Organizational Setting

The FAO Investment Centre (CFI) provides investment and finance solutions that lead to more efficient, sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems. Working in over 120 countries, CFI provides a full suite of investment and finance support to FAO Members. It partners with governments, international and national financing institutions, the private sector and farmers, research institutions and academia to improve the quality and quantity of agrifood investment. The Centre's four main areas of work include support to strategic investment planning and policy, public investment, private investment and innovative finance. These are complemented by the knowledge for investment and capacity development for investment programmes that serve to share knowledge, learn and build capacities at country level. For additional information on the FAO Investment Centre, its activities, partners and the organizational structure please visit the following link.

The position is located in the Asia and the Pacific Service (CFIB) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI) at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Agribusiness Officer reports to the Chief, Asia and the Pacific Service of the FAO Investment Centre.

Technical Focus

Provide analytical and technical support on agribusiness and value chains development and functioning of agricultural support services, in close collaboration with the relevant public and private sector stakeholders, for the formulation, implementation and evaluation of investment policies, strategies, programmes and projects in food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing.

Key Results

Delivering investment and finance support solutions through the provision of technical assistance and support to capacity development, in collaboration with country stakeholders and cooperating partners, to achieve impact at scale in the transformation of agrifood systems within the scope of the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

Participates in multidisciplinary teams for the identification and preparation of investment and finance support solutions in the fields of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing, and participates in pre-appraisal and appraisal missions.
Supports the implementation of investment and finance support solutions and the preparation of final evaluations.
Participates in the preparation of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing studies and strategies, in the formulation of national sector and/or sub-sector investment plans and programmes.
Supports the development of inclusive and sustainable food systems involving producers, their organizations, other private sector actors, civil society organizations and governments.
Contributes to capacity development activities in the areas of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing investment support to government staff, non-state actors and private sector organizations.
Prepares reports in accordance with governments and financing partners' requirements.
Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences and interacts with international and national partners.
Supports the promotion and maintenance of relationships with relevant Programme Priority Areas, FAO technical units and Decentralized Offices in order to ensure best synergies between investment, policy and innovation work in support to Members.
Supports resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Specific Functions

Supports the analysis of selected agrifood value chains, with high interaction with relevant public, private and civil society stakeholders.
Analyses key constraints and opportunities for investment across selected value chains, including factors related to private sector engagement, availability and performance of support services, trade and policy frameworks, risk management systems, and the adoption and enforcement of food safety standards.
Identifies and analyses agricultural investment-related policy issues, factors crowding out private investments, and possible agri-business related solutions.
Identifies options and designs country-level interventions and related investments in selected value chains in collaboration with international financial institutions, donors and local private and public sector stakeholders. Analyses agrifinance constraints and develops solutions to improve access to finance across value chains, including identifying financing gaps, supporting the design of de-risking instruments and blended finance solutions, strengthening linkages with financial institutions, and promoting financial products tailored to the needs of farmers, SMEs and agribusiness investors.
Supports the development of knowledge products, including analytical work and practical tools, related to agribusiness, marketing and value chain development.
Participates in public-private platforms and policy dialogs and designs strategies to strengthen the enabling environment for scaling up investments along the value chain.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in agriculture, agro-industry, business administration, agribusiness, economics, agricultural economics finance or a closely related field.
Five years of relevant experience in the practical application of value chain analysis and development, agribusiness and market development, processing, including experience in the formulation and/or implementation of agrifood investment operations in developing countries.
Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

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, particularly in field positions is desirable.
Extent and relevance of experience in food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing analytical studies, feasibility studies and programme evaluation and/or in participating in public-private policy dialogue to promote investment.
Extent and relevance of experience in participating in multidisciplinary teams for the preparation of strategies and sector studies, as well as formulation, implementation support or evaluation of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing investment and finance support solutions, with focus on financial and economic aspects.
Extent and relevance of experience in the design, implementation support and evaluation of investment operations with FAO's main development partners, including International Financial Institutions.
Relevance of experience in capacity development for the design and implementation of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing investments.
Demonstrated experience in dealing with government officials, development partners and other country stakeholders.
Demonstrated capacity writing high quality technical reports in English.