Purpose of consultancy
The WHO Standards and Scientific Advice on food and nutrition (SSA) secretariat requires a consultant to prepare for, organize and execute the technical work of expert meetings and committees during 2026.
Background
The Nutrition and Food Safety Department in coordination with FAO counterparts, is providing scientific advice to Codex Alimentarius for use in international standard setting for the safe levels of food contaminants, food additives, veterinary drug residues and pesticide residues in food in international trade. The scientific advice is generated through the work of several scientific committees.
Deliverables
The consultant is required to support the WHO SSA secretariat in preparation, execution and follow up of JMPR, JECFA and Ad-hoc meetings on healthy diets and related activities, including to:
- Assist with data- and file management and setting up SharePoint sites for meetings.
- Support experts in accessing scientific data on SharePoint and familiarize themselves with working on the SharePoint.
- Supporting the organization of preparatory teleconferences.
- Supporting the organization of preparatory teleconferences and support scientific committee meetings.
- Assist in executing JMPR, JECFA and Ad-hoc meetings on healthy diets, including physical-, hybrid- and virtual meeting formats.
- Assist in updating databases and webpages with outcome from scientific meetings
- Assist the WHO secretariat in preparation and follow up of Codex Alimentarius meetings and relevant activities.
- Assist WHO in monitoring the updating of guidance for chemical risk assessment with a particular focus on incorporating new technologies into the assessment.
- Performing other related tasks as requested.
Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Education
Essential: 1st level university degree in food science, toxicology, medicine or similar
Technical skills and knowledge
Essential: Knowledge of chemical food safety issues (i.e. residues of pesticides and veterinary drugs, contaminants and food additives)
Desirable: Knowledge innovative methods for toxicological evaluation (i.e. New approaches methodologies) and risk-benefit assessment.
Languages and level required
Essential: Expert knowledge of English language (oral and writing)
Desirable: Expert knowledge of another UN language
Location
Offsite: home based
Travel
The consultant is expected to travel.
Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded)
- Remuneration: Band level A (3,955 - 6,980) USD/month, Full-time
- Expected duration of contract: from 1 February to 31 December 2026 (11 months)
How to apply
Deadline for submission of applications
The deadline for submission of applications is 10 December 2025.
Email address for submission of applications
Applicants should submit the required documents in PDF format by email to: jmpr@who.int. Please include "WHO Consultant to support the WHO Scientific Advice Program on food and nutrition activities" in the subject matter of your email application. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted and incomplete submissions will not be considered.