Young Professional Officer (Food Loss and Waste)

Organizational Context

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) aims to achieve food security for all and ensure access to quality food for active, healthy lives. Operating in over 130 countries, FAO's Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) leads regional efforts in food security, agriculture, and rural development. RAP actively engages in inclusive Value Chain Development and Food Loss and Waste (FLW) initiatives, focusing on assessment, prevention, reduction, and management of FLW along agrifood value chains, and evaluating its impact on food security and sustainability.

Job Purpose

The Young Professional Officer (Food Loss and Waste) will support the implementation of FLW-related activities, concentrating on data collection, analysis, project implementation, and reporting. This role provides practical experience in technical analysis, policy support, and process coordination within an international, multidisciplinary setting. Key contributions include conducting research, analyzing social, economic, environmental, and technological data, maintaining databases, and providing technical assistance to projects. The position aims to strengthen evidence-based decision-making and contribute to FAO's efforts in building more sustainable and resilient agrifood systems in the region.

Responsibilities

The Young Professional Officer will support the implementation of food loss and waste (FLW) activities by collecting, validating, managing, and cross-checking FLW data and statistics from various sources. They will provide analytical and operational support for multidisciplinary projects, analyzing and interpreting qualitative and quantitative data, and presenting findings clearly. Responsibilities include contributing to reporting and briefing processes, drafting and revising technical documents, and supporting the development of data collection tools and methodologies. The role also involves documenting best practices for FLW reduction and management, supporting knowledge sharing, and assisting in the organization of workshops, seminars, and capacity-building events. Additionally, the incumbent will contribute to the preparation of technical outputs and identify data gaps to improve FLW-related analytical and monitoring approaches.

Work Experience

Some relevant work experience in data collection, analysis, project support, or research related to food loss and waste, sustainable agriculture, or food systems is desirable.

Skills

Proficiency in data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Experience with statistical software and database management. Strong report writing and communication skills. Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team. Familiarity with food loss and waste concepts and challenges. Knowledge of project support and coordination activities. Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Explore related opportunities