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.ย
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.ย
Specifically, FAO Country Offices:ย
(i)ย ย ย advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAOโs mandate;
(ii)ย ย ย provide technical assistance and deliver core services;ย
(iii) ย ย assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation;ย
(iv)ย ย ย position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; andย
(v)ย ย ย ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management. ย
For more than four decades, FAO has been working with the Government of the Philippines, civil society, community-based organizations, the academe and the private sector to address challenges in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector. Joint efforts have included increasing sustainability in agricultural production, promoting value-adding practices, mechanization and modernization through improving post-harvest management, enhancing productivity and increasing the resilience of agriculture-based livelihoods to natural disasters, climatic hazards and armed conflict.ย
The FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (FAO-RAP) with the support of six countries from Southeast Asia, has developed the first multi-country GCF Readiness project for the Asia region. The three-year readiness project is entitled โAgriculture Sector Readiness for Enhanced Climate Finance and Implementation of Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture Priorities in Southeast Asiaโ. The countries included in this collaborative project are Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The project will be implemented in close coordination with the respective NDAs and Ministries of Agriculture, through the ASEAN Climate Resilience Network focal points of each participating country, ensuring alignment with national climate priorities and regional cooperation frameworks. This regional project will build capacity to access climate finance for the agriculture sector and create opportunities to scale promising models at national and regional levels. The project countries will also share experiences and co-create proposals for sector-specific climate action at the regional level with public and private sector climate and agriculture finance experts. Investment plans will focus on facilitating farmerโs access to capacity, resources and finance to address climate change risks. ย ย
A regional project team and six country-based national project teams will be established for the effective implementation of the project. While the regional project team will oversee project implementation progress and maintain communication with the rest of the PMU to ensure a smooth flow of work, the national project team will lead the implementation of the project activities in the country and coordination for the regional activities. ย
The position is located in the Philippines.
Reporting Lines
The National Agricultural Value Chain Specialist will be under the direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme) in the Philippines. ย
Technical Focusย
The incumbent, working closely with the National Coordinator and Climate Finance Specialist, will provide technical expertise to support the implementation of the project activities and deliverables.
Tasks and responsibilities
The Specialist shall perform the following tasks:ย
ย
โข ย ย Guide and facilitate the agriculture climate change investment planning and project design process and draft the Climate Smart Agriculture Investment Plan (CSAIP) with strategic investment packages and a clear implementation and financing roadmap including the following: ย
โข ย ย Identifying options for investments and enabling policy: Bundling CSA measures into the CSA investment ideas, shortlisting the CSA investment ideas, economic analysis (CBA, GHG accounting etc.), organize multi-stakeholder workshop and finalize the investment packages by preparing draft or initial concept notes ย ย
โข ย ย Analysis of implementation arrangements and financing mechanism: Developing multi criteria and refining and selecting strategic priority packages, developing concept note for each finalized investment packages, sharing document to steering committee for review ย
โข ย ย Prepare draft or initial concept notes for priority investment packages, ready for submission to potential funding partners ย
โข ย ย Developing a monitoring framework to track investment performance and climate resilience outcomes. ย
โข ย ย Prepare inputs and materials including value chain and value chain finance analyses. ย
โข ย ย Provide guidance and support senior colleague on stakeholder engagement at the national level including PSC members from the NDA and Ministry of Agriculture as well as ASEAN CRN members, DAEs. Public, private and civil society actors. ย
โข ย ย Perform any other duties related to the deliverables as deemed necessary by the FAO Representative. ย
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements ย ย
โข ย ย Advanced university degree in Economics, Agriculture Economics, Public Policy, Environment, Development Studies, Business/Public Administration, Agriculture, Rural Development, or related fields ย
โข ย ย At least seven yearsโ experience working in the field of climate change and agricultural value chain assessments ย
โข ย ย Full proficiency / working knowledge (level C) of English ย
โข ย ย A national of the Philippines or a legal resident with a valid work permit 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 Skills
โข ย ย Relevance of experience in capacity development for the design and implementation of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resources management and agro-processing investments. ย
โข ย ย Extent and relevance of experience in participating in multidisciplinary teams for the preparation of strategies and sectoral studies as well as formulation, implementation support or evaluation of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resources management and agro-processing investment and finance support solutions. ย
โข ย ย Knowledge of experience in food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resources management and agro-processing analytical studies and programme evaluation. ย
โข ย ย Proven experience in developing Climate-Smart Agriculture Investment Plans (CSAIPs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), or similar strategic frameworks for climate finance mobilization.ย
โข ย ย Demonstrated experience in dealing with government officials, development partners and other country stakeholders. ย
โข ย ย Experience of high-level coordination and chairing of meetings; ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders and develop consensus and joint working. ย
โข ย ย Good communication skills, both verbal and written. ย
โข ย ย Excellent organizational skills ย
โข ย ย General knowledge and skills in the use of standard office software, such as MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point).
โข ย ย Demonstrated knowledge of agriculture climate change investment plans and value chain finance analyses ย
ย ย