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.
FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO’s goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.
FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level.
The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.
Specifically, FAO Country Offices:
(i)    advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
(ii)    provide technical assistance and deliver core services;
(iii)     assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation;
(iv)    position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and
(v)    ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.

The position is located in the FAO Country Office in Jordan.

Reporting Lines

The Climate Smart and Sustainable Agribusiness Expert works under the overall supervision of the FAOR and AFAOR, the technical leadership of the Lead Technical Officer (Agricultural Economist, Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division, ESF), and technical guidance and supervision of the International Consultant on Agrifood Systems.

Technical Focus

FAO, with UNIDO, is implementing the Joint SDG Fund-funded Joint Programme (JP) on “Transforming Jordan’s agri-food system towards greater sustainability and resilience”. The Join Programme (JP) aims to support Jordan in improving its agri-food systems, aligning them with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by enhancing food security, gender equality, and social inclusion. Using the FAO-UNIDO Agrifood Systems Transformation Accelerator (ASTA) methodology, the JP will run from September 2024 to 31 August 2025 and work with the government and local stakeholders through four main outputs:
I.    assess and evaluate Jordan’s National Food Security Strategy (NFSS) and Action Plans, identifying opportunities for system upgrades;
II.    develop strategies for three key entry points. These strategies will need to specifically focus on: (i) integrating refugees into agrifood systems by leveraging their skills in agriculture and food production; (ii) empowering women and youth through vocational training, entrepreneurship, leadership opportunities, and inclusion in food security decision-making; (iii) optimizing value chains and market systems to support smallholder producers and SMEs, enhancing domestic agri-food production and value addition, and (iv) addressing climate change by promoting water-preserving and FLW-reducing technologies along the value chain. FAO will be responsible for two of the entry point strategies, while UNIDO will handle the other.
III.    Support the establishment of a national Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) system to track sustainability and impact; and
IV.    ensure joint management, communication, and reporting with a focus on gender equality and inclusiveness. Capacity-building efforts will also equip key actors with the skills to integrate food systems approaches into national policies.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Climate Smart and Sustainable Agribusiness Expert will contribute to JP deliverables under Output 1 and Output 2 focusing on commodities, environmental issues, and climate change include several critical components aimed at improving the agrifood system and its resilience to climate change. The expert’s specific tasks are:

JP Output 1:
•    Evaluate the implementation of Jordan’s National Food Security Strategy (NFSS) 2021-2030 and Action Plan by analysing the existing 2022-2024 FS Action Plan with a focus on how effectively programs and projects are targeting the commodity value chains, particularly in the context of climate change and environmental challenges.
•    Assess partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and coordination mechanisms by examining how various stakeholders (governments, private sector, NGOs) collaborate and whether partnerships are designed to improve resilience and sustainability in the face of climate change.
•    Review budget allocations and performance indicators: The expert will need to evaluate whether financial resources are allocated efficiently to climate adaptation and mitigation activities and whether performance and impact indicators reflect environmental sustainability and climate resilience goals.
•    Identify entry points for upgrading the agri-food system and contribute to the 2025-2027 FS Action Plan ensuring that it integrates lessons learned from climate adaptation and mitigation efforts and addresses future environmental challenges. From an environmental perspective, the expert will identify together with the National socio-economist at least three key entry points for transforming agri-food systems. These can be value chains (enhancing their sustainability, resilience, and climate adaptation capacity); market systems (making them more inclusive and capable of supporting climate-resilient practices) and business models (proposing sustainable and environmentally friendly models that incentivize climate-smart agriculture and the use of green technologies).
•    Contribute to training and capacity-building efforts targeting key food systems actors and government officials to integrate food systems approaches into the formulation, implementation, and monitoring processes of the current and future FS Action Plan.
•    Facilitate training modules, workshops, and experience-sharing platforms such as roundtables. These sessions will focus on: System-based solutions: looking at how the different parts of the food system can be integrated; Impact analysis: measuring the socio-economic impact of policies and strategies; Partnership strategies: how to engage effectively with stakeholders; Accountability: ensuring transparency and responsibility in action plan implementation.

JP Output 2:

•    Facilitate gender-balanced multi-stakeholder working groups to collaborate on analyzing and developing upgrading strategies for two of the three identified entry points: value chain, market system, and business model.
•    Collect primary and secondary data for the analysis and design of upgrading strategies for two of the three identified entry points.
•    Contribute to drafting the analysis and upgrading strategy design, including action plans, investment plans, and financing solutions’ reports for two of the three identified entry points.
•    Support the organization of launch events and multi-stakeholder workshops to present preliminary results of entry-point analyses and validate strategies, enhanced business models, and investment and action plans.
•    Contribute to preparing two project proposals to be submitted to the SDG Fund and/or other donors and financial institutions, to support the Government of Jordan in executing the strategies.
•    Assist with training sessions on the Sustainable Food Value Chain (SFVC) or Market Systesms Development (MSD) approaches for national consultants (ToT) and assist facilitatating training to raise awareness of food system solutions as needed through project consultations.
•    Support FAOJO in coordinating activities in countries participating in the initiative, as needed.
•    Undertake field missions to collect primary data.
•    Support the development of promotional materials for SDG-funded projects.
•    Ensure alignment and harmonization of activities in accordance with the JP
•    Perform other relevant tasks as needed.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements 

–    Advanced degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in agriculture, agronomy, agricultural economics, environmental science, sustainable development, or climate change studies. Additional training in climate-smart agriculture, sustainable development, or agribusiness management is highly desirable.
–    Minimum 7 years of professional experience working in sustainable agriculture, agribusiness development, or climate-smart farming, with a specific focus on arid or semi-arid regions like Jordan.
–    Working knowledge of Arabic and limited knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

–    Proven track record in assessing policies, particularly food security strategies and actions plans; and in analysing and developing development strategies focused on climate-resilient agricultural practices, agribusiness, and value chain optimization in the context of food security and climate adaptation, and in identifying opportunities for system upgrades in agriculture that improve food security while addressing environmental sustainability.
–    Familiarity with national policy frameworks for agriculture, water management, and climate adaptation in Jordan with the ability to contribute to policy dialogue and development.
–    In-depth understanding of climate-smart agricultural practices (water-efficient irrigation, agroecology, soil conservation, and climate resilience technologies) and of renewable energy applications in agriculture (solar-powered irrigation, and promoting climate-friendly post-harvest and processing solutions); and proven experience in implementing or advising on adaptation strategies that mitigate climate risks, promote resource efficiency, and enhance sustainability in agricultural production.
–    Experience in developing market linkages for climate-resilient products, incorporating green financing models for sustainable agriculture, and promoting circular economy practices; water-conserving technologies in agriculture (including drip irrigation, precision farming, and water-efficient cropping systems tailored for Jordan’s arid environment).
–    Experience in designing and implementing programs that integrate refugees, women and youth into climate-smart agricultural practices and agribusiness development through climate-smart vocational training, entrepreneurship programs, and leadership opportunities.
–    Strong experience in promoting sustainable agribusiness models for smallholders, cooperatives, and SMEs that can improve productivity, add value, and enhance the competitiveness of smallholders and agri-SMEs in domestic and export markets, particularly in Jordan
–    Experience in conducting value chain analysis and in developing climate-resilient value chains that can withstand environmental shocks and ensure the preservation of food quality and quantity.
–    Proven ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including government ministries, private sector actors, farmers’ organizations, and international donors.
–    Previous experience with international organizations, including FAO, UNIDO, or development agencies, particularly on projects related to sustainable agriculture and climate resilience in developing countries.