National Agribusiness Consultant (Digital Innovations/Blockchain)

Organizational Settings

The global mandate of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is to improve nutrition, increase agricultural productivity, raise the standard of living in rural populations and contribute to global economic growth. Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's efforts – to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.

Reporting Lines

The National Agribusiness Consultant will be working in FAO country office in Uganda (FAOUG) under the overall guidance of the FAO representative (FAOR) in Uganda, the direct guidance of Assistant FAOR/Programme in Uganda, and under the technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) of the TCP project entitled “Blockchain and related digital innovations for sustainable agri-food value chain development in Uganda,” and in close collaboration with other staff, consultants, ministerial counterparts and partners involved in the Project.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide support to the coordination and implementation of the project to ensure the successful implementation of the project activities and output delivery according to the work plan and to achieve expected objectives and outcomes, especially lead the coordination with HQ team members and the coordination of partners and activities in Uganda, support the monitoring, evaluation and reporting activities.
• Work closely and collaboratively with members in the project team (e.g., the project taskforce team, LTO, HQTO, international agribusiness/VC digital innovations specialist, national project coordinator and officers), participate in meetings, and engage partners and collaborators within and beyond FAO.
• Identify a list of key and relevant stakeholders for the project, lead the engagement with relevant stakeholders, organize and participate in consultations/meetings with stakeholders.
• Provide technical support to the international agribusiness/VC digital innovations consultant, LTO and HQTO, including the conduct of interviews/surveys, collection of data/information/documents, drafting and/or reviewing technical outputs as needed, contribute to the implementation of project activities and the development of technical analysis, case studies, presentations, training materials, knowledge products, and information and communication products as indicated in the project document.
• Lead the conduct of a study and the development of a study report, in collaboration with the technical members of the project team, carry out necessary tasks that may include desk research, literature review, data collection, survey, field visits, stakeholder consultations and carry out analysis and assessment in order to
  1. Identify 2-3 priority VCs in Uganda with high potential for blockchain application;
  2. Conduct the value chain assessment (e.g. including end-market analysis, value chain mapping) for the selected value chains;
  3. Assess the current state, existing applications of digital innovations, needs, challenges as well as opportunities of blockchain and related digital innovations for different VC stages and stakeholders (e.g. core VC and support services, aggregation, marketing, quality control, certification, access to finance, etc.) in selected VC for the purpose of VC development and upgrading;
  4. Provide recommendations for blockchain and related digital innovations to be applied/adopted to develop/strengthen selected VCs.
• Based on the study conducted above, develop a proposal for any pilot or follow-up project to implement the blockchain and related digital innovations for a selected value chain.
• Co-organize and participate in the (virtual) workshops including a validation workshop, especially ensure relevant stakeholders are engaged, invited and received relevant information/materials for the workshops.
• Provide review and support to the work by other members of the project team as requested.
• Participate in technical meetings for blockchain, digital innovations and sustainable agri-food value chain development relevant to the project as necessary or as requested.
• Disseminate the findings of the analysis/study, recommendations through knowledge products via relevant channels (e.g., the study report, presentation materials, fact sheets, brochures, news update) and through stakeholder consultation and engagement, and at meetings and webinars.
• Organize and undertake field missions and prepare mission reports, facilitate the international missions by the project team members.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and undertake other activities relevant to the above-mentioned work and/or activities of the project team deemed necessary for the successful project implementation.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Business, Economics, Supply Chain management, International Development, ICTs, or related fields.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in agribusiness, agri-food value chain development, and digital innovations in agriculture.
• Working knowledge of English language
• Ugandan National

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/ Functional Skills

• The extent and relevance of experience in agribusiness and agri-food value chains, food systems and agricultural economics, digital innovations, and the ability to conduct relevant agri-food value chain analysis, and to write clear and quality technical outputs.
• Knowledge and practical working experience in digital innovations (especially blockchain technology) in agriculture and/or in developing countries, in translating clients’ business goals and challenges into technology roadmaps and architecture designs.
• Practical knowledge and field experience in working with a wide range of stakeholders in public and private sectors and with smallholder farmers and SMEs, and in partnering with business and technology transformation programs, orchestrating the implementation of planned initiatives and realization of business outcomes.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, and demonstrated capacity to conduct research, comprehend analytical reports, keep abreast of technology trends and identify applicability to clients’ business/technology ecosystem, define enterprise blueprints that leverage emerging architecture patterns and functional solutions.
• Ability to plan and organize own work, deliver results and meet deadlines
• Ability to perform well in cross-disciplinary skills and working with and engage multiple stakeholders.