National Public Private Partnerships Specialist

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

• 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

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

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports Member States in mobilizing responsible, results-oriented private-sector engagement and public–private partnerships (PPPs) to accelerate agrifood systems transformation, in line with the FAO Strategic Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). FAO promotes PPPs not only as dialogue platforms, but as practical delivery mechanisms that mobilize financial and in-kind resources, deploy private-sector capabilities, and result in concrete joint implementation on the ground, particularly in resource-constrained contexts such as Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Under the TCP project Innovative Pathways for Agrifood Systems: A SIDS Perspective (TCP/MAR/4001), FAO supports the establishment of an Agrifood Public–Private (AgriPP) Coalition in Mauritius. The Coalition is expected to go beyond consultation and generate implementable collaborations, aligned with national priorities, the African SIDS Programme, the Indian Ocean Commission’s PRESAN framework, and the FAO Hand-in-Hand (HiH) Initiative

Reporting Lines

Under the general supervision of the FAO Deputy Representative in Madagascar, the incumbent will perform under strategic leadership and technical guidance of the TCP/MAR/4001 Lead Technical Officer (LTO), thematic specialists, as well as with the Project Coordinator of the FAO Mauritius national team.

Technical focus

In close coordination with national counterparts, the National PPP Specialist will carry out the following tasks:
• Strategic PPP mapping and stakeholder intelligence
• Design of Agri Food Public-Private Coalition
• Development of an Agrifood Investment Tracker
• Pipeline development and pitching
• Formalization and early implementation readiness

The objective of the assignment is to ensure the operationalization of concrete, mutually beneficial public–private collaborations in the agrifood sector. Specifically, the National PPP Specialist will:
• Design and operationalize the Agrifood Public–Private (AgriPP) Coalition;
• Establish practical partnership instruments that clarify public- and private-sector commitments;
• Support resource mobilization from the private sector (financial and non-financial);
• Ensure that at least a first set of PPP collaborations reach a stage of formal agreement and readiness for implementation

Tasks and responsibilities

• Conduct stakeholder mapping of public institutions, private companies, financial institutions, producer organizations and other key actors in the agrifood sector, and develop a comprehensive PPP stakeholder database.
• Identify and assess high-potential private-sector partners by analysing their investment interests, partnership preferences and capacity to engage in agrifood Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
• Design and develop the Agrifood Public-Private Coalition documentation package, including the Expression of Intent, Terms of Reference, work plan, communication materials and PPP engagement templates.
• Facilitate stakeholder consultations and coordination meetings to establish the Agrifood Public-Private Coalition and validate its governance framework and operational arrangements.
• Develop and maintain an interactive Agrifood Investment Tracker capturing ongoing public and private investments, PPP initiatives, implementation status and participating partners.
• Prepare periodic investment analyses and reports using data from the Investment Tracker to support project monitoring, Coalition communications and FAO reporting requirements.
• Identify, develop and structure at least three bankable PPP concepts aligned with national agrifood priorities and PRESAN regional trade objectives.
• Prepare investment pitch decks and facilitate engagement sessions between public institutions and prospective private-sector partners to promote priority PPP opportunities.
• Provide technical support during negotiations and formalization of PPP agreements, including the preparation and review of Letters of Intent, Memoranda of Understanding and other partnership instruments.
• Support the development of implementation action plans and monitor the readiness of formalized PPP partnerships, ensuring clearly defined roles, resource commitments, timelines and follow-up actions.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• University degree in Economics, Business Administration, Agribusiness, Public Administration, Development Studies, Agricultural Economics, Finance, Law, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in public-private partnerships (PPPs), private sector engagement, investment promotion, agribusiness development, or related fields.
• Working knowledge (Level C) of English and French.
• National of Mauritius

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience in project planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
• Knowledge of results-based management (RBM) and monitoring and evaluation systems.
• Experience in organizing workshops, training sessions, and stakeholder consultations.
• Ability to prepare technical and progress reports.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Strong organizational and coordination skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Excellent analytical and report-writing skills.
• Ability to engage effectively with government agencies, farmers' organizations, private sector actors, and development partners.
• Familiarity with agricultural policies and programmes in Mauritius and the Southern African region.
• Experience working with FAO or other UN agencies would be an advantage.

Selection criteria

• Demonstrated experience in negotiating or operationalizing PPPs or private-sector agreements.
• Strong analytical, facilitation and results-oriented negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated experience in stakeholder mapping, partnership development, and facilitation of multi-stakeholder dialogue involving public and private sector actors.
• Proven experience in preparing investment proposals, concept notes, business cases, or PPP-related documentation.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• 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/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

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

FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT