Organizational Setting

The FAO Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean (SLC) was established in 1996 and is based in Barbados. It is headed by a Sub-Regional Representative/Coordinator and is staffed by a Multidisciplinary Team and an Administrative Unit.
SLC supports 13-member countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, The Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago. Moreover, FAO Representations are present in Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname; Jamaica, Belize and the Bahamas; and Guyana.
FAO SLC will implement several national and subregional technical cooperation programmes with countries across the Caribbean region to improve livelihoods through more diversified, efficient, and higher value agricultural production. These projects aim to strengthen high potential agricultural value chains at the national and regional level to improve farmer livelihoods, increase food security, and contribute to the reduction in national food import bills.
FAO is seeking an agriculture finance specialist to be part of a team working across different areas of the value chain, from production to post-harvest, value addition, marketing, and trade. Her/his primary role will be to collaborate with farmers, companies, lenders, and investors in the creation/adaptation of finance mechanisms that support farmers in the transition to high potential national value chains. This work will include development of costs of production analyses for farmers, government and service providers, and business investment profiles for lenders and investors, raising visibility and commitments to value chain finance, and, where possible, catalyzing the creation of new mechanisms and disbursements of capital. Work will be focused on countries across the Caribbean with strong interaction and support from the FAO sub-regional office in Barbados.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall guidance of the FAO Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean, the technical supervision of the FAO SLC Trade and Markets Officer, and in close consultation with concerned technical officers, the incumbent will provide technical support to FAO’s Value Chain Development and Agribusiness project portfolio in the region.

Technical Focus 

The objectives of the assignment are threefold. Firstly, to support the developing of financial models for agricultural business opportunities across the region, particularly for small holder farmers. Areas of focus include ongoing work on insect rearing, fish silage, cocoa, horticulture, fruits, livestock, and aquaculture interventions. Secondly, this assignment also aims to complement, contribute to and further develop FAO’s Value Chain Development methodology across the Caribbean region by increasing financial and business strategy information available to farmers and agribusinesses to promote increased investment in the agricultural sector. Finally, this assignment also aims to work with, develop and train national public officers, private stakeholders, and lead farmers in the design, and application of those tools.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Compile, analyze, synthesize, and package agricultural business case information for target audiences (farmers, processors, financial institutions).
•    Provide agribusiness and financial advisory support to farmers/agribusinesses to develop targeted business models, improve feasibility in their operations, provide guidance in business development options, and development of relevant business risk mitigation options.
•    Engage with agricultural sector stakeholders, target banks, companies, development banks and investors to attract increased financing and investment in targeted agricultural value chains and agribusinesses.
•    Connect with stakeholders including farmers, production experts, processors, financial institutions, and impact investors to gather data and intelligence to prepare and validate business profiles for investment.
•    Train national agricultural extension and other technical officers to provide accounting, record keeping, costs of production, and basic business development support to farmers.
•    Provide support to maintain and strengthen relationships with target public institutions including agriculture ministries, export promotion agencies, and development and investment banks to support the adoption of the case for action for finance.
•    Promote increased access of smallholder farmers and agribusinesses to suitable commercial financial services.
•    Provide agribusiness and access to finance support to FAOs value chain development projects and programme across the Caribbean region.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in agricultural economics, agribusiness business management and operations, finance management or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
•    Minimum five years of experience working in agribusiness development and financing, development of microfinance products, rural finance, and/or agri-insurance.
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other FAO official languages (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian) for consultants. Working knowledge of English for PSA.SBS

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Experience in development of cost of production assessments in agriculture is an advantage.
•    Experience in agricultural production and/or farm management is an asset.
•    Experience in providing business strategy advice to small businesses.
•    Work experience working in the Caribbean is preferred.