Agribusiness and Finance Investment 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

Organizational Setting

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.

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 financial institutions, national and international organizations, the private sector, research institutions, academia and producer organizations 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 of investment and capacity development for investment programmes that serve to share knowledge more widely and position the 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; Near East and North Africa, and Europe and Central Asia; West and Central Africa; East and Southern Africa; and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Under the AgrIntel project, CFI provides advisory services to the European Union’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) to ensure the social and environmental sustainability of its agricultural investment operations. CFI supports DG INTPA in assessing the investment proposals submitted to the Investment Committees of the agricultural investment funds co-financed by the European Union, and in delivering on-demand analytics on specific value chains, food systems or investment thematic analytical work (blended finance etc.).

Reporting Lines

The Agribusiness and Finance Investment Specialist will work under the overall technical supervision of the Deputy Director, CFI and the direct supervision of the Lead Technical Officer for the AgrIntel project, as well as in close collaboration with other members of the FAO Investment Centre.

Technical Focus

Provision of technical advice or expertise and capacity development for the formulation, implementation and evaluation of activities related to the AgrIntel project.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Reviews and analyses agrifood investment proposals (in agrifood SMEs, rural microfinance institutions or banks financing the agrifood sector) submitted by fund managers from impact funds in terms of financials, sustainability and other metrics;
• Supports capacity development and training activities linked to blended finance and agrifood sector investment;
• Provides advice to officers from the European Commission on agrifood investment proposals submitted to the Investment Committees of the impact funds co-financed by the European Union;
• Participates in the drafting of knowledge products in the areas of blended finance and agrifood sector investment;
• Participates in meetings to discuss project-related matters aiming to help the European Commission make informed decisions related to the social and environmental sustainability of the investment operations that the European Union co-finances;
• Oversees data collection and analysis as required for implementation of knowledge products, capacity development activities or advisory services related to blended finance and agrifood sector investment;
• Ensures good communication with DG INTPA and participation in all required meetings;
• Contributes to the preparation of the Terms of Reference of tasks required for implementation of the AgrIntel project and in the identification of experts ;
• Provides technical contributions to outputs prepared under the project;
• Supports the overall management of the project;
• Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree in agriculture, agro-industry, business administration, finance, economics, agricultural economics or a closely related field.
• Five years of relevant experience in investing in the agrifood sector in developing countries, and/or with financial institutions (including investment funds, banks, microfinance institutions or development finance institutions), including experience with the private sector and in the analysis of financial institutions such as banks or microfinance institutions is desirable;
• Working knowledge (level C) of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese or Russian. For PSA, working knowledge of English, French or Spanish would suffice.

FAO Core 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 assessing the financial, social and environmental sustainability of agribusiness investment operations and/or in the financial analysis of financial institutions such as banks or microfinance institutions;
• Extent and relevance of experience in structuring financial/investment operations in financial institutions and/or in the agricultural and agribusiness sectors;
• Demonstrated experience in working with the private sector (at financial institutions, agribusiness companies, consulting firms etc.);
• Demonstrated experience in dealing with private investors, development partners, government officials and other country level stakeholders;
• Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in in English
• Good knowledge of Microsoft office tools, including Excel and PowerPoint

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