Agricultural Officer (Enterprise Development and Value Chains)

Organizational Setting The Regional Office for RAP is responsible for leading FAO's response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the Region and, in collaboration with departments and divisions at Headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities. RAP also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization's Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. RAP develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs). The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region. The post is located in the Wewak, Papua New Guinea.

Reporting Lines The Agricultural Officer reports to the Programme Coordinator.

Technical Focus Sustainable local small and medium enterprise development through value chain approaches.

Key Results Research, technical analysis, and project related services to support the delivery of programme projects, products, and services.

Key Functions • Researches and analyses technical, social, economic, environmental, institutional, and technology related information, data and statistics and/or related policy issues to support the delivery of programme projects, products and services; • Produces a variety of technical information, data, statistics and reports as well as input for technical documents and web pages; • Provides technical support/analysis to various assessments, studies and initiatives and provides technical backstopping to field projects; • Collaborates in the development of improved/updated tools, systems, processes, and databases; • Participates on multi-disciplinary teams, and/or leads working groups/teams collaborates with other departments and agencies on work groups and committees and promotes best practices; • Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development activities within member countries such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials, online tools; • Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences and influences partners in stakeholder consultations; • Supports resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate strategy.

Specific Functions • Liaises with key project stakeholders including the FAO technical team; and senior technical contact points of the other on-going projects (World Bank, UNDP, IDB and FAO) in the project area; Ministry of Agriculture, NFA and other officials; representatives of other donor agencies; • Contributes to the preparation and conducting of the project baseline, inception workshop and all other awareness activities to be undertaken at project sites; • Supports the timely planning and manages the implementation of the project outputs related to improved financial literacy, enterprise development and sustainable value chain development; • Contributes to the design and tailoring of the grant scheme to be used for the engagement and inclusion of women and youth in enterprise development for the three selected value chains. This will be based on lessons learned from similar interventions in the region and beyond and tailored in line with existing grant/financing in the area ; • Supports agripreneurs in the development and implementation of grant proposals for the three selected value chains; • Supports the timely engagement with the local value chains stakeholders, agripreneurs and their associations/local service providers and NGO's/INGOs, groups, government (Ward, District and Provincial level) in the Inception Phase; • Contributes to design and ensures delivery of capacity building programmes on enterprise development, financial management and engage appropriate local partners in project implementation including local training in financial literacy, SME development and improvement, Business development skills, marketing and improving market access for the focus value chains; • Collaborates with the other project UN Partners on specific issues and engage in joint work planning based on detailed Annual Work Plans and Budgets; • Supervises, supports and mentors local staff in improving capacity and effectively engaging with local communities (with a focus on women) in the project areas; • Supervises the implementation of project activities and for the collection of information and data required for project monitoring and reporting, including interim and final narrative and financial progress reports and forecasts. Prepares all the necessary periodic programme progress reports; • Supports the visibility and promotion of the project goals and objectives, contribute to their achievement, through targeted outreach as described in the project Communications Plan; ensures that all printed materials (leaflets, brochures, folders, training materials, signs, etc.) are produced in accordance with the guidelines contained in the EU Communication and Visibility Manual; • Responds to the technical needs of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL, which will be the lead counterpart) the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Finance (also National Authorizing Officer of the EDF), the Ministry of Regional Development, the Bureau of Standards and participate in the meetings when required; • Supports the Programme Coordinator in the management and supervision of all project components, the coordination of all of the project activities and contribute to the management of the project office; • Supports the development of detailed implementation plans and costing for activities under the EU STREIT programme for monitoring of project progress and timely identification of implementation and budget related problems; • Contributes to joint work planning with EU STREIT programme staff, DAL and other government bodies as well as provincial and district level authorities; • Drafts six monthly project progress reports and ensures that the terminal statement are prepared in a comprehensive and timely manner; • Provides technical and administrative briefings to all project staff and incoming consultants as well FAO support services and leads the technical review of consultants and mission reports in consultation with the PC; • Supervises timely procurement and delivery of equipment and materials and supplies to beneficiaries and groups;

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements • Advanced university degree in food/agribusiness, agricultural economics/agribusiness, enterprise development or related disciplines; • Five years of relevant experience in in enterprise development/value chains; • Working knowledge of English (proficient – level C) and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another FAO official 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 and knowledge in financial literacy skill development, preparation of business plans, marketing skills training and in delivering capacity development programmes to Micro and Small and Medium size enterprises; • Extent and level of experience in working with producer groups/associations and specifically with women's groups and associations in sustainable food/agricultural value chain development in a developing country context; • Extent and relevance of experience in small and medium enterprise development, preferably in a private sector or co-operative or similar context in developing countries.