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.
FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO’s goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level.
The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.
Specifically, FAO Country Offices:
i.    advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate.
ii.    provide technical assistance and deliver core services.
iii.    assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation.
iv.    position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and
v.    Ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.

The project “Sustainable Wood-based Value Chains in Uganda” aims to promote sustainable management practices of existing wood resources through wood resource planning, timber yield regulation plans, and certification schemes. It also seeks to enhance processing capacity and market development of wood products, strengthening aggregation models and supporting primary and secondary wood processors. To address gaps related to investment and access to finance for SMEs in the wood-based industry, the project will provide capacity development and advisory services to local financing institutions (banks and non-banks) together with facilitating policy dialogues to improve the enabling environment for investors in the wood-based industry.

Reporting Lines

Under the general supervision of the FAO Representative in Uganda and the direct supervision of the Team Leader- Forestry at FAO Uganda, and that of technical advisor on forest finance and investment, and the technical backstopping of the regional Lead Technical Officer, the programme specialist on SME finance and business development services will work with other programme specialists, and analysts in the implementation of the project.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will support the Technical Advisor on activities related to (i) investment readiness programme (ii) unlocking access to finance for wood-based SMEs at national and sub-national levels.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Develop eligibility criteria for selection of SMEs for the investment readiness programme
•    In collaboration with programme analysts, support mobilization, selection, and onboarding of SMEs onto the investment readiness programme.
•    With technical guidance from the Finance and Investment Advisor, develop terms of reference and ensure selection and onboarding of eligible Business Development Support (BDS) service providers to support SME investment readiness program.
•    Review and approve work plans and progress reports by the BDS provider(s).
•    Undertake quality assurance monitoring visits to the SMEs receiving BDS to ensure service delivery as well as provision of necessary technical advice.
•    Collect relevant information and data on business development best practices and lessons learned from the BDS programme and disseminate as part of the knowledge sharing and capacity development efforts.
•    Conduct an in-depth review of specific financial products offered by local financial service providers to identify which products are appropriate for which wood base SMEs (Primary and secondary wood processing SMEs).
•    Assess financial service providers gaps to unlock opportunities for credit sourcing for wood-based SMEs.
•    Support capacity development of partner financial institutions through specific tailored training programs, informed by the training needs assessment.
•    Train and build capacity of banking and non-bank finance professionals on Sustainable financing
•    Through training workshops and seminars, train wood value chain SMEs in business and financial management.
•    Contribute to development of monitoring and evaluation tools to assess project progress in terms of delivering on the goal of enhancing SME access to finance.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements  

•    An advanced university degree or equivalent in finance, business administration, economics, or any related field
•    Five years of experience in   providing business advisory support to SMEs and in the field of banking, investment management or SME lending
•    Working knowledge of English (level C)
•    Ugandan National

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Knowledge and understanding of the financing tools/instruments in support to SMEs investment
•    Experience in addressing challenges to unlock access to finance by SMEs
•    Experience in training banking and non-banking finance professionals and SMEs in business and financial management
•    Knowledge and interest in natural resource/ forestry /wood sector is a plus.
•    Strong analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills
•    Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
•    Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
•    Good level of proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)

Selection Criteria

•    Relevant industry certifications in finance are an added advantage.
•    An understanding of the forestry landscape in general.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION