Investment Support Officer

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 Near East, North Africa, Europe and Central Asia Service (CFIC) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI)  in the FAO Subregional Office for Central Asia (SEC) in Ankara, Türkiye.

Reporting Lines
The Investment Support Officer reports to the Chief, Near East, North Africa, Europe and Central Asia Service (CFIC) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI) and works in collaboration with the Subregional Coordinator for Central Asia (SEC).

Technical Focus
Provide analytical and technical support on any of the following areas linked to: agriculture, rural development, irrigation, rural infrastructure, agribusiness, value chain development, agrifood logistics and markets, agrifood finance, natural resource management, forestry, land tenure, sustainable livestock management, rural institutions, resilience and risk management and private sector development 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 provision of technical expertise 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, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing; 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 and finance support solutions.
•     Provides technical expertise for the preparation of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing studies and strategies, in the formulation of national sector and/or sub-sector investment policies, plans and programmes.
•     Supports the development of inclusive and sustainable food systems involving producers, their organizations, other private sector actors and civil society organizations and governments.
•     Formulates and delivers capacity development initiatives in the areas of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing investment support to government staff and non-state actors and private sector organizations.
•     Prepares documents in accordance with FAO, governments’ and financing partners' requirements.
•     Provides support in task organization, the selection of consultants, the preparation of terms of reference and in the assurance of 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 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.
•     Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate Framework.
•     Provides guidance and advice to junior staff.

Minimum Requirements

•     Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, agricultural economics, agricultural sciences, environmental sciences, agribusiness management, natural resource management, forestry, irrigation and drainage engineering, rural infrastructure engineering, or a related field. 
•     Seven years of relevant experience   in conducting agricultural/rural sector/subsector analytical studies, including experience in the formulation and implementation of agrifood investment operations in developing countries. 
•     Working knowledge (full 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 formulation, implementation support or evaluation of strategies, policies, studies and investment programmes/projects in agriculture, rural development, agribusiness, forestry, natural resource management, irrigation and other related subjects. 
•     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, rural development, natural resources management and agro-processing investment and finance support solutions.
  •     Extent and relevance of experience with FAO's main development partners, in particular the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the European Union and other development partners and international financial institutions. 
•     Direct professional experience with a private company operating in the field of agriculture or agribusiness, as employee or provider of services would be an asset.  
•     Demonstrated experience in dealing with government officials, development partners, private sector stakeholders and other country stakeholders.  
•     Knowledge of the context, as well as partners and institutions of the Near East, North Africa, Europe and Central Asia region would be an important asset.  
•     Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in English.