Tourism-Linked Farming Expert

Overview

Provide technical leadership in developing tourism-linked agrifood systems in Pacific.

You have:

• Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in agriculture, agribusiness, agricultural economics, rural development, food systems, tourism development, value chain development or a related field.
• At least five years of relevant experience in agrifood systems, value chain development, market linkages, agritourism, rural enterprise development or related technical areas.
• Working knowledge (level C) of English.

Organizational Setting

FAO is implementing the project TCP/SAP/4105, “Strengthening Sustainable Agrifood Systems through Tourism Linkages in the Pacific Region”. The project supports Cook Islands and Fiji to strengthen backward linkages between tourism operators, smallholder farmers, agribusinesses and other value chain actors, and to promote commercially viable tourism-linked agrifood systems that increase local food sourcing, reduce import dependence and improve rural incomes.

The position is home based and involves travel to Cook Islands and Fiji.

Reporting Lines

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Subregional Coordinator for the Pacific and the direct supervision of the Lead Technical Officer. The incumbent will collaborate closely with the Ministries of Agriculture and Tourism in Cook Islands and Fiji, FAO country teams, national experts, service providers and relevant public and private stakeholders.

Technical Focus

The consultant will provide technical leadership, quality assurance and advisory support for the design, implementation, documentation and development of roadmap for scale-up of tourism-linked agrifood systems models in Cook Islands and Fiji, with particular focus on market diagnostics, buyer–seller linkages, farmer readiness, value addition, food safety, quality compliance, aggregation, logistics and inclusive participation of women and youth.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Review the project document, national agriculture and tourism strategies, previous FAO work, market studies, supplier databases, agritourism initiatives and relevant private sector information to establish the baseline and identify priority information gaps. In discussion with the LTO, develop and agree on a time lined activity and travel plan to Fiji and Cook Islands to plan and implement the activities during the assignment. • Conduct an inception meeting with FAO, government counterparts, national experts and service providers to confirm the assignment scope, workplan, methodology, roles and responsibilities, reporting arrangements, travel schedule and coordination mechanisms. • Review relevant project, policy, strategy and market information and discuss with the LTO and ministry colleagues to establish the baseline and identify priority information gaps to help refine the activity plan. • Lead the development and subsequent management of Letters of Agreement in Cook Islands and Fiji with appropriate service providers supporting in-country implementation. • Design or refine practical tools for rapid market diagnostics, including stakeholder interview guides, buyer demand assessment formats, farmer and aggregator profiling tools, value chain selection criteria and templates for documenting market linkage opportunities. • Provide technical guidance to national experts and service providers to conduct consultations with ministries, hotels, resorts, restaurants, wholesalers, processors, farmer organizations, women and youth groups and other value chain actors. • Lead the analysis of tourism-linked market demand, local supply capacity, product quality and food safety requirements, aggregation and logistics constraints, pricing issues, gender and youth participation gaps, import substitution opportunities and value addition potential. • Develop commercially viable tourism-linked agrifood systems pilot models for Cook Islands and Fiji, including priority commodities, buyer–seller arrangements, aggregation and logistics options, quality standards, capacity development needs, digital linkage opportunities and implementation steps. • Support implementation of the Cook Islands and Fiji pilots, including technical advice on farmer readiness, buyer engagement, value addition, food safety, quality compliance, institutional buyer linkages and documentation of lessons learned. • Facilitate or contribute to national validation workshops and technical consultations to review diagnostic findings, validate pilot models, assess implementation progress and agree on practical measures for improving farmer access to tourism and institutional markets. • Integrate the Cook Islands Food Innovation Center plan and Fiji agribusiness incubator support into pilot planning, and compare lessons learned during implementation to inform a long-term strategy. • Develop country strategy papers and 3–5-year action plans for tourism-linked agrifood systems in Cook Islands and Fiji, incorporating lessons from diagnostics and pilots, priority commodities, partnership mechanisms, investment opportunities, capacity development needs, enabling policy measures and scale-up pathways. • Prepare technical notes, guidance materials and presentations to support market linkage facilitation, farmer readiness, buyer engagement, value addition, food safety, quality compliance and replication of successful models. • Organize a regional workshop to share lessons learned and strengthen tourism–agrifood systems linkages across countries in the Pacific region. • Submit final deliverables to FAO, incorporating comments from government counterparts and relevant stakeholders, and provide technical inputs for project reporting, knowledge sharing and replication across other Pacific Island countries.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in agriculture, agribusiness, agricultural economics, rural development, food systems, tourism development, value chain development or a related field. Consultants with a bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience. • At least five years of relevant experience in agrifood systems, value chain development, market linkages, agritourism, rural enterprise development or related technical areas. • Working knowledge (level C) of English.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Strong technical knowledge of agrifood systems, value chain development, market linkages and agritourism models relevant to small island developing states. • Demonstrated ability to assess tourism-sector demand, farmer supply capacity, aggregation arrangements, logistics, food safety and quality requirements. • Proven capacity to design commercially viable pilot models, practical implementation tools, country strategy papers and multi-year action plans. • Ability to facilitate multi-stakeholder consultations and partnerships involving government institutions, tourism operators, private sector actors, farmer organizations and development partners. • Experience integrating gender, youth inclusion, climate resilience and smallholder market access considerations into agrifood systems interventions. • Excellent analytical, drafting, communication and presentation skills, including preparation of technical reports, guidance materials and workshop documentation. • Strong facilitation, stakeholder consultation and capacity-building skills. • Knowledge of Pacific Island agricultural systems, market realities and stakeholder capacities is an advantage.

Selection Criteria

• Extent and relevance of experience in tourism-linked agrifood systems, value chain development and market linkage facilitation. • Demonstrated capacity to design and document commercially viable pilot models and practical implementation tools. • Experience in supporting inclusive market access for smallholder farmers, including women and youth. • Knowledge of Pacific Island contexts, small island developing states, agritourism, food safety, quality standards and institutional buyer requirements. • Quality of analytical, facilitation, communication and report-writing skills • Demonstrated experience in developing market-based models linking farmers, aggregators, processors and institutional or tourism-sector buyers. • Experience working with governments, development partners, private sector actors and farmer organizations in small island developing states or comparable contexts would be an asset.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 27 days ago - Updated 6 days ago - Source: fao.org