Organizational Setting

The FAO Investment Centre (CFI) provides investment and finance solutions that lead to more efficient, sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems. Working in over 120 countries, the Centre provides a full suite of investment and finance support to FAO Members. It partners with governments, international and national financing institutions, the private sector and farmers, research institutions and academia to improve the quality and quantity of agrifood investment. The Centre’s four main areas of work include support to strategic investment planning and policy, public investment, private investment, and innovative finance. These are complemented by the knowledge for investment and capacity development for investment programmes that serve to share knowledge, learn and build capacities at country level. For additional information on the FAO Investment Centre, its activities, partners and the organizational structure please visit the following link.
The post is located in the West and Central Africa Service (CFIE) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI) and based in the Regional Office for Africa (RAF) in Accra, Ghana.

Reporting Lines

The Investment Support Officer reports to the Chief, West and Central Africa Service (CFIE) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI) and works in collaboration with the Assistant Director-General/Regional Representative for Africa (RAF).

Technical Focus

Provide analytical and technical support on any of the following areas linked to: agricultural development, economic and financial aspects, water resources management, irrigation, drainage and rural infrastructure, agribusiness development, sustainable natural resource management, land tenure, land administration, sustainable livestock management, agricultural services, rural institutions, resilience and risk management, access to markets and private sector development for the formulation, implementation and evaluation of investment policies, strategies, programmes and projects in food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing.

Key Results

Delivering investment and finance support solutions through the provision of technical expertise/assistance and support to capacity development, in collaboration with country stakeholders and cooperating partners, to achieve impact at scale in the transformation of agrifood systems within the scope of the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

•    Participates in multidisciplinary teams to assist governments in the identification and preparation of investment and finance support initiatives in the fields of for food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing, and participates in pre-appraisal and appraisal missions.
•    Supports the implementation and the preparation of final evaluation of investment and finance support solutions.
•    Participates in the preparation of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing studies and strategies, in the formulation of national sector and/or sub-sector investment policies, plans and programmes.
•    Supports the development of inclusive and sustainable food systems involving producers, their organizations, other private sector actors, civil society organizations and governments.
•    Contributes to capacity development activities in the areas of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing investment support to government staff, non-state actors and private sector organizations.
•    Prepares reports in accordance with FAO, governments and financing partners’ requirements.
•    Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences and interacts with international and national partners.
•    Establishes, promotes, and maintains relationships with relevant Programme Priority Areas, FAO technical units and Decentralized Offices in order to ensure best synergies between investment, policy and innovation work in support to Members.
•    Supports resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•  Advanced university degree in economics, agricultural economics, agricultural sciences, environmental sciences, agribusiness management, natural resource management, irrigation and drainage engineering, rural infrastructure engineering, social sciences, business administration or a related field.
• Five years of relevant experience in conducting agricultural/rural sector/subsector analytical studies, and/or in planning, design, supervision of agricultural and rural investment operations, including elaboration of feasibility studies and implementation of agricultural and rural investment operations in developing countries and/or countries in transition.
• Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions within the region.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in formulation, implementation support or evaluation of strategies, policies, studies and investment programmes/projects in food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and other related subjects.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in participating in multidisciplinary teams for the preparation of strategies, sector studies, and investment programmes/projects
•    Extent and relevance of experience with FAO’s main development partners, in particular the World Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the European Union and other development partners and international financial institutions.
•    Demonstrated experience in dealing with government officials, development partners and other country stakeholders.
•    Knowledge of the context, as well as partners and institutions of the specific subregion would be an asset.
•    Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in English.
•    Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of French would be an important asset, including demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in French.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements