Organizational Setting

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 United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve food security and nutrition. FAO’s goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to lead active and healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide. FAO Country Offices, operating under overall corporate guidance and in line with the FAO Strategic Framework, provide policy advice and technical support to countries in FAO’s mandated areas. They work through partnerships, resource mobilization and active country programmes to deliver technical assistance, strengthen national capacities and provide core services, while fully observing international standards of accountability and results-based management. The offices deliver on national programmatic priorities as articulated in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs), aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.

In Papua New Guinea, FAO implements a portfolio of country-level Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) projects that provide targeted, timely and demand-driven technical assistance to support national priorities in agriculture, food security, nutrition, livelihoods and sustainable agrifood systems. The TCP portfolio supports capacity development, evidence-based policy and programme formulation, stakeholder coordination, and the delivery of practical field-level interventions. TCP implementation is carried out under the overall leadership of the FAO Head of Office in Papua New Guinea and in close coordination with programme, operations and technical teams, ensuring strong project cycle management, alignment with national strategies and FAO corporate frameworks, effective partnerships, knowledge sharing and accountable use of resources.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Office for FAO PNG, direct supervision of the National Project Specialist, with technical guidance of the Head of Programme and administrative guidance from the Head of Operations, in close collaboration with the relevant project personnel, and other FAO PNG team members, the incumbent will work with the Department of Agriculture & Livestock (DAL) and relevant government stakeholders, cooperatives, farmer groups to support the implementation of activities under TCP/PNG/4006 and TCP/PNG?4005.

Technical Focus

Strengthening agribusiness development and market systems for smallholder farmers, particularly within livestock, poultry, and apiculture value chains. The expert will support the development of inclusive and sustainable agribusiness models, strengthen value chain performance, and facilitate market linkages to improve income opportunities and food security for rural producers.

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Provide technical expertise on agribusiness development, value chain strengthening, and market systems to support inclusive, sustainable, and nutrition-sensitive food systems.
•     Provide technical support on agribusiness and market development for small livestock, poultry, and apiculture value chains to improve income and food security.
•     Integrate gender-responsive agribusiness activities into District Development Plans and depot and nursery business plans.
•     Develop practical cost-recovery and revenue-generation models to ensure financial sustainability beyond project closure.
•     Support women to establish market linkages for eggs, meat, honey, and other livestock products.
•     Promote collective marketing and bulk sales approaches to strengthen women’s market access and bargaining power.
•     Deliver training on business skills, including bookkeeping, pricing, negotiation, and customer management.
•     Establish and coordinate linkages with local and regional buyers, including support to sales and transport logistics.
•     Monitor sales performance, farmer incomes, and market demand to improve depot operations and market strategies.
•     Strengthen capacities of government counterparts and farmer organizations through technical guidance, training, and policy advice.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•     Advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Marketing, Rural Development, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field. A Bachelor’s degree in the above fields with additional years of relevant professional experience may be considered.
•     Minimum of 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 10 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in agribusiness development, value chain strengthening, or market systems programming.
•     Working knowledge of English
•     National of Papua New Guinea

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 related to agribusiness development and agricultural value chain strengthening (e.g., livestock, poultry, or apiculture), including collaboration with government institutions, cooperatives, and smallholder farmer groups across different project locations or programme areas
•     Extent and relevance of experience in developing and strengthening livestock, poultry, apiculture, or smallholder-based value chains
•     Extent and relevance of experience in integrating gender-responsive approaches into agribusiness and market development initiatives, including women’s economic empowerment and improved market access
•     Extent and relevance of experience in supporting agribusiness integration into local planning frameworks, such as District Development Plans, or similar decentralized development structures in Papua New Guinea.
•     Extent and relevance of experience in delivering business skills training (bookkeeping, pricing, negotiation, financial literacy, customer relations).
•     Familiarity with rural enterprise financing and cooperative governance models.
•     Familiarity with and Knowledge of agricultural value chain development
•     Strong understanding of inclusive and nutrition-sensitive food systems.
•     Excellent stakeholder coordination and facilitation skills.
•     Strong analytical and reporting skills.
•     Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
•     Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Selection Criteria

•     Specialized training in value chain development and, market systems development, enterprise development, or gender-responsive programming is highly desirable

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION