VACANCY  ANNOUNCEMENT

Organizational Context

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development in the next decade. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions. Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Departments/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Department of Agri-Business (DTA/AGR) provides a range of technical cooperation services to assist developing countries add value to the output of their agricultural sector and generate employment opportunities in off-farm activities for rural communities, thereby contributing to increased food security and a sustainable reduction of poverty. The department provides support for the development of agri-business corridors in developing countries in collaboration with International Financial Institutions. The Sustainable Food Systems Division (DTA/AGR/SFS) promotes ISID through the promotion of food systems that deliver food and nutrition security without compromising economic, social, and environmental bases to generate food security and nutrition for future generations. The Division is responsible for identifying, developing and managing programmes to improve the competitiveness of the food and agribusiness sectors through access to support services, finance, markets and trade opportunities. The Division contributes to the capacity-building of food systems support institutions and skill development agencies through its advisory and convening activities.

Project Context UNIDO is seeking to create a roster of qualified experts which may be involved in its projects (Export Development Project & Livestock and Dairy Development Project) and related activities. Export Development Project – Mongolia (5 positions) The key objective of the project is to support Mongolian small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in the non-mining sectors to strengthen their export capabilities and expand their access to export markets. This will be achieved through enhancement of a Mongolian pool of local experts engaged in international certification-related services (training, coaching, mentoring and auditing) on selected export products and SME certification (e.g. HACCP, Halal, ISO, FSSC, LWG, TWM, SFA). The expected project outcomes related to the support of standard setting, training of practitioners and coaching of SMEs on required changes as per product certification will be piloting in nature. The competences of Mongolian experts along with the institutional capacities of public, private and NGO service providers will be strengthened to support the sustainability of the intervention, where UNIDO will assess current capacities and needs, translate relevant materials for female and male industry practitioners and conduct the training sessions on relevant ISO standards and food and non-food certification schemes. Finally, UNIDO will supervise the delivery of developed advisory and auditing services to the industry. Livestock and Dairy Development Project – Bangladesh (10 positions) This project is developed within the framework of the Livestock and Dairy Development Project (LDDP), a World Bank funded project amounting to 578.66 Million USD, with the overall objective to promote productivity growth, enhance market access, and improve risk management among smallholder farmers and agro-entrepreneurs in Bangladesh. Thus, the project development objective is to contribute to productivity improvement, market access, and resilience of smallholder farmers and agro‐entrepreneurs operating in selected livestock value chains in target areas. UNIDO will contribute to two components of the LDDP, namely; a) sub- component A2 on improved climate smart production practices by addressing the aspect of health in animal production, and b) sub‐component C2 on food safety and public health by addressing food safety and quality assurance. As a result, the interventions of UNIDO will be structured into the following two outputs, with the specific objective to improve the food safety system for the protection of public health systems along the livestock value chains: - Output 1: Food assurance and public health systems designed along livestock value chains. This output will focus on i) Gap analysis of existing legislation of food safety enforcement, ii) Legal amendments and drafts of regulations for stronger food safety enforcement in relevant value chains, iii) Baseline data on current level of food safety in relevant value chains, iv) Establishment of foods of animal origin inspection program, and v) Support to the establishment in quality assurance schemes (GAP, HACCP, ISO, CODEX); - Output 2: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance and risk mitigation program as well as surveillance and monitoring of biological and chemical hazards are developed. This output will focus on (i) conceptual development of AMR surveillance system, monitoring of antimicrobial use and risk mitigation in animal and foods of animal origin, and (ii) design of surveillance and monitoring programme on biological and chemical hazards in animal and foods of animal origin. DUTY STATION: home-based

Main Functions

Under the supervision of the Chief of the Sustainable Food Systems Division (DTA/AGR/SFS) and in collaboration with other specialists, the experts will be responsible to perform high-level technical assistance services to beneficiaries in the form of baseline assessments, provision of technical guidance, development of technical documentations and delivery of capacity building training in the multidisciplinary fields of food safety and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) systems: 1. Food safety regulatory, institutional and policy framework: In close liaison with food safety competent authorities, revision of national and regional regulatory, institutional and policy framework, as well as the provision of recommendation and the support in the development or improvement of policy, legal and technical documentations, considering relevant Codex Alimentarius Guidelines and Principles and international best practices; 2. Food law: Revision of existing national laws and regulations related food and food safety and support in the design of new laws and rules, considering local situation and national and international requirements, including the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement of the World Trade Organization; 3. Risk-based Inspection: Development of risk-based inspection protocols, sampling strategies and standard operation procedures for relevant competent authorities involved in on-farm, market and food business inspection; 4. Food safety technology / food preservation: Strong knowledge of current food preservation and manufacturing technologies with the consideration of best available techniques (BATs) to ensure lowest/reduced negative impact on environment; 5. Food standard setting: Development of horizontal and vertical food safety and quality standards in close collaboration with national standard setting bodies and other relevant stakeholders by ensuring international harmonization (compliance with food standards set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission) and application of risk analysis principles; 6. Quality assurance programme: Development of prerequisite programmes (Good Animal Husbandry Practice, Good Agriculture Practice, Good Hygiene Practice and Good Manufacturing Practice) in compliance with national laws and regulations and corresponding food safety and quality schemes in compliance with the requirements of ISO 17067 and international best practices; 7. Database development for food safety and AMR management: Design of data ecosystem with the inclusion of proper data collection technologies and data storage / management system in the field of food safety and antimicrobial resistance for relevant competent authorities, including identification/recommendation of applicable software and computer infrastructure; 8. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Risk assessment: Development of AMR risk analysis framework and provision of capacity building, considering relevant Codex Alimentarius Guidelines in AMR Risk Analysis; 9. Laboratory training on analytical testing methods: Conduction of capacity building activities to laboratory technicians on analytical testing methods related to food safety and quality; 10. Surveillance Programme in food safety and AMR: Design of the structure of food safety and AMR surveillance programmes for livestock sector and provision of capacity building to the staff at the competent authorities thereon; 11. Bacterial and antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods: Development of standardized data collection procedures and inter-linked nationally standardized laboratory methodologies for bacterial and antimicrobial susceptibility testing and provision of capacity building thereon.

Core Competencies

WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially. WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner. WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective. WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity. WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world. WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work. WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

Minimum Requirements

Education

Advanced university degree in, agricultural, industrial engineering, economics, or other relevant disciplines with specialization in food science, food safety is required.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of other official language(s) of the United Nations is an asset

Computer Skills

Field of Expertise

A minimum of seven (7) years of professional experience in fields related to food safety and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) systems, including some exposure at international level is required. Excellent knowledge on relevant standards, tools and guidelines developed by Codex Alimentarius, World Organization of Animal Health (OIE), International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) are highly desirable. Exposure to the needs, conditions and problems in developing countries. Ability to work effectively in multi-cultural teams.

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