Lead National Expert on Local Food Markets

Organizational Setting:

The main aim of the FAO Operating Unit (REU) is to assist governments to develop policies, programs 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. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has been implementing development projects in Belarus for decades. Recently, FAO has engaged in a wide range of activities to support value chains in the country through the promotion of inclusive agricultural value chains that seek to increase smallholder farmers’ income. FAO is formulating interventions that contribute to a better alignment with the Government delivery mechanisms, increasingly involving the private sector and taking advantage of the digital transformation that is taking place in the country. For all these reasons, FAO is looking for a Lead National Expert on Local Food Markets to support the implementation and coordination of a two-year project that will explores and pilot the use digital platforms to support the development of local food markets.

Reporting Lines:

This position is under the overall supervision of the Project`s Budget Holder (BH) and the technical supervision of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) Economist – Value Chains officer in FAO’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia.

Technical Focus:

The Lead National Expert on Local Food Markets will lead and coordinate the implementation of a two year FAO Project, including the production of a key background document that describes the state of the art of digital platforms for food markets in the region, and the drafting of a National Strategy for Belarus. The incumbent will coordinate project activities with other ongoing national projects, and will be involved in mainstreaming gender and youth in the various stages of project implementation.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• Coordinate and lead the implementation of the Project; • Organise and lead regular meetings of the Project Task Force; • Support in the selection and recruitment of national project staff; • Coordinate the work of national project staff; • Liaise with FAO Staff and Government Officials (including local administrations) on all matters related the project; • Facilitate and coordinate Project activities with ongoing activities of relevant projects and programmes in the country and the Region; • Prepare the Background Report and the National Strategy on Online Local Markets; • Be responsible for the timely delivery of reports that serve to monitor Project delivery; • Draft the Final Report of the Project. • Support partner training and the use of the promoted digital platforms; • Undertake learning and joint supervision missions in the Pilot Areas; • Support local learning events on digital innovations for local markets; • Attend meetings and other relevant coordination spaces in Minsk on areas of work related to the Project.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Candidate should be national of the Republic of Belarus or resident in the country with a regular work permit. • Advanced University degree in agriculture, agricultural economics, rural development, livelihood, or related discipline, or any area related to the work of the Organization; • Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience working in rural development, agri-business development, or local food markets; • Working knowledge of English and good knowledge of the local language (Russian/Belorussian) used at the duty station is required.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Project management skills in the agri-food sector; • Proven capacity to conduct market assessment or value chain analysis to identify livelihood opportunities and responses; • Multi-disciplinary approaches to address food markets, including systems thinking. • Possession of a cooperative spirit, flexibility and openness to work in an international environment, including tact and courtesy and a strong capacity for establishing and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Selection Criteria

• Proven experience providing research or working in the local food markets, short supply chains or food market studies; • At least 3 years of working experience on project management at the national level; • Extent and relevance of experience in technical fields related to agri-food markets and rural development; • Experience participating in national initiatives or platforms for the development of digital platforms for local markets; • Capacity to write documents and reports in a clear and concise manner; • English is the official language used for communication within the country. Therefore, working knowledge of English (level C) is required to liaise with other FAO offices.