Agribusiness Specialist (SC9)

Organizational Setting

The key mission of the FAO Representation in Somalia, which is led by FAO Representative (FAOR), is to assist and support the national government to develop policies, strategies and programme aimed at accelerating the Implementation and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the area of FAO's global mandate and Strategic Objectives. More specifically, FAO's response aims to address national needs and priorities in achieving food security, reducing hunger and malnutrition, developing agricultural, fishery and forestry sectors, and ensuring the sustainable use of environmental and natural resources and respond to recurrent emergencies. The current portfolio of activities of the FAO Representation in Somalia includes a wide scope of technical support interventions ranging from policy support through livestock and crop production, to natural resource management, Nutrition, value chain, food security analysis and water and land information management. FAO is also implementing several emergency, resilience-building, and development interventions, with the support of its five field offices and close to 400 staff in partnership with the Federal and State line ministries.

Reporting Lines

The position is under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Somalia, the general supervision of the relevant technical divisions in FAO and the direct supervision of the Livestock Sector Coordinator.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will identify opportunities for investment in priority livestock value chains; lead innovation, development and scale up of investment and agribusiness projects; lead market studies, financial and economic analyses of value chain projects; review investment implications viz a vis livestock and rural development policies; evaluate performance of value chain projects; develop analytical and reporting frameworks.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Incumbent will:

• Assist with general coordination and documentation of Livestock Value Chain project activities. • Provide technical assistance and leadership to the livestock sector unit to identify, design, prototype, and scale up innovative investment projects or programmes across the various value chains. • Initiate, coordinate, and advise the livestock sector coordinator on consultative and policy dialogue meetings with Somali livestock sector decision makers, ensuring the participation of funding partners. • Provide technical advice to the livestock sector in the development of agribusiness projects and programmes for funding, and identify and prepare concept notes and proposals for investment projects and programmes. • Establish the feasibility of proposals through studying market prospects, prices, costs, and risks, and carrying out financial and economic analysis. • Review investment implications of livestock and rural development policies and Somali national and regional plans and programmes for poverty alleviation, food security and climate change. • Evaluate performance of value chain projects or programmes/progress during implementation, and their impact after completion. • Assess constraints and opportunities for investment at all levels of selected value chains, in relation to the functionality of private sector engagement, markets and market institutions, existence and performance of support services, trade policies, risk management systems, as well as food safety control systems when applicable. • Provide technical guidance to the Line Ministries of Livestock and implementing partners during formulation and implementation programmes across the various value chains projects as required and appropriate. • Join in the development of project proposals, monitoring and evaluation of livestock investment projects or programme in Somalia. • Develop technical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks, and related methodologies, tools, systems, and databases etc. to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of programmes of work, projects, products and/or services. • Provide contributions in the analysis of selected livestock sub sectors and value chains. • Identify and analyses livestock investment-related policy issues. • Provide technical assistance and leadership in organizing of small-scale producers into groups/cooperatives, training them in group dynamics and agribusiness including business development /enterprise management as well as financial literacy. • Organize policy dialogue fora for relevant stakeholders and policy-makers to raise awareness on critical matters along the livestock value chains. • Compile and document key lessons learnt and best practices in the identification, design, implementation and management of Livestock Value Chain projects and value addition, as well as factors that may have affected the realization and equitable distribution of the desired/expected benefits. • Carry out assessment and quantification (evaluation) of the market and non-market economic benefits generated through the Livestock Value Chain, as well as the beneficiaries, adopting a 'with and without' Benefit-Cost approach framework. • Develop and pilot models for engagement of the youth in Livestock Value Chain target areas. • Participate in developing information materials, technical papers and guidelines relating livestock value chain development and public-private platforms and partnerships. • Provide contributions in the development of knowledge products, including analytical work and practical tools, related to agribusiness, marketing and value chain development. • Develop public private platforms aiming at promoting an enabling environment for investment along the value chain. • Promote knowledge sharing and best practices at meetings and conferences. • Contribute to periodic official reports and briefing papers according to project requirement/deadlines and donor related requests on the livestock value chain on-going and closed projects. • Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in relevant discipline preferably, economics, agribusiness, or other relevant discipline in a reputable institution. • At least 4 years of experience in development or management of innovative investment and agribusiness projects; stakeholders’ engagement; financial and economic analyses of projects; market analyses; policy analyses; performance evaluation of livestock value chains; documenting key lessons learnt and best practices of value chain projects preferably in Somalia. • Working knowledge (level C) of the FAO official language used for communication within the country (English) and working knowledge of the local language(s) is required. • National of Somalia.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience in development of Innovative investment and agribusiness projects across the various value chains. • Experience in analysis and evaluation of performance of livestock value chains. • Experience in analysis of markets. • Experience in analysis of livestock investment-related policies for livestock value chains improvement. • Ability and willingness to engage in continuous learning related to livestock value chain.

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.