Technical Adviser (Value Chain Development)

Organizational Setting The main aim of the FAO Representation in Cambodia is to assist the government to develop policies, programmes 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.

FAO is an Accredited Entity (AE) of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). In partnership with Cambodia's National Designated Authority (NDA), the Ministry of Environment (MoE), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) are developing a project ”Public-Social-Private Partnerships for Ecologically-Sound Agriculture and Resilient Livelihoods in Northern Tonle Sap Basin (PEARL)". This climate change adaptation project aims to enhance the climate resilience of farmers and local communities in the Northern Tonle Sap Basin (Kampong Thom, Siem Reap, Preah Vihear and Oddor Meanchey) through public-social-private partnerships and improved access to growing segments of the agricultural product market, while ensuring climate-resilient practices.

The project has three outcomes: i) improved hydrological and agrometeorological services, ii) climate adapted agriculture value chains development and iii) strengthened agriculture regulation, policy, market, finance and institutional capacities. The project will work to improve four agriculture value chains: rice, mango, cashew nut and vegetables. Activities under Outcome 2 of the PEARL project will bridge the current capacity and resource gaps faced by smallholder farmers and other small-scale local value chain actors in the target areas to adopt alternative practices for climate-resilient and high-value agricultural production and processing. The project will use the certification schemes already operational in the country, including CamGap, GI, SRP, organic certification and HACCP, as the primary vehicles of transformation to develop market incentives around cashew, mango, organic rice, and vegetables. The project will enable this market-led transformation through an establishment of a Farmer-led Agricultural Resilience Mechanism (FARM) to assist smallholder farmers and other small-scale local value chain actors in acquiring technologies and infrastructure assets that are essential for adopting climate-resilient and high-value agricultural production and processing.

The recruitment of the Technical Adviser (Value Chain Development) will be subject to the funding of the PEARL project.

The position is located in the FAO Representation in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Reporting Lines The Technical Adviser (Value Chain Development) reports to the Senior Project Officer (SPO) and will be under the overall supervision of FAO Representative (FAOR) in Cambodia. He/she will receive technical guidance from the Lead Technical Officer/Team and other relevant technical officers at the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) and relevant units at FAO headquarters.

Technical Focus The Technical Advisor (Value Chain Development) will be responsible for managing the planning and implementation of all activities under Outcome 2 of the PEARL project with a focus on facilitating a market-led transformation of the four value chains; creation of an enabling environment for efficient and inclusive production and value addition; increased adoption of climate-resilient; high-value agricultural production and processing systems; and ultimately ensuring technical delivery of the expected outputs under Outcome 2.

Key Results Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support technical cooperation-related programmes, projects, products and services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions • Leads the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned technical cooperation-related programmes/projects; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, liaises with relevant parties; identifies follow-up actions. • Coordinates technical cooperation activities and programme-related activities and reviews the assessments of issues and trends for their implementation and leads the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies. • Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g., background papers, analyses, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications. • Contributes to consultative and other meetings, conferences, including proposals for agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations. • Participates in activities such as structuring of training workshops, seminars; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities. • Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties. • Provides advice regarding the development of policies and strategies related to technical cooperation, as well as regional, subregional and national protocols and guidelines for projects with specific domains related to FAO's work.

Specific Functions • Plans and manages multidisciplinary team in project Outcome 2, including managing and/or participating in internal committees, project teams and working groups. • Works in collaboration with key project staff and operational partners to ensure the technical coherence and sustainability of the full range of project activities. • Provides specialized expertise to project beneficiaries and stakeholders as well as engages with relevant technical networks, international technical policy and standard setting bodies. • Develops technical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks, and related methodologies, tools, systems and databases, etc. to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of programmes of work, projects, products and/or services. • Designs and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, innovative approaches and strategies, new tools, technologies, technical reports/publications and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical/policy/ specialist/advice and expertise. • Provides technical and policy assistance and solutions. • Collaborates in, provides technical advice to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events, including preparation of related information, learning materials and on-line tools. • Promotes international cooperation/advocates best practice value chain development. • Conducts comprehensive situation analyses of agricultural value chains for the four target crop commodities (rice, mango, cashew nut and vegetables) to give directions to the sustainable development of the commodity value chains. • Assesses the status of rural agribusiness enterprises and local skills available in target commodities and identifies the development scope and constraints. • Undertakes technical capacity needs assessment for small producers, their cooperatives, agri-entrepreneurs and value chain actors on agribusiness management, as well as value chain development. • Undertakes entrepreneurship skills and prepares a needs assessment for small producer groups, agricultural cooperatives and other farmer organizations to start and manage agri-business enterprises in-line with Outcome 2 activities. • Assesses constraints and opportunities for investment at all levels of selected value chains, in relation to the functionality of private sector engagement, markets and market institutions, existence and performance of support services, trade policies, risk management systems, as well as food safety control systems when applicable. • Facilitates and oversees the development and operationalization of inter-value-chain-actors roadmaps at the provincial level and action/business plans for climate-resilient, inclusive and gender-responsive premium value chain development and identifies specific certification programs as key vehicles. • Provides technical support to and oversees the development and implementation of crop-specific business plans by producer groups, agricultural cooperatives. • Designs and delivers need-based training programme on entrepreneurship agribusiness management, and value chain development for small producers and their cooperatives and other value chain actors including women and youth. • Identifies and promotes innovative, cost-effective technologies for climate-resilient agriculture and value chain development. • Oversees and facilitates the innovative climate adaptation asset acquisition mechanism including contribution to the preparation of technical specifications and procurement packages in consultation with beneficiary groups and procurement of identified infrastructure assets and technologies. • Manages the implementation of a grants activity for qualified agriculture cooperatives and producer groups. • Manages the efficient and timely delivery of inputs, equipment, technical assistance and services. • Establishes partnership and collaborations to sustainably provide the platform with technologies and practices appropriate for each commodity, small agricultural producers, producer groups, agricultural cooperatives and agribusiness entrepreneurs. • Contributes to the development of knowledge products and awareness campaigns for promotion of climate-resilient small and medium agribusiness enterprises. • Assists in preparation of quarterly, semi-annual and annual project component progress reports and identifies lessons learnt, constraints and issues that require timely resolution and corrective actions and presents recommendations for improving the performance. • Identifies and analyses agricultural investment-related policy issues, and develops public private platforms aiming at promoting an enabling environment for investment along the value chain. • Provides contributions to the development of knowledge products, including analytical work and practical tools, related to agribusiness, marketing and value chain development. • Carries out any other relevant duties as required. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements • Advanced university degree in agriculture, agri-business, agricultural economics, development economics or related field; • Seven years of relevant experience in agribusiness, application of value chain analysis and development, agribusiness and market development, processing, agricultural certification schemes; • Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies • Results Focus • Team Work • Communication • Building effective relationships • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills • Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions. • Relevance and extent of experience in technical cooperation related activities, policy advice and analysis relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes. • Relevance and extent of experience in working with inter-governmental bodies and multi-disciplinary teams. • Extent and relevance of experience in one or more of the following areas: agricultural marketing, value chain development, analysis of agricultural investments, value chain analysis or diagnostic and feasibility studies for agro-industries. • Extent and relevance of experience working in agriculture value chain development. • Extent and relevance of experience in project formulation and technical backstopping and leading multidisciplinary teams for inclusive project implementation. • Ability to plan and organize own work, deliver results and meet deadlines. • Experience in working and/or coordinating project activities with governmental organizations, the private sector, NGOs and other partners. • Extent and relevance of experience in the preparation and revision of technical/scientific documents and in organizing training events. • Ability to write clear and concise technical documents.