Socioeconomic Sustainability Global Value Chains Specialist

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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 person 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

Organizational Setting

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.

The Markets and Trade Division (EST) monitors and analyses developments and trends in international, regional and national agricultural commodity markets and the factors affecting them, collecting and disseminating up-to-date and comprehensive market and policy information for the major traded commodities and those important to food security. It also undertakes forward-looking outlook studies. The Division analyses issues that affect global food and agricultural markets and trade, including analysis of trade policies and agreements, and provides technical support and capacity development to FAO Members in all these areas. Through its Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture (GIEWS), the Division is responsible for FAO's early warnings on food shortfalls and food security problems. EST is also responsible for the production of FAO flagship publication The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO) and the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook. The Division houses the secretariats of the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP) and its subsidiary Intergovernmental Groups (IGGs), the G20 Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) and the World Banana Forum (WBF).

The Team on Responsible Global Value Chains in EST facilitates the work of the World Banana Forum (WBF), a platform for participants representing the global banana supply chain to promote collaboration on challenges facing the banana industry. Working Group 3 on Labour Rights (WG03) and Working Group 2 on Distribution of Value (WG02) of the WBF work towards decent work and fair distribution of value along global banana supply chains respectively. The price competition between large retailers in developed countries has forced the industry to reduce the price of bananas to levels that are increasingly seen as unsustainable. While real prices have decreased at the consumer end of the supply chain, the costs of production, maintenance and transportation in producing countries have increased significantly. Low producer prices have created socio-economic challenges for millions of families in developing countries that depend on banana trade for their livelihood, as this can prevent adequate social development and worsen working conditions for banana workers. 

Reporting Lines

The Consultant/PSA will report directly to the Secretary of the WBF, under the overall guidance and supervision of the Senior Economist/Team Leader of the Responsible Global Value Chains in EST.

Technical Focus 

Specific areas of technical support include: multi-stakeholder working group facilitation; global trade; social and economic statistics; costs of sustainable production; living incomes/wages; due diligence; responsible business conduct; quantitative and qualitative research; and decent work and gender equity analysis.

Tasks and responsibilities

The generic functions for the profile include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Facilitate and manage the operations of the World Banana Forum’s Working Group 3 on Labour Rights (WG03) and Working Group 2 on Distribution of Value (WG02) to promote decent work and fair distribution of value along global banana supply chains including the implementation of their work plans, projects, activities, as well as their reporting;
• Liaise with WG03 and WG02 members for the organization of meetings, preparation of documents, provision of advice, support and follow-up to their decisions, and act as focal point for stakeholders seeking information related to WG03 and WG02 activities and membership;
• Identify and pursue funding opportunities for WG03 and WG02 priorities, including the preparation of project concept notes and project proposals/budgets, with a particular focus on the extension of activities under the Banana Occupational Health and Safety (BOHESI), the Living Wage Advocacy Initiative (LIWIN) for the Gender Equity Task Force (GETF);
• Support the coordination of project implementation and technical backstopping to capacity development activities within member countries, as regards WG03 and WG02 activities; 
• Lead the technical work, research and analysis on policies and trends related to socio-economic sustainability issues in the banana industry, with a particular focus on the WBF priority areas of due diligence, responsible business conduct, corporate responsibility, decent work, gender equity, costs of production and living wages/income;
• Liaise with FAO departments and decentralized offices, governmental institutions and other agencies/organizations in coordination with the WBF Secretary to establish relevant collaboration mechanisms that support the implementation of WBF activities, particularly related to WG03 and WG02 priorities;
• Lead the organization of knowledge-management/sharing of activities related to WG03 and WG02, and WBF promotion to feed the WBF website and newsletter;
• Support the development and preparation of reports and papers on topics related to the WBF mandate, including background documents, summaries of decisions and minutes of meetings for the WBF Global Conferences, Steering Committee (SC), Advisory Board (AB), WG03 and WG02; 
• Support activities to increase WBF membership and facilitate partnerships, as well as to promote and coordinate the dissemination of information and results achieved by the WBF;
• Support the implementation of the WBF’s Action Plan and decisions of the Steering Committee (SC) and Advisory Board (AB);
• Carry out any other organizational and technical work as required by the WBF.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree or advanced university degree in a related field. Preferably, the degree should be in a relevant field or discipline such as Social and Economic Sciences (International Law and Development, Business Administration, Economics, Social Protection, International Business, Public Policy focusing on Sustainable Development, Partnerships, Network Facilitation, Knowledge Management, Platform Management) or similar;
• At least two years of relevant experience in case of university degree or one year of relevant experience in case of advanced university degree in platform/project/working group facilitation 
• Working knowledge of English and Spanish for COF.REG
• Working knowledge of English for PSA.SBS

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

• Experience in facilitating international networks or partnerships 
• Excellent time management and problem-solving skills
• Experience in working on responsible business conduct, corporate social responsibility or ethical trading
• Familiarity with providing remote support and liaising virtually with stakeholders
• Knowledge of the fruit sector and FAO’s working environment is a plus
• Thorough attention to details
• Good communication and interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively with different stakeholders
• Good organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects independently and proactively
• Ability to write reports and minutes of meetings in a systematic manner
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines

Selection Criteria 
 
• Knowledge of French is desirable
• Extent of experience in advocacy, capacity development, network facilitation and technical assistance related to responsible business conduct or corporate responsibility and/or programme formulation, operational support in network facilitation and alliances
• Work experience in UN agencies and/or major international organizations 
• Work experience in the agricultural sector, including in the fresh produce industry

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing) Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list 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 For more information, visit the FAO employment website 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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