Small-Scale Business Development for Women and Youth Specialist (SC-8)

Organizational Setting

The FAO Country Office in Bangladesh (FABGD) is responsible for leading FAO's response to country priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the country. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the country and, in collaboration with the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP), Divisions, Offices and Centres at FAO Headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to these priorities. Through its Country Programming Framework (CPF), the Country Office supports policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, at country level and facilitates the emergence of country partnerships and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.

Project Synopsis

The FAO office in Bangladesh is expected to provide technical assistance to the public sector stakeholder institutions in Bangladesh to facilitate the implementation of the upcoming Diversified Resilient Agriculture for Improved Food and Nutrition Security (RAINS) Project. The overall aim of this project is to provide Technical Assistance (TA) to strengthen the capacity of implementing agencies, especially Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM), to successfully implement the project and reach expected results.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will be working under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Bangladesh and direct supervision of the Senior Technical Adviser (STA), with close coordination with the RAINS Project Management Unit.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will be directly responsible for the technical assistance in the area of women and youth off-farm income generation

Tasks and responsibilities

• Review agriculture-related off-farm business models successfully implemented by recently completed and ongoing IFAD and FAO-assisted projects in the country, such as: (i) women-run retail and service shops in wet markets, (ii) home-based micro-enterprises and business start-up for young people, especially girls, (iii) agricultural machinery and equipment rental and repair businesses. • Select promising business models and sites for the establishment of demonstration businesses (at least women-led business and 1 youth-led machinery rental and repair business per district). • Select interested women and youth, based on a competitive process with objective selection criteria. • Provide training to the selected women and youth on business planning, business management, record keeping, logistics etc. • In collaboration with the post-harvest and primary processing expert, organize the procurement of the equipment and machinery to be provided as matching grants. • Provide regular backstopping to the pilot businesses and refresher training as needed. • Coordinate the support of the post-harvest and primary processing expert and the marketing expert to the women and youth-led small-scale agribusiness development. • Organize exchange visits of PO representatives. • Provide other technical assistance related to value chain development, linking farmers to market and agribusiness development as requested by the STA and RAINS PMU. • Prepare training and workshop reports conducted by the incumbent and field mission back-to-office reports. • Contribute to FAO-TA and RAINS six-monthly progress reports to GAFSP.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Rural development, Agricultural extension, Social Science or related field. • Minimum 8 years of experience, in the are of agribusiness, small business, entrepreneurship, particularly for women and youth, or related area. • Working knowledge of English • National of Bangladesh.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience working with the private sector (input providers and produce buyers, small-scale agriculture enterprises) and producer organizations. • Understanding of the agricultural value chain development process and principles of agricultural products’ marketing. • Experience in working with public administration of central and local level in Bangladesh. • Readiness to carry out visits to project sites and duty travel as required. • Excellent communication skills including writing skills, proven ability to convey complex ideas through clear communication, and concise reports, and effective oral presentations. • Willingness to work as a team member with multicultural and multidisciplinary team of experts. • Ability to work independently and proceed with objectives of the assignment work under pressure and meet deadlines. • Self-motivation, willingness to learn and good work ethics.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.