Agribusiness Finance Officer

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The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.

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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.

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through 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 120 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 link.

The position is part of the Latin America and the Caribbean Service (CFIF) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI) and is located in the FAO Subregional Office for Mesoamerica (SLM) in Panama City, Panama.
Reporting Lines

The Agribusiness Finance Officer reports to the Chief, Latin America and the Caribbean Service (CFIF) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI) and works in close collaboration with the FAO Subregional Office for Mesoamerica (SLM) in Panama City, Panama.

Technical Focus

Provide analytical and technical support on agribusiness and agribusiness finance in the context of public and private investment operations. This includes technical focus on value chain development, agrifood trade and markets, agrifinance, agricultural risk management, 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 Members.
• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate Strategy.
• Provides guidance and advice to junior staff.

Specific Functions

• Participates in, or leads multidisciplinary teams to support the preparation and implementation of investment projects and programmes, providing technical inputs on agribusiness development, value chain analysis, agrifinance, risk management and private sector engagement.
• Assesses constraints to investments along selected value chains, in relation to private sector engagement, market access, trade and related policies, risk management systems, logistics, quality, sanitary and phytosanitary, among others.
• Identifies and analyses agricultural investment-related policy issues and provides agribusiness and finance related solutions.
• Assesses constraints to access to finance across selected value chains and identifies solutions to unlock financing, including strengthening linkages with financial institutions, improving bankability of investments, and addressing risk perceptions.
• Supports the design and application of innovative and blended finance solutions, including guarantees, concessional financing, risk-sharing facilities and other de-risking instruments aimed at crowding in private capital.
• Contributes to analytical work and knowledge products on agribusiness, agrifinance, and private sector investment, including lessons learned from international experience and practical tools to support project design and implementation.
• Engages with public and private stakeholders, including financial institutions, investors, agribusinesses and farmer organizations, to support the structuring of investable opportunities and strengthen financing ecosystems.
• Supports the development of financing strategies and investment pipelines, identifying priority opportunities to scale up investment and mobilize private sector participation in agrifood systems.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics, agricultural economics, agribusiness, finance, agriculture, agro-industry, business administration 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 (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - 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 asset.
• 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 agrifinance, value chain development, agribusiness and private sector investment operations. Specific experience in private sector investment operations is considered an advantage.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the design, implementation support and evaluation of investment operations with FAO’s main development partners, in particular the World Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), regional and local financial institutions.
• Knowledge of the context, as well as partners and institutions of the Latin America and the Caribbean region would be an important asset.
• Demonstrated experience in dealing with government officials, development partners and private sector stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience to write technical reports in English.
• Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of Spanish would be an asset.

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FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

• Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds
• FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link: https://commonsystem.org/cp/default.asp
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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HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• 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 http://www.whed.net/. These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings.
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

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