Agribusiness Officer

Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE) is responsible for leading FAO's response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with Divisions/Offices/Centres at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities.

RNE also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization’s Program of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. RNE develops and maintains relations with regionwide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs).

The post is located in the Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE) in Cairo, Egypt.

Reporting Lines

The Agribusiness Officer reports to the Senior Economist, RNE and works in close collaboration with relevant units at FAO headquarters.

Technical Focus

Coordinate and lead the design, implementation and evaluation of strategy and policy development as well as agricultural investment operations with a focus on agribusiness development and the creation of an enabling environment for efficient and inclusive agriculture and food systems, including functioning agricultural support services to rural markets and finance institutions.

Key Results

Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support the planning, development and implementation of regional programmes, projects, products and services in accordance with the regional objectives and the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Plans and leads components of multidisciplinary teams, leads and/or participates in internal committees, project teams, and working groups and/or provides specialized expertise on technical networks and/or international technical policies as well as standard setting bodies.
• Develops technical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks, and related methodologies, tools, systems and databases etc. to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of programmes of work, projects, products and/or services.
• Designs and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative approaches and strategies, new tools, technologies, technical reports/publications, and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical/policy/ specialist/advice and expertise.
• Responds to country requests for technical and policy assistance, provides technical advice, assistance and solutions to Decentralized Offices as well as technical backstopping to field projects.
• Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality / effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within Member Nations such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials and on-line tools.
• Promotes international cooperation/advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue; provides technical expertise at international/intergovernmental meetings.
• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Specific Functions

• Advises on the design of strategies and policies related to agricultural marketing, agribusiness and the development of inclusive and sustainable agrifood small and medium enterprises (SMEs), value chains and systems.
• Develops concepts, methodologies, guidelines and indicators for agricultural marketing, agribusiness and the development of inclusive and sustainable agrifood SMEs, value chains and systems.
• Advises Member Nations through reviews and the provision of technical advice, as well as capacity development on agricultural marketing and agrifood value chains development.
• Performs the analysis of selected agricultural sectors/food chains, including food security and food safety issues, as well as assesses the feasibility of agribusiness investment projects.
• Analyses the constraints and opportunities related to agribusiness investment options with emphasis on the functionality of markets, support services, trade policies, market institutions, organizations, risk management systems and private sector engagements.
• Organizes and facilitates discussions on agribusiness investment-related policy issues involving representatives of the private and public sectors, with a view to reach a consensus on improved policies.
• Provides technical assistance and advice to agribusiness investment projects in the field of marketing.
• Analyses and provides technical advice on regional, as well as international trade facilitation, policy and investment promotion.
• Maintains and develops strong partnerships with organized private sector organizations, cooperatives, partners, collaborators and development finance institutions.
• Assesses constraints and opportunities for investment at all levels of selected value chains, in relation to the functionality of private sector engagements, markets and market institutions, existence and performance of support services, trade policies, risk management systems, as well as food safety control systems when applicable.
• Identifies and analyses agricultural investment-related policy issues and develops public, as well as private platforms aimed at promoting an enabling environment for investment along the value chain.
• Provides contributions to the development of knowledge products, including analytical work and practical tools, related to agribusiness, marketing, SMEs and value chain development.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree inagriculture, agro-industry, food technologies, economics, agricultural economics or a closely related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience inthe areas of agro-industry systems development, agrifood industry economics and management or a related field, application of value chain analysis and development, agribusiness and market development, including experience in the formulation and/or implementation of agricultural investment operations.
• 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 the design or implementation of agribusiness investment operations or technical assistance projects, including elaboration of agribusiness investment feasibility studies, food chain analyses and agricultural market studies.
• Extent and relevance of experience in leading value-added transformations and technologies of food and agricultural materials through processing, packaging, handling and storage, including product quality aspects within food and commodity chains.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the analysis, design, implementation and evaluation of strategies, programmes and projects related to agrifood industries development.