Young Professional Officer (Food Loss and Waste), Bangkok

Organizational setting

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.

The Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) is responsible for leading FAO's response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the region. It oversees the network of Country Offices and the Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP), in Apia, Samoa. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and in collaboration with Offices and Divisions at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities and the implementation of the Organization’s strategies through programmes and projects in the region.

FAO RAP has an active module on inclusive Value Chain Development and Food Loss and Waste (FLW). The module's work on food loss and waste focuses on assessing the extent and patterns of food loss and food waste, and identifying approaches, technologies, and innovations for their prevention, reduction, and management along agrifood value chains. It also emphasizes evaluating the impacts of FLW and its reduction on food and nutrition security, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and economic outcomes.
With emerging importance of the work on FLW, there is immense scope to support projects, initiatives and activities in this area. To support the growing activities the RAP requires additional capacity for supporting the ongoing activities with documentation, and coordination activities. The Young Professional 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 Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) in Bangkok, Thailand.

Reporting Lines

The Young Professional Officer (Food Loss and Waste) reports to the Senior Food Systems Officer, RAP.

Technical Focus

The Young Professional Officer (Food Loss and Waste) supports the implementation of food loss and waste (FLW)-related activities, with a primary focus on data collection, analysis, implementation support, and reporting. The Young Professional will contribute to analytical and operational activities related to food loss and food waste. The role offers hands-on exposure to technical analysis, policy support, and process coordination within an international and multidisciplinary environment.

Research, technical analysis and project related services to support the delivery of assigned projects, products and services.

Key Functions

•     Analyses relevant technical social, economic, environmental, and technology information, data and/or statistics for input in various documents.
•     Maintains records and updates databases and web pages.
•     Provides technical support to various projects.
•     Collaborates in the development of training tools and materials and the organization of workshops/seminars, etc.
•     Participates in the organization and follow-up of meetings, consultations and conferences, the production of required materials and the provision of information and assistance to partners.

Specific Functions

•     Supports the implementation of food loss and waste (FLW)-related activities through data collection, validation, management, and collects, compiles, reviews, and cross-checks food loss and waste (FLW) data, statistics, and related information from multiple sources.
•     Provides analytical and operational support for multidisciplinary projects coordinating with relevant modules
•     Analyses and interprets qualitative and quantitative data, and presents results clearly through tables, charts, and analytical summaries.
•     Contributes to reporting and briefing processes in line with FAO standards, including drafting, editing, and revising technical documents, reports, and publications.
•     Supports the development and improvement of data collection tools, methodologies, and analytical approaches in collaboration with relevant divisions.
•     Supports the documentations for emerging best practices for reducing and managing FLW, while supporting knowledge sharing and capacity building.
•     Contributes to the development of technical materials and supports the organization of workshops, seminars, meetings, conferences, and other capacity-building activities.
•     Contributes to the preparation of technical outputs, including reports, briefs, and inputs to final reports.
•     Supports the identification of data gaps and contributes to improving analytical and monitoring approaches related to FLW activities.