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 Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) is responsible for leading FAO’s response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO’s priority activities in the region. It oversees the network of Country Offices and the Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP). It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with Offices, Divisions and Centres at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO’s strategic response to regional priorities and the implementation of the Organization’s strategies through programmes and projects across the region.

The Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific supports the formulation and implementation of the Country Programmes and Projects, including Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs), and their contribution to the FAO Strategic Framework and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) at the country level, advising Decentralized Offices on corporate priorities such as the Strategic Framework and on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization’s Programme of Work and Budget.

The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.

The position is located in the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) in Bangkok, Thailand.

Reporting Lines

The Value Chains and Agribusiness Expert reports to the Senior Food Systems Officer (Post Production), RAP.

Technical Focus 

Provide analytical and technical support on agrifood value chains and agribusiness, including functioning of agricultural markets and rural finance, agricultural support services for the formulation, implementation and evaluation of investment policies, strategies, programmes, and projects in agribusiness and value chain development, agrifood systems transformation, and rural development.

Tasks and responsibilities

Delivering investment and finance support solutions through the provisions of technical expertise/assistance and support to capacity development, in collaboration with country stakeholders and cooperating partners, to achieve impact at scale in the transformation of agrifood systems within the scope of the FAO Strategic Framework.

•    Provide technical expertise for the preparation of studies and strategies food and agriculture, agrifood systems transformation, rural development, natural resources management and agro-processing in the formulation of national sector and/or sub-sector investment plans and programmes.
•    Support the development of inclusive and sustainable food systems involving producers, their organizations, other private sector actors, and civil society organizations and government.
•    Formulate and deliver capacity development initiatives in the areas of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resources management and climate resilience, and agro-processing investment support to government staff, and non-state actors and private sector organizations.
•    Promote international cooperation and collaboration leading to new investment opportunities and cooperative agreements, advocate best practices and effective policy dialogue and provide technical expertise at international meetings.
•    Providecontributions to value chain development, agribusiness development, food systems transformation agriculture and rural development, to develop national or regional strategies, plans and operations for their investment implications, technical and environmental feasibility and compliance with national policies and priorities.
•    Provide critical review, analysis, and advice on sustainable value chain development, agribusiness development, agrifood system transformation, with focus on poor rural and urban areas.
•    Establish, promote and maintain relationships with the relevant Programme Priority Areas, FAO technical units and Decentralized Offices in order to ensure best synergies between investment, policy and innovation work in support to Members.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree in agriculture, economics, agricultural economics, agricultural marketing, rural development, international development, agribusiness, resource and environmental economics, food systems, food technology, and related fields is required. A relevant first-level university degree in the above fields in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree..
•    A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in planning and implementing agrifood development programmes, including experience in the formulation and/or implementation of food systems, agrifood value chains, food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resources management, agricultural extension systems and agribusiness investment operations in developing countries and/or countries in transitionor related area is required.
•    Working knowledge of English.

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.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in major technical fields related to value chains, agribusiness and agrifood systems, in developing countries and countries in transition, including in the development of climate resilient and sustainable production and food systems, and agricultural services.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in participating in multidisciplinary teams for the preparation of strategies and sector studies as well as formulation, implementation support or evaluation of value chains, agrifood systems transformation, rural development, natural resources management and climate resilience, and agribusiness investment and finance support solutions, with focus on agricultural development including functioning of agricultural support services, rural markets and finance institutions.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in investment design, implementation support and evaluation procedures of FAO’s main development partners, in particular the World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and other partner International Financial Institutions (IFIs).
•    Knowledge of the context as well as partners and institutions of the specific subregion would be an asset.
•    Relevance of experience in capacity development for the design and implementation of value chain, agribusiness, food security, rural development, natural resources management and agro- investments.
•    Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in English.