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 part of the West and Central Africa Service (CFIE) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI) and is located at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Agribusiness Officer reports to the Chief, West and Central Africa Service (CFIE) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI).

Technical Focus

Provide analytical and technical support on agribusiness development, with focus on the functioning of agricultural support services, rural markets, food distribution systems and finance institutions aspects, in close collaboration with the relevant private sector stakeholders, 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 in the scope of the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

•    Participates in, and eventually leads, multidisciplinary teams to assist governments in the identification and preparation of investment and finance support initiatives in the fields of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resources management and agro-processing, and participates in pre-appraisal and appraisal missions.
•    Participates in, and eventually leads, multidisciplinary teams for the implementation support and the preparation of final evaluation of investment and finance support solutions.
•    Provides technical expertise for the preparation of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resources management and agro-processing studies and strategies, in the formulation of national sector and/or sub-sector investment plans and programmes.
•    Supports the development of inclusive and sustainable food systems involving producers, their organizations, other private sector actors, and civil society organizations and governments.
•    Formulates and delivers capacity development strategies and activities in the areas of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resources management and agro-processing investment support to government staff, non-state actors and private sector organizations.
•    Prepares documents in accordance with FAO, governments and financing partners’ requirements.
•    Provides support in task organization, selection of consultants, preparation of terms of reference and in ensuring the quality of outputs.
•    Promotes international cooperation and collaboration leading to new investment opportunities and cooperative agreements, advocates best practices and effective policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international meetings.
•    Establishes, promotes and maintains relationships with relevant Strategic Programmes, FAO technical units and Decentralized Offices in order to ensure best synergies between investment, policy and innovation work in support to Members.
•    Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.
•    Provides guidance and advice to junior staff.

Specific Functions

•    Provides contributions in the analysis of selected agricultural sub-sectors and value chains.
•    Assesses constraints and opportunities for public and private sector investment at all levels of selected value chains, in relation to the functionality of markets (including both infrastructure and institutions), engagement of private sector and agribusiness enterprises, existence and performance of support services, trade policies, risk management systems, as well as food safety standards adoption and control systems, when applicable.
•    Identifies and analyses agricultural investment-related policy issues and provides agribusiness related options and solutions.
•    Engages with private sector stakeholders, including downstream value chains players, such as small and medium enterprises (SMEs), agribusiness companies, agroindustry associations and farmers’ organizations, with a view to strengthening and validating recommended investment and policy options.
•    Provides contributions in the development of knowledge products, including analytical work and practical tools, related to agribusiness, marketing and value chain development.
•    Develops public-private partnerships and platforms aiming at promoting an enabling environment for investment along value chains.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree in agriculture, agribusiness, business administration, economics, agricultural economics or a closely related field.
•   Seven years of relevant experience in the practical application of value chain analysis and development, agribusiness and market development, processing, including experience in the formulation and/or implementation of agricultural investment operations in developing countries.
•    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.
•    Knowledge of the context, as well as partners and institutions, of the specific subregion would be an asset.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in technical fields related to agribusiness and enterprise development, value chain development and analysis, business planning, agriculture marketing and private sector development.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in working directly with private sector investors in agrifood systems would be an important asset.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in participating in, and possibly leading, multidisciplinary teams for the preparation of strategies and sector studies as well as formulation, implementation support or evaluation of agricultural investment and finance support solutions, provision of technical assistance with focus on value chain development and agribusiness.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in investment design, implementation support and evaluation procedures of FAO’s main development partners, in particular the World Bank (WB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the European Union (EU) and other development partners and International Financial Institutions (IFIs).
•    Demonstrated experience in dealing with government officials, the private sector, farmers’ organizations and cooperatives, development partners and other country stakeholders.
•    Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of French would be an important asset.
•    Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in French.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements