Deputy Director (Business Development), Investment Centre (CFI)

Rome

Organization: FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Location: Rome
Grade: Senior Executive level - D-1, Director - Internationally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
- Operations and Administrations
- Banking and Finance
- Sustainable trade and development
- Fisheries
- External Relations, Partnerships and Resource mobilization
- Managerial positions
- Sustainable Business Development
- Impact investing, Social venture capital
Closing Date: Closed

1L091L09

• 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 persons 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 staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

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.

Organizational Setting

The FAO Investment Centre (CFI) aims to be the go-to place for 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 financing institutions, national and international organizations, the private sector, research institutions, academia and producer organizations to improve the quality and quantity of agrifood investment. The Investment 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 more widely and position the Investment Centre as a trusted voice on investment and finance.

CFI is a multidisciplinary Centre comprising the Director’s office, which leads on strategy and business development, knowledge management, communication and administration, and five regional services: Asia and the Pacific; East and Southern Africa; Near East and North Africa, and Europe and Central Asia; Latin America and the Caribbean; and West and Central Africa.

The position is located in the FAO Investment Centre (CFI) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Deputy Director (Business Development) reports to the Director, FAO Investment Centre (CFI).

Summary of Duties and Functions

Under the overall guidance of the Director, CFI, and as a member of the Management Team, the Deputy Director (Business Development) will assist the Director in exercising overall management responsibility for business development and specific initiatives in the Investment Centre with a focus on new innovative intensive digital and financial solutions for agrifood systems transformation. He or she will forge new partnerships with IFIs and other partners to support the Investment Centre’s role as the go-to place for country level support to agrifood systems transformation investment. In particular, he or she will:

Coordinate the development of knowledge and innovation-intensive investment and finance solutions for inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems transformation with a focus on digital agriculture and innovative finance including blended finance and climate, green and blue finance;
Develop new partnerships and liaise with senior counterparts in partner agencies for the planning of activities with a focus on digital agriculture and innovative finance, including blended finance, and climate, green and blue finance;
Develop partnerships and liaise with senior counterparts in partner agencies for the planning of activities with a focus on digital agriculture and innovative finance, including blended finance, and climate, green and blue finance;
Coordinate the divisional Knowledge for Investment (K4I) programme aimed at developing knowledge and fostering learning, as well as the Capacity Development for Investment (CD4I) initiative aimed at enhancing the country capacities for investment planning and implementation, through the development and dissemination of guidance materials, formal and on–the–job training, and use of national experts;
Develop partnerships and liaise with senior counterparts in partner agencies for the planning of activities related to Knowledge for Investment and Capacity Development for Investment;
Oversee the preparation of policy papers, sector studies and project feasibility studies in collaboration with governments, country stakeholders and financial partners;
Ensure integration and linkages between the work of the Investment Centre with Decentralized Offices and headquarters units;
Contribute to FAO’s studies and technical papers, with special reference to investment–related topics;
Support FAO Members in mobilizing public and private investments in collaboration with other responsible units of the Organization;
Represent the Organization in internal and external meetings, and serve as Officer-in-Charge in the absence of the Director, when necessary;
Perform other duties as required.

For further information on the activities of the Investment Centre, please consult: http://www.fao.org/support-to-investment/en/

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Advanced university degree in economics, agriculture sciences, rural infrastructure engineering, environmental sciences, natural resources management, public management, business administration, public policy and administration or other closely related fields;
Minimum twelve years of relevant experience in food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing sector studies and reviews, policy and strategy development, identification, formulation, implementation support and evaluation of investment projects and programmes in developing and/or transition countries, including knowledge of policies of major IFIs and other development partners
Extensive professional experience in business development, innovation and knowledge for investment, relevant to the transformation of agrifood systems;
Extensive professional experience in delivering investment and finance support solutions in a global context;
Minimum three years of experience in management/leadership including management of teams, partnerships, and programmes;
Proven negotiation skills and diplomacy;
Analytical skills and ability to express ideas and concepts clearly, both orally and in writing;
Experience in working in fast-paced working environment with short deadlines;
Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).