Sustainable Value Chain Specialist

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

Organizational Setting

The second phase of the European Union – funded project “Support Towards the Operationalization of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy (STOSAR II), is being implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) through the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) Directorate.

The project aims to contribute to a climate-relevant, productive, inclusive and sustainable transformation of agriculture and food systems in Sub-Saharan Africa and is comprised of four main components\:

• Agricultural Information Systems\: Enhancing information and knowledge on sustainable and competitive agri-production allowing evidence-based decision-making, providing standardized data for analysis and research, and facilitating intra-regional trade.

• Market Access\: Improving access to markets through the development and implementation of plant and animal pest and diseases strategies at regional and national levels, including enhanced capacities to address Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) requirements for international trade.

• Food & Nutrition\: Strengthening regional monitoring and implementation of the SADC Food and Nutrition Security Strategy.

• Inclusive Value Chains\: Increasing operational capacity of regional and national producer organizations and agro-industrial associations in selected value chains based on sustainable innovations and agro-ecological principles.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Sub-Regional Coordinator for Southern Africa, and under the guidance of the Director of the Food Agriculture and Natural Resources Directorate at SADC Secretariat, the Sustainable Value Chain Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the STOSAR Regional Project Coordinator and technical guidance of SFS Agri-Food Systems and Investment Policy Specialists and Investment Support Officer.

Technical Focus

The sustainable value chain specialist will be responsible for conducting a comprehensive analysis of regionally traded value chain commodities affected by transborder pests and diseases (TBP&D) that will frame key entry points for VC upgrading, define indicative investment requirements in addition to developing concrete commodity sector/value chain specific development plan that have the buy in from Government and all value chain players taking into consideration. These concrete value chain development and investment plans can be financed through different modalities by Government, private sector value chain players, bilateral and multilateral funding partners.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Familiarise self with SADC and FAO SFS agrifood system development and transformation policies, programmes, projects as well as approaches and processes including the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy (RAP), the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP 2020-2030), and SFS Programmes is agribusiness, Investment, markets and trade.

• Carry out situational analysis and literature review to familiarise with the current government/Member states policies (regulatory environment) supporting the regionally traded value chain commodities affected by transborder pests and diseases (TBP&D) as espoused in the Regional and National Agricultural Policy Framework (regional/national policies, strategies and incentive frameworks) to promote the competitiveness of the identified sectors and their development ii) FAO agribusiness and investment flagship initiative and process, iii) global and/or regional best practices and innovative approaches and international benchmarks including Moroccan models for development and implementation of sector development program;

• Prepare data collection plan and design consultation instruments and checklists and consult with various key informants, value chain players and stakeholders including producers, traders, processors, input suppliers, wholesalers/ retailers. Government (key line ministries), apex sector / industrial associations and representatives, the private sector (including SMEs, farmers, farmer organizations, and financial service providers), bilateral and multilateral development partners (including donors) for the regionally traded value chain commodities affected by TBP&D.

• Carry out consultative engagements and pre-validation processes through key informant interviews and a one day consultative meeting for each value chain with sector players to ensure that the regionally traded value chain commodities affected by TBP&D Sector Development Plans (SDPs) clearly spells out (1) Sector objectives\: possibly competitiveness, reduced imports, increased exports, improved trade balance, affordable price for consumers, job creation, food and nutrition security end markets- including market segmentation, market channels, trends/performance and forecasts (2) the smallholder inclusive business models applicable to the sector; (3) Quantified investment needs and commitments by the private sector (farmers, firms, bankers etc); (4) The enabling measures (regulatory, fiscal, infrastructure development, communicative, smart subsidies) to be deployed by Government and the quantified required public sector investments; and (5) Arrangements to build trust, ensure accountability and monitor impl

• With technical guidance of FAO, design a smallholder inclusive strategy into the Sector Development-program- and its background documents (SDP)

• Interact with relevant FAO technical units, sector association(s) and representatives, and relevant Government institutions to verify appropriateness of the regionally traded value chain commodities SDP.

• Present the programme to Sector Associations and Representatives, private sector, FAO and Government for validation further inputs and comments

• Compile and finalize the SDP for the selected regionally traded value chain commodities affected by transborder pests and diseases (TBP&D).

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in agricultural economics, economics, agribusiness, agricultural science, food systems, rural finances or other related discipline. Consultants with bachelor`s degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.

• At least 10 years relevant experience in one or more of the following areas\: value chain analysis and development, agribusiness and market development, agro-food processing, post-harvest handling, and agro-food industry technologies.

• Working knowledge of English (Level C)

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus

• Teamwork

• Communication

• Building Effective Relationships

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Demonstrable experience in data collection, cost-benefits analysis, financial business projections, heat mapping, calculation of mitigation and adaptation potential of technologies and practices, identification of policy and institutional barriers

• Familiarity with the green agenda, climate change mitigation and adaptation and climate smart agriculture will be a major advantage.

• Experience in global and/or regional best practices and innovative approaches and international benchmarks (including Moroccan models for development and implementation of sector and VC development program, finance, including the NIRSAL model for de-risking and blended instruments for value chain financing) is highly desirable.

• Experience working with a UN agency, and/or experience in the private sector, working at different stages of the food value chain will be an added advantage.

• Working knowledge of French (level B) would be an added advantage.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance\: https\://fao.service-now.com/csp

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