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 position is in the Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division (ESF). The Division provides strategic leadership for FAO's support to Members in the development of more sustainable agrifood systems. Working in close coordination with other technical units at Headquarters and the Decentralized Offices, the Division is tasked with integrating FAO's scientific and economic analyses to provide improved policy guidance and targeted investment in agrifood systems. Bringing together FAO's longstanding experience and capacities in strengthening systems of food safety and quality control with its technical support to Member countries in the areas of value chain development, agroindustry and agribusiness enterprise development, urban food systems and food loss and waste, the Division integrates and extends food systems support across the Organization.
Specifically, the position will support ESFโs work in value chains, market systems and agri-food systems development, contributing to the Sustainable Food Value Chain (SFVC) programme, which develops tools and trainings, and to the Agri-food Systems Transformation Accelerator (ASTA) program, which is co-led with the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and supports countries to operationalize their plans for a sustainable development of their agri-food systems.
Reporting Lines
The Agri-food Value Chains and Market Systems Development Specialist will work under the supervision of the Senior Economist (ESF).
Technical Focusย
The Agri-food Value Chains and Market Systems Development Specialist will provide concrete normative, technical and/or operational contributions to support FAOโs work on developing value chains and market systems in its field programme. These contributions include supporting the development of practitioner handbooks, the functioning of websites (SFVC, ASTA), the analysis of value chains and market systems, the design of upgrading strategies and development plans for these value chains and market systems, the development of project concept notes and proposals for resource mobilization, technical guidance and co-management of projects at headquarters and in the field, the delivery of trainings, the review of documents, the provision of advice to colleagues in-house and to external FAO partners and other related ad hoc requests. The work will likely involve international travel and representing FAO at external events.
Tasks and responsibilities
The successful candidate will support the above areas of work, and in particular will:
โข ย ย Support or lead, operationally and technically, value chain and market systems analysis and design efforts, with design including a development strategy, and investments and action plans for upgrading the selected VC or market system in a country.ย
โข ย ย In a lead or supporting role, manage, contribute to, and provide quality control to data collection, data analysis and report writing.
โข ย ย Support or lead national teams engaged in primary data collection by providing methodological trainings, coordinating timely inputs from all team members, preparing semi-structured interviews, facilitating visits, focus groups, and individual meetings with key informants, including producers, traders, processors, input suppliers, service providers, banks, ministries, other government institutions, etc.
โข ย ย Facilitate multi-stakeholder workshops for project inception, analysis validation and upgrading plan development. The consultant will also plan and facilitate inter-ministerial and public-private sector value chain stakeholder meetings.
โข ย ย Contribute and support the activities related to identifying investment opportunities and de-risking schemes through blended financing along the VCs; customizing investments to maximize contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), establishing multi-stakeholder VC platforms; facilitating policy dialogue and formulation; and disseminating knowledge & best practices.
โข ย ย Support or lead related projects from a technical and/or managerial perspective.
โข ย ย Contribute to communications on project developments, including writing articles and updating related website pages.
โข ย ย Provide any other related support to ESF projects as indicated by ESF management.
FAO Standards and guidelines:
โข ย ย Liaison with OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, aligned messaging, and appropriate review and clearance processes.
โข ย ย All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en ย
FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia ย ย
Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044enย
FAOSTYLE https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081enย
FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faotermย
FAO Names of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en ย ย
Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff).ย
โข ย ย Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
โขย ย Advanced university degree in agricultural and resource economics, sociology, business, (agrifood) systems, international (rural) development, agricultural/food sciences/engineering, or a related discipline.ย
โข ย ย At least one year (for category C), five years (for category B), or ten years (for category A) of relevant experience in one or more of the following areas: value chain/market systems analysis and development, (rural) finance, or agribusiness and market development.ย
โข ย ย Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of another official language of the Organization (Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese, Arabic).ย
FAO Core Competencies
โข ย ย Results Focus
โข ย ย Teamwork
โข ย ย Communication
โข ย ย Building Effective Relationships
โข ย ย Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skillsย
โข ย ย Demonstrable experience in value chain/market system analysis and design, for normative and field-support work.
โข ย ย Demonstrable experience in engaging with a variety of stakeholders in a value chain/market system.
โข ย ย Demonstrable capacity to work under stringent time pressure and to prioritise tasks.
โข ย ย Demonstrable skills in writing well-structured technical, training and reporting documents (English).
Selection Criteriaย
โข ย ย Extent and relevance of experience with the analysis and design of agrifood value chain and market system upgrading.
โข ย ย Extensive experience working in and/or leading and managing multi-disciplinary teams on normative and field programme work and in providing training and guidance on data collection, processing and analysis work and on systems-based project design work.
โข ย ย Experience in organizing and facilitating workshops, meetings, seminars, and training courses in the general technical area of value chains/market systems development.
โข ย ย Experience working in UN agencies and/or in the private sector (agri-food) is a plus.