Agribusiness Finance Officer

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Organizational Setting
The FAO Investment Centre (CFI) provides investment and finance solutions that lead to more efficient, sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems. Working in over countries, the Centre provides a full suite of investment and finance support to FAO Members. It partners with governments, international and national financing institutions, the private sector and farmers, research institutions and academia to improve the quality and quantity of agrifood investment. The Centre's four main areas of work include support to strategic investment planning and policy, public investment, private investment, and innovative finance. These are complemented by the knowledge for investment and capacity development for investment programmes that serve to share knowledge, learn and build capacities at country level. For additional information on the FAO Investment Centre, its activities, partners and the organizational structure please visit the following .

Under the AgrIntel phase II project, CFI provides advisory services to the European Union's Directorate-General for International Partnerships (INTPA) to ensure the financial, social and environmental sustainability of its agricultural investment operations. CFI also supports INTPA in assessing the investment proposals submitted to the Investment Committees of the various agricultural investment funds co-financed by the European Union, and in delivering on-demand analytics on specific value chains, food systems or investment thematic analytical work (blended finance etc.).

The post is located in the Office of the Director (CFID) of the FAO Investment Centre at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.
 
Reporting Lines
The Agribusiness Finance Officer reports to the Deputy Director (Business Development), CFI, and works in close collaboration with other members of the Centre.

Technical Focus
Provide analytical and technical support on agribusiness finance in the context of public and private investment operations. This includes technical focus on financial institutions, rural finance, agricultural risk management, blended finance and private sector investment. 

Key Results
Delivering investment and finance support solutions through the provision of technical expertise/assistance and support to capacity development, in collaboration with country stakeholders and cooperating partners, to achieve impact at scale in the transformation of agrifood systems within the scope of the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions
• Participates in, and eventually leads multidisciplinary teams to assist governments in the identification and preparation of investment and finance support initiatives in the fields of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing, and participates in pre-appraisal and appraisal missions.
• Participates in, and eventually leads multidisciplinary teams for the implementation support and the preparation of final evaluation of investment and finance support solutions.
• Provides technical expertise for the preparation of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing studies and strategies, in the formulation of national sector and/or sub-sector investment plans and programmes.
• Supports the development of inclusive and sustainable food systems involving producers, their organizations, other private sector actors and civil society organizations and governments.
• Formulates and delivers capacity development initiatives in the areas of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing investment support to government staff and non-state actors and private sector organizations.
• Prepares documents in accordance with FAO, governments and financing partners' requirements.
• Provides support in task organization, selection of consultants, preparation of terms of reference and in ensuring the quality of outputs.
• Promotes international cooperation and collaboration leading to new investment opportunities and cooperative agreements, advocates best practices and effective policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international meetings.
• Establishes, promotes and maintains relationships with relevant Strategic Programmes, FAO technical units and Decentralized Offices in order to ensure best synergies between investment, policy and innovation work in support to Member Nations.
• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate Strategy.
• Provides guidance and advice to junior staff.

Specific Functions
• Assesses investment operations submitted to the Investment Committees of the various agricultural investment funds co-financed by the European Union.
• Participates in or leads multidisciplinary teams mobilized to implement work plans agreed with INTPA, aiming to help the European Union make informed decisions related to the financial, social and environmental sustainability of the investment operations that the European Union co-finances.
• Participates in the generation of knowledge products in investment (public and private) in food and agriculture, and more specifically on the functioning of the various blended funds being supported, on other lessons learned from international experiences with such blended finance operations as well as on access to finance for farmers and agri-small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
• Supports the overall management of the project and assists in implementing the project's work plans and in maintaining good collaboration with INTPA.
• Prepares Terms of Reference for the various assignments and identifies qualified specialists (in-house or external) to support implementation.
• Provides methodological and technical expertise in the area of value chain analysis and finance in all deliverables planned under the project.
• Engages with the European Union and with impact funds to lead the design and development of new investment instruments for the agricultural sector, including definition of impact indicators, monitoring systems and types of investment/financial products.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in agriculture, agro-industry, business administration, economics, agricultural economics, agribusiness, finance, political sciences or a closely related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in the practical application of agribusiness finance (particularly as it relates to financial institutions), agribusiness investments and, more generally, formulation and/or implementation of agrifood investment and finance solutions in developing countries.
• Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• 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.
• Extent and relevance of experience in technical fields related to agribusiness finance, rural finance, value-chain development and analysis, business planning, agriculture marketing, blended finance and private sector development. Specific experience in agribusiness financing through local financial institutions is considered an advantage.
• Extent and relevance of experience in participating in multidisciplinary teams for the preparation of strategies and sector studies as well as formulation, implementation support or evaluation of agrifood investment and finance support solutions, with a focus on rural finance, value chain development and agribusiness. Specific experience in private sector investment operations is considered an advantage.
• Extent of experience in capacity development activities related to financing agrifood investments, namely capacity development to support financial institutions. 
• Knowledge of the stakeholder context including partners and institutions in the blended finance and rural finance space (including impact fund managers, investors, development finance institutions), as well as at the European Union.
• Demonstrated experience in dealing with government officials, development partners (experience working with International Financial Institutions is an asset) and other country stakeholders. Specific relevant experience in working with private sector stakeholders is considered an advantage.
• Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in English.

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Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.
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GENERAL INFORMATION • FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment• Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. 
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CONDITIONS OF SERVICE A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link:
Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:
• Dependency allowances
• Rental subsidy
• Education grant for children
• Home leave travel
• 30 working days of annual leave per year
• Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund
• International health insurance; optional life insurance
• Disability protection FAO encourages a positive workplace culture to increase inclusivity and diversity within its workforce. FAO applies measures in which all staff members contribute equally and in full to the work and development of the Organization. This includes:
• elements of family-friendly policies
• flexible working arrangements
• standards of conduct______________________________________________________________________________________________________

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