Organizational Setting

The key mission of the FAO Country Offices, which are headed by the FAO Representatives, is to assist and support national governments to develop policies, strategies and programmes and projects to accelerate the implementation and achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in the area of FAO’s global mandate and Strategic Objectives. More specifically, FAO’s response aims at addressing national needs and priorities in achieving food security, and to reducing hunger and malnutrition, to help developing the agricultural, fisheries, livestock and forestry sectors, and to using their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner, in line with FAO’s mandate and Strategic Objectives. Agrifood systems are at the core of the 2030 Agenda and offer a wealth of opportunities to help Countries reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By supporting agrifood systems transformation, FAO aims to ensure that these systems are more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable -for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.
The Government of Liberia under the leadership of his Excellency President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, Sr., has proposed an agricultural development agenda focused on a value chain approach to developing the agricultural sector to ensure food self-sufficiency and indigenous wealth creation. The Ministry of Agriculture, in partnership with other ministries, farmers’ organizations, private sector, civil society and development partners, wants to translate this development agenda into a national agricultural investment plan (NAIP) spanning all the proposed value chains.

The NAIP will be prepared by a multi-disciplinary technical team involving all the ministries and authorities in charge of the value chains identified in the Government’s proposed agenda under the supervision of a technical committee reporting to the national steering committee.

Reporting Lines

The Livestock Value Chain Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Liberia, the direct coordination and guidance of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and in collaboration with the Assistant FAOR-Programme and the project team.

Technical Focus

All aspects of sustainable management of Livestock including for small producers.

Tasks and responsibilities

The main tasks of the Livestock Value Chain Specialist include;
•    Engage relevant stakeholders and sectoral actors to generate data and enhance ownership.
•    Contribute to the in-depth review of policies, programs and projects on cassava value chain
•    Develop the first draft of the value chain programme
•    Share the draft with the national technical drafting committee for review and inputs
•    Incorporate inputs/address comments to strengthen draft
•    Support the submission of updated draft to the national steering committee
•    Incorporate inputs/address comments to finalize the programme

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced University Degree. Livestock Research and expertise in agricultural development
•    At least five (5) years of relevant experience in the preparation of development programmes and projects
•    Working knowledge of English (level C) and limited knowledge of another FAO language (level B)
•    National of Liberia.

FAO Core 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
•    Extent and relevance of experience in one or more of the following disciplines: sea safety, integrated agri-aquaculture systems and women empowerment programs
•    Extent and relevance of experience in designing and facilitating training sessions and capacity-building workshops, including the development of training materials
•    Extent and relevance of experience in leading and preparing flagship publications, quality of analytical writing and oral communication skills, including publication record
•    Familiarity with the environmental and social safeguard requirements of the FAO
•    Knowledge or ability to understand FAO Rules and Regulations

Selection Criteria 

•    Very high skills/knowledge of background related to the ToR’s requirements
•    Experience with UN and other International Organizations would be an asset
•    Proven record of work in the sector and understanding of the local context.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION