Quality Assurance and Innovation Assistant

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations plays a pivotal role in enhancing agricultural productivity and food security worldwide, with a particular focus on supporting rural communities in developing countries.

In Guatemala, the FAO's efforts are directed towards empowering local agricultural sectors, promoting sustainable development practices, and improving livelihoods in rural areas.

These initiatives are crucial in a country where agriculture forms the backbone of the economy and sustains most of its population.

Guatemala faces significant challenges, including climate change impacts, deforestation, and soil degradation, which threaten agricultural productivity and food security. Additionally, the country's rural communities often grapple with limited access to markets, financial services, and modern agricultural technologies.

In response, the FAO office in Guatemala is implementing a range of projects aimed at addressing these challenges, fostering sustainable agricultural practices, and enhancing the resilience of rural communities.

The UN Volunteer will support the Operations Unit of the FAO office in Guatemala, focusing on quality assurance and innovation.

This support is critical for the efficient implementation of FAO's projects in Guatemala, which include:

Sustainable Agricultural Development:

Initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable farming practices, improving crop yields, and enhancing the resilience of agricultural systems to climate change.

Rural Livelihood Enhancement:
Projects designed to improve rural livelihoods through increased access to markets, financial services, and agricultural training programs.

Natural Resource Management:
Efforts to support the sustainable management of natural resources, including soil conservation, reforestation, and water management practices.

Capacity Building and Technical Assistance:

Providing technical assistance and training to farmers, agricultural cooperatives, and local institutions to build their capacity in sustainable agricultural practices and business management.

The UN Volunteer will be instrumental in ensuring that our projects and internal processes meet the highest standards of quality and are continuously improved through innovative practices.

The volunteer will contribute directly to the success of FAO's initiatives in Guatemala, ultimately aiding in the improvement of food security and rural development in the country.

Under the direct supervision of the FAO Assistant Representative for Programme, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Assist in the development and implementation of quality assurance policies and procedures.
• Conduct regular checks of operational processes to ensure compliance with established standards.
• Analyze findings and collaborate with the Operations Unit to address any issues or areas for improvement.
• Support the documentation and standardization of best practices within the Operations Unit.
• Research and propose new technologies or systems that could improve the efficiency of the Operations Unit.
• Participate in the planning and execution of pilot projects for innovative operational solutions.
• Support to evaluate the outcomes of innovation initiatives and prepare reports on their effectiveness and potential for wider implementation.
• Engage with various stakeholders, including project teams, suppliers, and partners, to gather feedback on operational processes.
• Stay informed about the latest trends and best practices in quality assurance and operational innovation.

☒ Accountability
☒ Adaptability and Flexibility
☒ Commitment and Motivation
☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning
☒ Communication
☒ Ethics and Values
☒ Integrity
☒ Judgement and Decision-making
☒ Knowledge Sharing
☒ Planning and Organizing
☒ Professionalism
☒ Respect for Diversity
☒ Vision
☒ Working in Teams

or demonstrated interest in quality assurance, process improvement, or a related field.

• Familiarity with quality management systems and standards (e.g., ISO 9001) is highly desirable.
• Experience in conducting process audits, analyzing data, and identifying areas for improvement is highly desirable.
• Exposure to innovation processes, including the implementation of new technologies or methodologies in an operational context, is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to work with data analysis tools and software to gather insights and support decision-making.
• Problem-solving and implementing effective solutions.
• Experience in a multicultural or international environment is a plus, reflecting FAO's diverse working context.

Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded.

Guatemala City is the capital of Guatemala. It is categorized as a United Nations family duty station, hardship category A. To learn more about hardship category ratings, visit

This location is classified as Cwb (Dry-winter subtropical highland climate) by Köppen and Geiger. Temperatures average 19.4 °C | 66.9 °F. Official language is Spanish and is spoken in Guatemala City. The two other official languages are Xinka and Garifuna. Over 40 percent of Guatemalans are indigenous.

Much of Guatemala City is safe during the day. The city is subdivided into zones, which resemble neighbourhoods or administrative districts in other countries. Uber is widely used for transportation and the usual safety precautions apply. Most crime consists of theft of cell phone and laptops. It is advisable not to flaunt them in public.

Guatemala City offers banking, transportation, health, and communications services, which are easy to obtain. Credit cards are widely used and accepted. There are numerous shopping malls, restaurants, gyms, and cinemas. A large variety of accommodation options can be found. Road network is good both in terms of spread and quality.

The UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. The UNV Field Unit in Guatemala will be able to provide advise to facilitate this process.

UN Volunteers should be provided equal duty of care as extended to all host entity personnel.

Host entity support to the UN Volunteer includes, but is not limited to:

• Introductory briefings about the organisation and office-related context including security, emergency procedures, good cultural practice and orientation to the local environment;
• Support with arrival administration including setting-up of bank accounts, residence per-mit applications and completion of other official processes as required by the host gov-ernment or host entity;
• Structured guidance, mentoring and coaching by a supervisor including a clear workplan and performance appraisal;
• Access to office space, equipment, IT support and any other systems and tools required to complete the objectives of the assignment including a host entity email address;
• Access to shared host entity corporate knowledge, training and learning;
• Inclusion of the volunteer in emergency procedures such as evacuations;
• Leave management;
• DSA for official travel, when applicable;
• All changes in the Description of Assignment occurring between recruitment and arrival or during the assignment need to be formalized with the United Nations Volunteer Pro-gramme.

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