Organizational Setting
The FAO Investment Centre (CFI) provides investment and finance solutions that lead to more efficient, sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems. Working in over 120 countries, the Centre provides a full suite of investment and finance support to FAO Members. It partners with governments, international and national financing institutions, the private sector and farmers, research institutions and academia 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 for investment and capacity development for investment programmes that serve to share knowledge, learn and build capacities at country level. For additional information on the FAO Investment Centre, its activities, partners and the organizational structure please visit the following link.
The position is located in the Asia and the Pacific Service (CFIB) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.
Reporting Lines
The Agricultural Officer (Climate-Resilient Agriculture) reports to the Chief, Asia and the Pacific Service (CFIB) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI).
Technical Focus
Provide analytical and technical support on agricultural development including functioning of agricultural support services, rural market and finance institutions for the formulation, implementation and evaluation of investment policies, strategies, programmes and projects in food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing.
Key Results
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.
Key Functions
Participates in, and eventually leads multidisciplinary teams to assist governments in the identification and preparation of investment and finance support initiatives in the fields of food security, agriculture, agrifood systems transformation, rural development, natural resource management and climate resilience, and agro-processing, and participates in pre-appraisal and appraisal missions.
Participates in, and eventually leads multidisciplinary teams for the implementation support and the preparation of final evaluation of investment operations.
Provides technical expertise for the preparation of food and agriculture, agrifood systems transformation, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing studies and strategies, in the formulation of national sector and/or sub-sector investment plans and programmes.
Supports the development of inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems involving producers, their organizations, other private sector actors, and civil society organizations and government.
Formulates and delivers capacity development initiatives in the areas of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and climate resilience, and agro-processing investment support to government staff, and non-state actors and private sector organizations.
Prepares reports in accordance with governments and financing partners requirements.
Provides support in task organization, selection of consultants, preparation of terms of reference and in ensuring the quality of outputs.
Promotes international cooperation and collaboration leading to new investment opportunities and cooperative agreements, advocates best practices and effective policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international meetings.
Establishes, promotes and maintains relationships with FAO technical units and Decentralized Offices in order to ensure best synergies between investment, policy and innovation work in support to FAO Members.
Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate Strategy.
Provides guidance and advice to junior staff.
Specific Functions
Provides contributions to food security, agriculture, agrifood systems transformation, rural development, natural resource management and climate resilience, and agro-processing national or regional strategies, plans and operations for their investment implications, technical and environmental feasibility and compliance with national policies and priorities.
Assesses the constraints and opportunities of enhancing the productivity of agricultural production systems with emphasis on sustainability of farming practices and environmental impact, access to, and functioning of markets, relevance and quality of agricultural services, institutions and organizations, cross-sectoral interactions, investment risks and de-risking measures, as well as role and engagement of commercial private sector.
Participates in, and eventually leads the design of climate resilient agricultural activities and components of investment operations, including systems of implementation support and monitoring and evaluation of the impacts of agricultural and rural development projects.
Provides technical expertise for practical productivity and sustainability improvements to existing farming systems formulates crop budgets and defines the technical parameters for the establishment of farm models for financial and economic analysis in support of investment design and appraisal.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in agronomy, agricultural engineering or a closely related field.
Seven years of relevant experience in planning and implementing agricultural development programs, including experience in the formulation and/or implementation of food security, agriculture, agrifood systems transformation, rural development, natural resource management and climate resilience, and agro-processing investment operations in developing countries and/or countries in transition.
Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
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 rainfed and irrigated agriculture, livestock, fisheries and forestry, 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 food security, agriculture, agrifood systems transformation, rural development, natural resource management and climate resilience, and agro-processing investment and finance support solutions, with focus on agricultural development including functioning of agricultural support services, rural market 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 food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing investments.
Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in English.
