Agriculture Market Value Chain Specialist

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural , fisheries and forestry sectors and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

This position is located in Karachi, Sindh. The FAO program in Sindh includes a number of projects focused on food security, land tenure governance, disaster preparedness, livelihood restoration, sustainable agriculture and fisheries, resilience, climate responsive agriculture, value-chain development and analysis of the policy environment for food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture (FNSSA).

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Pakistan (FAOR) and the direct supervision of the Provincial International Program Coordinator, the Agriculture Market Value Chain Specialist will report on a day to day basis to the Project Coordinator of the relevant project in Sindh, and will work closely with other technical specialists in the FAO country team with additional technical backstopping from the FAO regional office.

Technical Focus

The Agriculture Market Value Chain Specialist will contribute to the relevant outputs of the European Union-funded project “Strengthening the Resilience of Agro-pastoralists in Sindh” and to other EU-funded projects in the province requiring agriculture market value chain expertise.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• Identify and assess potential beneficiaries/groups (farmer groups for crop and livestock, farmer produce marketing groups) formed under the previous FAO programs, for their involvement in the training and market linkages development activities;
• Identify and assess potential market actors as beneficiaries (processors, aggregators, storage owners, input suppliers etc.) for their participation in practical training sessions and linkage development meetings
• Provide technical backstopping in planning and implementation of activities focusing on capacity strengthening of farmers in surplus produce marketing, storage, transportation, product safety etc.
• Provide technical inputs in the design and implementation of training need assessment and training programme targeting farmer produce marketing groups and market actors
• Identify and compile recommendations for the capacity development of producers and PMGs/associations to access financial and other services and resources
• Develop linkages of farmer produce marketing groups with markets, individuals, and other groups for sale and purchase of agricultural products and value added agriculture products
• Build linkages with other development partners/actors/projects in Sindh for synergies and complementarities

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree in Agriculture (preferably Horticulture), Agriculture Economics, Agribusiness or value chain development.
• 8 years relevant working experience with well reputed government or private organizations in a similar role(s),
• Prior experience of working with a UN or INGO is an added advantage.
• Working level knowledge of English, fluency in Urdu and knowledge of languages used in Sindh.
• National of Pakistan.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Knowledge of United Nations and International Organizations’ administrative policies and procedures.
• Good knowledge of common administrative and financial rules and regulations
• Good knowledge of communication and documentation standards
• Knowledge and understanding of sourcing within the procurement function.
• Strong research skills, ability to conduct benchmarking analysis in support of vendor identification, selection and performance management.
• Display initiative and take responsibility for achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and closely follow-up until successful outputs are achieved.
• Continue to seek new, innovative and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work assigned.
• Identify and recommend remedial measures to address problems in systems design or implementation

Selection Criteria

Candidates will be assessed against the requirements listed above.

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
• Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/