Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

The Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU) is responsible for leading FAO’s response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO’s priority activities in the region, in line with the FAO Strategic Framework. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with centres/divisions/offices at headquarters and other UN agencies, and stakeholders including Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the private sector, and develops, promotes and oversees FAO’s strategic response to regional priorities. REU supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships and supports capacity development and resources mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.

Based on the priority areas agreed by the Regional Conference for Europe, the Regional Office supports smallholder and family farms, agrifood systems transformation, natural resource management, and food security and nutrition. In collaboration with technical units at FAO headquarters, it supports countries in monitoring and analysing trends in global and regional trade, and supports countries in the production and dissemination of comprehensive information (production and utilization, prices, trade flows, and trade policies) on agricultural commodities that are key for food security.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, the direct supervision of FAO REU Senior Animal Production and Health Officer and in close coordination with International Specialists, the Livestock Value Chains Specialist will undertake the following activities:

Technical Focus 

The role involves conducting comprehensive analyses of various livestock value chains across Europe and Central Asia. This includes examining each stage of production, from input suppliers to consumers, to identify efficiencies, opportunities for improvement, and potential challenges. The findings will inform strategies for optimizing these value chains to enhance productivity and sustainability within the region.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Conduct comprehensive value chain analyses for different livestock sub-sectors within Europe and Central Asia, through wide consultations of value-chain stakeholders, including government agencies, farmers – or producer associations, traders, processors, consumers and the civil society as well as field data collection (sample surveys).
•    Identify key stakeholders and their roles in the livestock value chains, including input suppliers, producers, processors, distributors as well as service providers and support institutions.
•    Evaluate the efficiency, effectiveness, and competitiveness of each stage of the livestock value chains, including the enabling environment and analyse competitiveness factors.
•    Identify bottlenecks along the livestock value chains and opportunities for improvement.
•    Develop strategies and recommend priority interventions to enhance competitiveness in the livestock value chains, including increasing productivity, reducing costs, improving quality, and increasing market access.
•    Ensure gender and youth representation and inclusivity in all aspects of livestock value chain analyses.
•    Perform any other duties as assigned by project supervisors to support the overall objectives of the livestock value chain assessment- and development initiatives.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree in Agricultural Economics, Agriculture and Animal Production, preferably with specialization on Livestock Value Chains or similar field;
•    Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in working with livestock value chains;
•    Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian. For PSA: working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Track record experience in developing value chain studies on livestock sectors
•    Experience working with dairy value chains is considered as an asset.
•    Experience in multi-stakeholder coordination, communication and collaboration
•    Skills in report writing, trainings and compilation of reports
•    Understanding of the purpose and functions of technical programmes, operational guidelines and programme/project management procedures, preferably those adopted by the United Nations or FAO would be considered an added asset
•    Ability to work in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams is essential.