Agribusiness Development/ Marketing Specialist

Organizational Setting

FAO’s approach to development assistance in Mindanao focuses on supporting the rehabilitation of agriculture and fisheries-based livelihoods, accelerating agriculture-based enterprises and increasing access to sustainable energy, and resilience to risk in municipalities affected by natural disasters and conflict.

Reporting Lines

The Agribusiness Development/Marketing Specialist will report to the Assistant FAOR Programme.

Technical Focus

Through the UN Joint Programme “Resilient Livelihoods Development for Women and Youth IDPs in Maguindanao” (UNJP/PHI/075/FPA), FAO, in collaboration with UNFPA, aims to address the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition from a gender equality and women’s and youth empowerment perspective. Working with regional and local government partners, the programme aims to improve the overall well-being, food security, nutrition, and health status among women and youth IDPs through equitable access to improved and restored local food security interventions and to reproductive health and protection services during recovery and return.

The Agribusiness Development/Marketing Specialist is expected to support the capacity building of community-based organizations in terms of agribusiness, value chain development and market linkages. During the first three months of the assignment, the incumbent is expected to deliver the following knowledge products:

• Review of existing and potential value chain or resilient agricultural livelihoods in the five municipalities. • Project implementation plan for Outcome 1 focused on development of agribusiness and marketing component of the project. • Reports from consultation workshops on value chain and business plan development. • Agricultural Livelihoods business proposals for women and youth IDPs.

In the next six months, the incumbent will also deliver the following outputs:

• Report on monthly activities related to establishment and setting up of business enterprises. • Conduct regular project implementation review, with reports showing agribusiness and marketing milestones, challenges, mitigation measures and lessons learned. • Strategy for conduct or participation of market linkages events, such as community-based organization on trade fairs, community exhibits and marketing missions. • The incumbent shall familiarize him/herself with FAO’s corporate communication policy and operational guidelines to ensure mandatory coherence of all communication and information outputs; • The incumbent shall demonstrate a strong understanding of FAO Style in drafting documentation, without the need for continuous correction or oversight; and • The incumbent shall keep the project budget holder and LTO/supervisor informed of his/her work and findings. Upon finalizing his assignment, he will submit the below documents to the budget holder after incorporating the comments by the supervisor

Tasks and responsibilities

Specifically, the Agribusiness Development/Marketing Specialist will undertake the following tasks:

• Take stock and gather data on agribusiness and value chains in Maguindanao, particularly among the five municipalities, including reviewing existing value chain analyses and past and on-going programmes on agribusiness and enterprise development to benchmark practices and identify approaches to strengthen and enhance private sector participation and market linkages, enterprise models and existing and emerging business opportunities for areas affected by natural and human-induced disasters. • Generate a list of potential buyers and suppliers for the validated resilient agricultural livelihoods identified in the five municipalities. • Support selected community-based organizations (CBOs) in the preparation of feasible business plans to enhance their livelihoods. • Build the capacities on agribusiness and marketing of selected CBOs in coordination with relevant government agencies including, among MAFAR MTOT, CSEA and Provincial and Municipal local government units and other key counterparts • Carry out linkage facilitation activities, such as trade fairs, exhibits and market missions, to enhance the access of community-based organizations and farmer beneficiaries to output markets. • Carry out any other relevant duties within his/her technical competence as may be requested by FAO

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University Degree (master’s degree preferred) in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Economics, Commerce, Business Management or Marketing. • At least five years practical experience in the implementation of projects on agribusiness, agriculture-based livelihoods, entrepreneurship, and value chain development at the field level; with complementary knowledge in agricultural development planning. • Working knowledge (level C) of English and Tagalog and/or any dialect in Maguindanao is an advantage • A National of the Philippines

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 • Extent and relevance of experience in Agricultural Business • Extent and relevance of experience in Marketing • Familiarity with working among civil society organizations (CSOs) or community-based organizations (CBO) • Engagement with United Nations and International ( I-NGOs) particularly in Mindanao is an advantage. • Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Filipino • General knowledge and skills in the use of standard office software, such as MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: [email protected]
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.