About the Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy. FAO is also a source of knowledge and information. It helps developing countries and countries in transition to modernize and improve agriculture, forestry, and fisheries practices as well as ensure good nutrition for all.
About the Job:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is seeking a Agribusiness Officer (Finance) for its rural infrastructure and agro-industries division (AGS) at the agriculture and consumer protection department. The incumbent will participate in the development and implementation of program and policy activities relating to agribusiness finance under the overall supervision of the director, AGS, and the direct supervision of a senior officer.
Tasks and Responsibilities:
- Analyze policy and technical issues relating to agribusiness finance, including legal and regulatory frameworks, financial institutions and services, risk mitigation, and investment enablers and incentives;
- Assist FAO Members through reviews and provision of technical advice;
- Participate in developing technical guidelines relating to financial strategies and products for specific industries and country circumstances, financial planning models and criteria, investment analysis and evaluation, and public-private programs for investment and risk management;
- Appraise capacity building needs relating to agribusiness financial analysis, planning and control, agribusiness financial services, capital investment analysis, value chain financing and financing for small and medium agro-enterprises;
- Assist in developing training material and participate in the conduct of training courses;
- Participate in the design and implementation of programs and projects relating to agribusiness finance, and the agribusiness finance aspects of agricultural and rural development programs and projects;
- As requested, provide technical backstopping to field projects;
- Contribute to the collection and dissemination of data and information related to agribusiness finance trends, policies, institutions, and services, including lessons and good practices for promoting and supporting agribusiness finance policies, services and products;
- Support global learning, exchange of information and data through the internet and other mechanisms;
- Prepare information materials and technical papers for discussion and/or publication;
- Prepare and participate in technical meetings;
- Develop and maintain contacts with other organizations, associations, and private sector firms working on agribusiness finance;
- Participate actively in relevant FAO inter-disciplinary working groups, action planning, and field activities;
- Perform other related duties, as required.
Qualifications:
Candidates should meet the following minimum requirements:
- Advanced university degree in agribusiness or agricultural economics or similar with concentration in agribusiness finance or agricultural finance;
- Five years of progressively responsible professional experience in the area of agribusiness finance or in agricultural or rural development with responsibilities and activities relating to agribusiness finance;
- Possess computer/word processing skills and should be capable of working with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
- Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish with a limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese or Russian.
Candidates will be assessed against the following selection criteria:
- Level and relevance of academic qualifications relating to agribusiness finance;
- Relevance and diversity of agribusiness and agricultural finance experience, including extent of experience in developing regions;
- Depth of knowledge of and capacity to analyze trends, constraints, policies, institutions and services relating to agribusiness finance in developing regions;
- Extent and relevance of experience in producing relevant technical papers and training materials;
- Extent and relevance of experience of project formulation and technical backstopping;
- Quality of communication skills on technical issues.
Closing Date: 07 Dec 2012
How to Apply:
Apply Online
