd (NACCFL).

Technical Focus

The incumbent will provide technical support and operational support for the design, implementation, and quality assurance of Nutrition Field School (NFS) interventions, with emphasis on nutrition-sensitive agriculture, climate-resilient practices, community-based capacity building, and inclusive approaches. He/she will ensure development of standardized curricula, effective training and backstopping of facilitators, monitoring and documentation of results, and alignment with FAO technical standards and project objectives.

Tasks And Responsibilities

The incumbent will have the technical responsibility of supporting the planning, implementation and management of activities related to nutrition component of under GAFSP PO project which also includes the golden 1000 mother program, nutrition field school, school nutrition garden and linking with other project interventions.

Develop (Refine and Update) NFS Curriculum, Strategy and Planning

• Provide technical support to draft the project’s NFS curriculum, strategy and implementation plan, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and gender equality as per local context.
• Provide technical support in identifying priority nutrition sensitive crops, themes, and community needs through participatory assessments.
• Technically contribute to prepare guidelines related to nutrition field school, home nutrition garden, school nutrition garden, golden 1000 days mother, nutrition awareness and campaign communication materials.
  
  

Capacity Building and Backstopping

• Under supervision and guidance of AFAOR (Programme) and LTO, support Country Office team in the 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 support to NFS facilitators during NFS cycle implementation.
• Under the supervision and guidance of AFAOR (Programme), support Country Office team 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

• Provide technical support for establishing NFS and assist for their smooth operation in coordination with NACCFL and relevant stakeholders at local and province level.
• Under supervision and guidance of AFAOR (Programme), support Country Office team review and standardize NFS training materials, IEC materials, guides, and modules based on national priorities and FAO standards.
• Provide technical support to integrate the key messages on maternal and child nutrition, WASH, food safety, and gender equality.
• Under supervision and guidance of AFAOR (Programme) and project lead, assist in the development and use of low-cost, culturally appropriate IEC materials to support NFS sessions.
• Technically contribute to ensure that project-supported activities follow the appropriate code of practices for social and environmental safeguard, public health and food safety.
  
  

Monitoring, Documentation, and Knowledge Management

• Support in conducting routine monitoring, and technical back up to the Climate friendly NFS for the resource optimization, improve enhance NFS quality /decision-skills, quality control and feedback.
• Document good practices, success stories, challenges, and lessons learned to support adaptive management and knowledge sharing.
• Support Country Office team in generating 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.
• Support in preparing training reports, final reports and other reports as needed by the project.
  
  

Coordination and Partnerships

• Provide technical support in facilitating community-level consultations to NFS activities.
• Under supervision and guidance of AFAOR (Programme), support Country Office team, undertake other duties related to Nutrition and BCC as assigned by Team Leader of FAO TA.
  
  

Support Gender, Disable, Nutrition, and Inclusion

• Support Country Office social protection and GESI team, ensure that NFS activities are inclusive, gender-sensitive, disable friendly and promote women’s empowerment, nutrition awareness, and youth participation.
  
  

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Nutrition, Food Security, Agriculture, Public Health, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in nutrition education, community-based nutrition, or food security programmes.
• Working knowledge of English and Nepali.
• National of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal or resident of the country with a valid work permit.
  
  

FAO Core 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 in nutrition.
• Extent and relevance of experience in nutrition, nutrition field school, home nutrition garden, school nutrition garden and related areas.
• Extent and relevance of experience in working in local government, local partners, community mobilization, campaign and awareness raising in related field.
• Familiarity with concept note writing skill, report writing skill, M&E system, training curriculum development, training facilitation.
  
  

Selection Criteria

• Proven expertise in participatory training methods, community mobilization, and capacity building.
• Experience in designing or implementing Nutrition Field Schools, Farmer Nutrition Schools, School Nutrition Garden
• or similar approaches.
• Familiarity with FAO’s tools, including nutrition-sensitive agriculture and participatory extension models.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and communities.
• Knowledge of Tharu language is an asset
  
  

Job Posting

24/Jun/2026

Closure Date

09/Jul/2026, 12:59:00 AM

Organizational Unit

FANEP - FAO Representation in Nepal

Job Type

Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition

PSA (Personal Services Agreement)

Grade Level

N/A

Primary Location

Nepal-Kathmandu

Duration

50 Days

Post Number

N/A

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.