Agrifood markets and value chains specialist

Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE) 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. In its programme delivery, RNE contributes to the achievements of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, guided by SDG 1 No poverty, SDG 2 No hunger, and SDG 10 Reducing inequalities. In addition to supporting FAO’s work in Member countries, RNE develops and maintains strategic partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders at regional level. It supports countries to develop strategies, policies and regulatory frameworks, supports capacity development and resource mobilization for sustainable food systems to deliver food security and nutrition, better income and livelihoods contributing to inclusive rural development in the region.

Reporting Lines

The consultant reports to the Agro-Industry Officer in RNE and works in collaboration with other staff and consultants contributing to the Regional Integrated Programmes on Rural Transformation (RP1) and Healthy Diets for All (RP2), along with colleagues at sub-regional and country levels and relevant technical units in Headquarters.

Technical Focus

Agrifood systems around the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region are facing multiple challenges such as climate change, hunger and malnutrition, degraded natural resources among others, while at the same time contributing to several of these challenges. Recent geopolitical events have drawn attention to the urgent need to transform agrifood systems in NENA towards more sustainable, inclusive and resilient systems. RNE supports NENA member countries in the transformation of agrifood systems by making food value chains more competitive, sustainable, inclusive and resilient.

The regional programme area of work on ‘Sustainable and Inclusive Value Chains” promotes holistic, integrated, and systemic policy approaches to effectively strengthen their potential for value addition, employment and income generation, healthy diets, resilience to socioeconomic and climate shocks, and inclusive economic growth across agrifood systems. The area of work includes, among others: (i) facilitating and strengthening market linkages for increased access to markets; (ii) increasing capacity and access to inputs and financial services for agrifood MSMEs; (iii) reducing post-harvest loss and food waste and (iv) improving enabling environment and policies sustainable agrifood value chains.

The consultant will provide technical support to the implementation of regional programme action areas on food loss and waste reduction, and competitive, inclusive and sustainable value chain, agribusiness and market systems development (spanning RP1 and RP2), in the framework of supporting a transition to more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Contribute to the design, implementation and monitoring of activities (within the framework of corporate planning) relating to the regional programme action areas on food loss and waste reduction, and competitive, inclusive and sustainable value chain, agribusiness, and market systems development; • Carry out identification and preparation of projects in the field of value chain development, agribusiness, markets, and food loss and waste; • Lead technical input to managing and strengthening the network of FLW stakeholders in the NENA region, including the organization of knowledge exchange and/or capacity development activities around the FLW thematic in the region, and maintaining the network website within fao.org; • Support with analytical work and collaboration with concerned stakeholders the adoption and implementation of cross-sectoral policies and strategies concerning FLW reduction for sustainable agrifood system transformation; • Support analysis and design of selected agrifood sub-sectors and value chains within projects and programs, identifying constraints and opportunities for investment at all levels of selected value chain; • Produce a variety of technical reports and input for technical documents, regional publications and/or web pages under the technical focus (in English); • Produce normative and knowledge products including analytical work and practical tools related to agribusiness and value chain development (guidelines, case studies, technical notes); • Collaborate in capacity development activities involving the planning and organizing of training workshops, seminars, and major meetings and the preparation of related information, materials, on-line tools and information kits; • Provide backstopping services for projects with value chain/agribusiness components (eg. as alternate LTO). Where relevant, develop terms of reference for, and supervise the conduct of value chain and agribusiness studies, food loss and waste and/or market analysis; • Promote knowledge sharing and best practices in meetings and conferences and influences partners in stakeholder consultations related to the technical focus areas; • Perform other related duties as requested.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in economics, agricultural economics, natural resources economics, agro-industry, agribusiness management or a closely related field • 5 years of relevant and practical experience in value chain analysis and development, agribusiness and market systems analysis and development, and food loss and waste reduction policy and programmes, food systems, with desirable experience in project formulation and/or implementation of agrifood investment support solutions in developing countries. • Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish). For PSA, working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience in more than one location or area of work particularly in field positions • Extent and relevance of experience in technical fields related to agribusiness development, value-chain development and analysis, business and market planning and food loss and waste. Knowledge of the context as well as partners and institutions of the region would be an asset. • Capacity to write technical reports in English. • Extent and relevance of experience in participating in multidisciplinary teams for the preparation of strategies and sector studies as well as formulation, implementation support of technical cooperation projects with focus on food loss and waste reduction, value chain development and agribusiness • Extent and relevance of experience in preparing publications, technical reports, training materials and other relevant materials. • Knowledge (proficient – level C) of Arabic and/or French would be an asset.