National Value Chain Development, Traceability and Marketing Specialist

Organizational Setting

The FAO Representation in Sri Lanka is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing agreed strategies for addressing country food, agriculture and rural development priorities. It develops and maintains relations with country-wide institutions including Government Institutions and Development Partners. The project TCP/SRL/3704 seeks to establish a sui generis registration-based national system for Geographical Indications (GI). The project will not only build the capacities of the GoSL and relevant stakeholders to operate the national GI system, but also will support two pilot GI value chains, including the setup of interprofessional associations (IPAs) to manage and promote the GIs. The project will count with the expertise of two national consultants: a national value chain development, traceability and marketing specialist and national legal specialist on intellectual property rights (IPRs) and Sri Lankan law.

Reporting Lines

The National value chain development, traceability and marketing specialist reports to the FAO Representative in Sri Lanka, under the overall supervision and management of FAO Representation in Sri Lanka, technical oversight of the Regional Office Lead Technical Officer and the operational guidance of the international GI consultant(s) & Team Leader

Technical Focus

i) GI identification, GI stake-holders organizations management and marketing/promotion issues; ii) legal framework for GIs; and iii) design of GI national control scheme and capacity building on GI controls (internal and external).

Tasks and responsibilities

• Under the guidance of the international expert(s) & GI Team Leader and in coordination with the national legal specialist on IPRs and Sri Lankan law, the national value chain development, traceability and marketing specialist will:
  • Coordinate the national inventory of GI potential products and the collection of local inputs for the selection of the two pilot GI value chains to be prioritized and developed under the project.
  • Convene regular meetings/consultations with key stake-holders (such as producers, government institutions, wholesale and retail markets, and development partners) at central and local levels to understand the background and current situation of the two pilot GI value chains, as well as to perform value chain assessments (including analysis of strengths and weaknesses and mapping along the value chains and their institutional environment), and contribute to the building of the two pilot GI value-chains stake-holders groups/association and their capacity building
  • Contribute to the drafting of roadmaps for the two pilot GI value chains to be validated by counterparts and other stakeholders.
  • Contribute to the collection of relevant technical data, in liaison with GI stake-holders and authorities, for the preparation of GI product specifications
• Participate and contribute in training/outreach meetings as requested, as well as in the validation workshop to present the roadmap for the value chains with key stakeholders (private and public sector).
• Provide inputs for the preparation of a video on GI, social media materials and other outreach materials.
• Provide inputs for the preparation of the project terminal statement for the FAO Representative
• Other tasks as requested

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced academic degree in agricultural economics or related subject
• Relevant experience (5 years minimum) in agrifood systems development, including the development of agrifood sub-sector appraisals.
• Fluency in English especially in writing reports, translating technical documents and interpretation
• National of Sri Lanka or resident in the country with a regular work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in value chain assessments and related research
• Ability to lead / coordinate multidisciplinary teams