Junior specialist on Food Loss and Waste

Job Posting: 18/Jun/2026 Closure Date: 02/Jul/2026, 4:59:00 PM Organizational Unit: DDCG - Governance Unit Job Type: Non-staff opportunities Type of Requisition: PSA (Personal Services Agreement) Grade Level: N/A Primary Location: Italy-Rome Duration: 4-11 months 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 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’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations. Organizational Setting

Food loss and waste (FLW) pose significant challenges to food security, sustainability, and agrifood system efficiency. To support FAO’s efforts in monitoring and reducing FLW, the Governance and Policy Support Unit requires additional capacity for data collection, analysis, reporting, and coordination activities. The Junior Specialist will support the implementation of FLW-related projects, strengthen evidence-based decision-making, and contribute to FAO’s work toward more sustainable and resilient agrifood systems.

The position is located in the Governance and Policy Support Unit (DDCG), Office of the Chief Economist (DDCE).

Reporting Lines

The Junior Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Technical Officer, DDCG

Technical Focus

The Junior Specialist will support the implementation of food loss and waste (FLW)-related activities, with a primary focus on data collection, analysis, implementation support, and reporting. The Junior Specialist will contribute to analytical and operational activities related to food security, agrifood systems, and rural development within the Governance and Policy Support Unit (DDCG), Office of the Chief Economist (DDCE).

The role offers hands-on exposure to technical analysis, policy support, and process coordination within an international and multidisciplinary environment.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Support the implementation of food loss and waste (FLW)-related activities through data collection, validation, management, and collect, compile, review, and cross-check food loss and waste (FLW) data, statistics, and related information from multiple sources.
• Provide analytical and operational support for multidisciplinary projects. Manage, clean, and analyse datasets using statistical software (including Stata) and Excel, ensuring data quality, consistency, and proper documentation.
• Analyse and interpret quantitative data, and present results clearly through tables, charts, and analytical summaries.
• Contribute to reporting and briefing processes in line with FAO standards, including drafting, editing, and revising technical documents, reports, and publications.
• Support the development and improvement of data collection tools, methodologies, and analytical approaches.
• Contribute to the development of training materials and support the organization of workshops, seminars, meetings, conferences, and other capacity-building activities.
• Contribute to the preparation of technical outputs, including reports, briefs, and inputs to final reports.
• Support the identification of data gaps and contribute to improving analytical and monitoring approaches related to FLW activities.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree or technical degree certificate from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in economics, agricultural economics, statistics, sustainable development, social sciences, or another field relevant to FAO’s work.
• One year of relevant experience in food loss and waste, agrifood systems, food security, agricultural development, or related fields.

• Working knowledge (level C) of English. FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus

• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in FLW, food security, agrifood systems, governance, policy support, or agricultural development.

• Proficiency or experience in the use of statistical software for data analysis such as STATA, excel, or other tools considered relevant to the vacancy.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize work effectively.
• Demonstrated experience in data analysis, reporting, and coordination activities.
• Ability to plan and organize work, deliver results, and meet deadlines.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Ability to work effectively in multicultural and multidisciplinary teams. Selection criteria

• Knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) will be considered an asset.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION* FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing) * Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list * Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/ * For more information, visit the FAO employment website * Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

HOW TO APPLY* To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills * Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile * Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application * Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/. These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings.

• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

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