Agribusiness Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 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.

FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO’s goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country  level.
The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.

Specifically, FAO Country Offices:

• advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
• provide technical assistance and deliver core services;
• assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation;
• position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and
• ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.

Reporting Lines

The Agribusiness Specialist will be under the general supervision of the FAO Representative in Malawi, functional supervision of the Head of Section, Agribusiness and food System, the Assistant FAO Representative and the direct supervision of the Project Support and Coordination Specialist.

Technical Focus

The Agribusiness Specialist shall assist the Section Head to conduct market and value chain needs assessment and support all groups in relevant agribusiness aspects and it’s marketing

Tasks and responsibilities

• Identify potential products of all identified VCs.
• Provide information about the potential of processing or any value addition (recipes, examples etc).
• Map out the local, regional and cross boarder markets for all products of the VCs
• Highlight the local market structure and enabling environment (e.g. security issues or policies affecting market access)
• Summarize the market actors (producer, trader, processor, middleman, consumer) and include their product behaviour
  procurement mechanisms, market requirements (standards, conditions for delivery) and prices, wage rates and employment conditions
• Identify preferred products (raw or processed) of target groups and reasons for this
• Collect all relevant information about the status of the target groups, their operational set up, their previous training engagements, their status and assets, their business ideas/plans
• Review the Value Chain Needs Assessment report, including the practical recommendations to allow the project to adjust to the needs of the groups
• Assist the colleagues with the FAO Gender and M&E activities where required.
• Build a network of potential off takers and traders
• Facilitate the process of the of market and micro-finance linkages for farmer groups under Women and Youth Project, in collaboration with various stakeholders, including Government and private sector.
• Build capacity of frontline staff and communities in the project sites, including those from private sector and civil society on agribusiness development along the whole VCs.
• Advocate circular economy and business
• Apply participatory training methodologies in any relevant training needed.
• Support the farmer groups enterprise development and market readiness, including in branding, packaging and market segmentation.
• Support the engagement of and with the Malawi Bureau of Standards and the SME/Cooperative registration office
• Organize open days and facilitate the participation at market fairs to advertise agricultural produce, VC actors and to establish relations with finance institutions and potential market relations.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

• Minimum RequirementsBachelor of Science in Agriculture Economics, Agribusiness, Business Administration, Marketing or another related field.
• At least 5 years working experience on programmes/projects supporting agriculture and agribusiness among smallholder farmers and farmer groups in Malawi
• Working knowledge (level C) of English
• National of Malawi

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

• Experience in project development and capacity development within the Agriculture Sector.
• Experience working in both public and private sector would be an asset.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Chichewa.
• Excellent knowledge of MS Office programmes, especially MS Outlook and MS Teams.