Project Coordinator (AgrInvest)

The Investment Centre Division (DPI) promotes investment in food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing in developing countries and countries in transition. DPI assists governments and development partners, in particular international financing institutions, with the strategic planning and implementation of their investments to achieve food security and nutrition, make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more sustainable and productive, reduce rural poverty, make food value-chains more efficient and inclusive and promote climate change adaptation and/or mitigation.

DPI is a multidisciplinary division composed of three regionally focused services; namely the Africa Service, the Asia and the Pacific Service, and the Europe, Central Asia, Near East, North Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean Service.

The AgrInvest project in Uganda, sponsored by the European Union (EU) and managed by DPI, aims to increase responsible private investments in the agriculture and agribusiness sectors of Uganda through an enhanced capacity of the Uganda Development Bank Limited (UDBL) and public-private policy dialogue. This support will aim at (i) de-risking UDBL agricultural lending; (ii) enhancing UDBL portfolio in terms of quality and scope; (iii) making UDBL operations and processes more efficient and; (iv) enhance the policy environment to de-risk value-chain investment opportunities. Expected outcomes include\: (i) enhancing UDBL’s capacities to identify, appraise and finance viable, environmentally friendly and SDG-aligned investments in agriculture; and (ii) make selected food value chains more attractive for UDBL banking through systematic policy dialogue and technical assistance to value chain actors.

The consultant will be based in Kampala, Uganda and will work on a full-time basis.

Reporting Lines

The Consultant reports to the Chief, Africa Service and works in close collaboration with Lead Technical Officer (LTO) based in Rome and other staff members in DPI. S/he will liaise closely with the FAO Representative in Uganda for day-to-day matters.

The consultant will be responsible for coordinating the AgrInvest work in Uganda. This will include (i) coordinating the work of other FAO technical experts and consultants; (ii) daily interface with UDBL; (iii) coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and other Government counterparts, as well as (iv) coordination with partners (other UN Agencies, private sector) and (v) within the FAO country team.

• Develop and implement annual work plans and budgets and ensure that expenditures incurred at country level are in accordance with FAO human resources, financial and procurement procedures, and that expenditures are in line with the funding agreement signed with the donor.
• Lead the monitoring and evaluation of the project, including establishment of project baselines, regular reporting to the LTO and to the donor (EU).
• Take on an advocacy role of the project towards in-country stakeholders and audiences at large, in close coordination with UDBL and the FAO Country Office,
• Advise the LTO on capacity building requirements, as well as coordinates the implementation of the technical assistance (TA) support to UDBL. This will include working closely with short/medium term consultants at country level, including missions by FAO HQ technical experts, international and national consultants, as well as liaising with the UDBL team and following up on satisfaction with the services provided.
• Provide leadership and substantial contributions in the value chain selection and ensure close coordination with MAAIF, UDBL and other Government counterparts; proposes value-chain selection criteria for policy dialogue interventions; propose the final value chains to be selected; and documents the decision process. The exercise will include a mapping of relevant interventions (Government, bilateral and multilateral development partners) as well as the key policy constraints identified for each value chain.
• Lead and advise UDBL for expanding its pipeline, including the work on mapping of development partners (bilateral and multilateral) interventions in the country; establish relationships with development partners, supports UDBL in the identification of potential investees and undertakes field visits to support UDB Investment and Appraisal Teams.
• Support and oversees the work of the partner (UNCDF) responsible for supporting the digitalization of UDBL operations.
• Support the recruitment of industry specialists for the selected value chains/policy constraints, and coordinates and oversees their work.
• Undertake a needs assessment for the engagement with processors and develops a strategy accordingly.

• Advanced university degree (for Consultants) / University degree (only for PSA) in finance, economics, agribusiness, agricultural economics, international relations or a related field as appropriate for the specific profile
• Ten years of relevant experience in project management, provision of technical assistance in rural finance or agricultural financing projects in developing countries.
• Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian (for consultants). Working knowledge of English, French, Spanish, Arabic or Russian (for PSAs).

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance in project management experience;
• Experience with FAO project implementation is considered an asset;
• Extent and relevance of experience within the agricultural financing sector in Africa;
• Extent and relevance of experience in working closely with the World Bank, the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) or any other relevant development partner;
• Extent and relevance of experience in working in the banking/finance sector;
• Experience with digital solutions is an asset;
• Demonstrated experience in dealing with government officials, development partners and other country-level stakeholders;
• Ability to work under pressure and willingness to travel frequently.