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: 
•     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.  

For more than four decades, FAO has been working with the Government of the Philippines, civil society, community-based organizations, the academe and the private sector to address challenges in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector. Joint efforts have included increasing sustainability in agricultural production, promoting value-adding practices, mechanization and modernization through improving post-harvest management, enhancing productivity and increasing the resilience of agriculture-based livelihoods to natural disasters, climatic hazards and armed conflict.

FAO Philippines is participating in a Joint Programme (UNJP/PHI/086/UNJ) on “Zero Hunger Accelerator – Catalysing Local Investments for Agrifood System Transformation and Green Transition” under a Joint SDG Fund. The Zero Hunger Accelerator is a joint program which aims to strengthen inclusive, climate-resilient food systems in the Philippine by mobilizing innovative blended financing solutions aligned with national and local priorities. Anchored in institutional markets such as school meals and social protection programmes, the initiative blends public funding, concessional capital, de-risking instruments, to enhance private investment pathways to address longstanding access barriers for finance inclusion for value chain actors, particularly smallholder farmers, fisherfolk, cooperatives, and women-led enterprises. It introduces nano credit products tailored to smallholders’ needs and bundles with climate-responsive insurance, deployed through local financial institutions. To further reduce guarantees to attract domestic and international investors to local food systems.

The position is home-based.

Reporting Lines

The Agriculture Investment/Financing Specialist will directly report to the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme).

Technical Focus

The Agriculture Investment/Financing Specialist will provide technical and advisory support on agricultural financing, investment planning, and financing readiness, ensuring that LGUs, cooperatives, small-scale producers, and enterprises gain improved access to inclusive, gender-responsive, climate-resilient financing solutions.

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Support in mapping existing agrifood financing schemes, credit products, de-risking mechanisms, and access bottlenecks.
•     Analyze investment gaps and financing constraints for smallholders, fisherfolk, MSMEs, and women-led enterprises.
•     Provide inputs in developing the Gender-Inclusive Investment and Financing Readiness Framework.
•     Provide technical inputs on inclusive, climate-resilient investment and financing models for LGUs and producer groups.
•     Support in integrating investment and financing elements into AIPs, procurement plans, and development plans.
•     Support in mentoring cooperatives, MSMEs, and producer organizations to improve bankability and financing readiness.
•     Develop or contribute to financial literacy, enterprise development, and financing readiness training modules.
•     Support the conduct of trainings and coaching sessions.
•     Support the coordination with DBP, LandBank, MFIs, and other financing partners to co-design financial products or de-risking options.
•     Support multi-stakeholder committees in aligning financing with territorial and food systems plans.
•     Ensure inclusion of women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples in financing-related activities.
•     Provide investment-related inputs for procurement/investment plan reviews and technical toolkits.
•     Support financial capacity assessments within broader participatory assessments.
•     Collect and consolidate data on financing access, readiness, and training outcomes.
•     Prepare technical notes, documentation, and inputs for FAO and joint progress reports.
•     Document lessons learned, case studies, and good practices on inclusive agrifood financing.
•     Support in ensuring that financing solutions adhere to gender, inclusion, safeguards, and Do-No-Harm principles.
•     Support safeguard processes, including FPIC when relevant.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•     Advanced university degree in the field of agricultural economics, finance, economics, agribusiness or other related fields
•     At least eight (8) years of relevant experience agriculture/rural development sectors, programme management and implementation, capacity building, and coordination with national/regional government structures, NGOs and private sector and the UN agencies
•     Full proficiency / working knowledge (level C) of English
•     National of the Philippines or resident of the country with a valid work permit

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Ability to work under pressure and adapt to an evolving and complex humanitarian context and within multidisciplinary and different cultural background teams
•     Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Tagalog
•     General knowledge and skills in the use of standard software, such as MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point)