Agribusiness Expert

Organizational Setting

With the support of FAO and IFAD (the International Fund for Agriculture Development), the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have successfully mobilized a grant from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) to implement the Agriculture Investment for Markets and Nutrition Project (AIM-N) in the two countries. As the technical assistance supervising entity of the project, FAO is in charge of implementing over a 4-year period the technical assistance component of the project (AIM-N TA project). This will be the responsibility of the FAO Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP).

The FAO Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP) is situated in Apia, Samoa and supports member countries in meeting their national priorities in the areas of agriculture, fisheries, forestry, agrifood systems, nutrition and rural development. FAO’s member countries in the Pacific include the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, the Republic of Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu and Tokelau as an associate member. FAO brings to the partners, extensive technical expertise in agri-food systems, sustainable agriculture, including forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, and ecosystem restoration. FAO SAP develops and maintains relations with subregion-wide institutions including the Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific (CROP).  The Subregional Office is a subsidiary of FAO's Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) in Bangkok.

FAO SAP is recruiting an Agribusiness Expert who will manage the AIM-TA project outcomes and outputs, ensure that the project reaches its objectives and support stakeholders in better achieving the full potential of project resources.  The post is an FAO position based in Honiara, Solomon Islands and funded by the GAFSP project titled “Technical Assistance to the Agriculture Investment for Markets and Nutrition Project (AIM-N TA).”  The overall aim of this project is to provide technical assistance to strengthen the capacity of implementing agencies in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to successfully implement the AIM-N project ensuring to reach its expected results. These capacities are expected to be improved in three priority areas: (i) nutrition sensitive agriculture; inclusive partnership for market access and agribusiness; (iii) effective project implementation, coordination, M&E and knowledge management.  

Reporting Lines

The Agribusiness Expert will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Subregional Coordinator, and direct supervision of the SAP Food and Nutrition Officer.  He/she works in collaboration with the national team of the project, government institutions, relevant FAO technical and support staff and consultants as well as partners. He/She will manage the project team in Honiara, Solomon Islands and Port Vila, Vanuatu and guide them in achieving the full results of project outcomes.

Technical Focus

The Agribusiness Expert will provide overall project management, reporting, and coordination of all technical and managerial aspects of the project, in particular be directly responsible for managing the implementation team and providing technical assistance in the areas of agribusiness, market access and nutrition-sensitive value chains.

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Plan, manage and lead the specialized multidisciplinary TA team based in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, and provide strategic, technical and operational leadership. 
•     Arrange for joint (international and domestic) participatory meetings of the consultants, to develop a comprehensive understanding of the purpose of their inputs in the context of the aims and objectives of the project and monitor them;
•     Interact on a very regular basis with the Government-led AIM-N implementation team in order to customize the FAO TA inputs to the needs and requests of the Government team   
•     Regularly liaise with the International Project Coordinator/ Economist based in Vanuatu to facilitate and support knowledge sharing.  
•     Develop rapport and maintain close working relationships with the technical staff working in the team for effective planning and implementation. 
•     Be responsible for TA work planning, initiation of activities and budget oversight in synergy with the AIM-N work plans in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. 
•     Guide project TA team for the development of the approach, evidence-based strategies, and related tools and methodologies.  
•     Liaise with the FAO Representation and other FAO projects in the two countries for sharing of information, experiences, methodologies, tools and lessons learned and building synergies and collaboration.  
•     Represent FAO at national meetings and conferences, build effective working relationships and implement strategic partnerships with national stakeholders, advocate best practices and increased policy and programmatic coherence dialogue. 
•     Be responsible for meeting the FAO-TA’s draft reporting obligations, including the inception report, 6 monthly progress reports to GAFSP through the FAO Investment Centre and terminal report and other periodic and technical reports, ensuring quality standards and timeliness.  
•     Put into effect the technical advice provided by the review and backstopping missions
•     Closely work with the international Monitoring and Evaluation Expert to ensure the design and implementation of a strong M&E system of AIM-N;
•     Closely coordinate with the Government and IFAD counterparts the FAO TA team work programme with the work programme of the AIM-N Investment project implemented by the Governments and supervised by IFAD. 

Technical support to Community Action for Nutrition (Component 1)

•     In close collaboration with the regional Human Resources Unit, prepare the terms of reference, select the consultants or service providers for the following activities and oversee the work: (i)  the situation analysis, stakeholder mapping and baseline study; (ii) the assessment and upgrading of capacity building materials for community education and delivery of related Training of Trainers (ToT); the review and improvement of extension materials relevant to kitchen garden production of nutritious foods, and related TOT; and (iii) the mapping of the existing school food system of selected schools in the target provinces preparation of feeding plans and improved curriculum materials.

Technical support to Nutrition-Sensitive Partnerships for Market Access (Component 2)

•     In close collaboration with the regional Human Resources Unit, prepare the terms of reference and select the consultants or service providers for the in-depth value chain studies at the start of the project, review and provide feedback on the outputs and organize dissemination of the results among AIM-N implementing agencies.  
•     In close collaboration with the regional Human Resources Unit, prepare the terms of reference of the consultant(s) to be recruited for the diagnostic approach and standardized and the guide for partnership agreements and oversee their work. 
•     Organize relevant workshops, TOT and exposure visits of extension agents and representatives of well-functioning Farmer Groups. 
•     Collaborate with and provide technical backstopping to staff from the Ministry of Agriculture (MAL / DARD) to ensure the quality and effectiveness of AIM-N capacity development and knowledge sharing activities in the areas of linking farmers to markets, support to farmer groups, value addition and small agricultural business partnerships. 
•     Support the marketing expert and business development & private sector engagement experts with the organization of the value chain round tables, the organization of training and support to women and youth-led small-scale businesses.  
•     Perform any other related functions as required

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     Advanced university degree in agribusiness, value chain development, agronomy or related subject. 
•     Minimum ten years of progressively responsible professional experience, including in project management in the field of commercial smallholder-based agricultural development and farmer organizations – of which some years in the Pacific Small Island States.
•     Working knowledge (level C) of English.

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 results-based project or programme management and monitoring
•     Familiarity with donor-funded projects and reporting requirements is desirable
•     Able to work under pressure and adapt to an evolving and complex humanitarian context and within multidisciplinary and different cultural background teams.
•     Excellent organizational skills
•     Good communication skills, both verbal and written.
•     Ability to work and plan at strategic as well as operational levels.
•     Facilitation and communication: experience of high-level coordination and chairing of meetings; ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders and develop consensus and joint working;

Selection Criteria

•     Experience in providing technical assistance and capacity development to government agencies. 
•     Experience in working with the private sector and small agribusinesses. 
•     Experience in working with international organizations. 
•     Excellent writing, presentation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
•     Familiarity with the administrative and financial procedures of FAO would be an asset.