FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Professional Vacancy Announcement No: CP-TCI-018/09
Deadline For Application: 8 July 2009
Position Title Economist (Marketing and Agribusiness)
Duty Station Rome
Grade Level P-4
Duration Three years
CCOG Code: 1E02
Organizational Unit Investment Centre Division (TCI) Technical Cooperation Department (TCI)

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Investment Centre Division (TCI) promotes investment in agriculture and rural development in developing countries and countries in transition, assisting governments, international financing institutions and other development partners to achieve growth, poverty alleviation and food security.

  • Under the overall supervision of the Director, TCI and the direct supervision of the Chief, Asia and Pacific Service, TCIP, the incumbent will provide technical advice and, as leader or member of multi-disciplinary teams, be responsible for the marketing and agribusiness aspects of agricultural and rural development operations (such as projects and programmes). In particular will:
  • participate in, and eventually lead, multidisciplinary teams to advise governments and development partners in the identification, preparation, implementation support and evaluation of investment projects in the fields of agriculture and rural development, focusing on marketing/agribusiness constraints and conditions in agricultural sub-sectors;
  • prepare technology/product development strategies and formulate recommendations for strengthening marketing channels, including value chains in various sub-sectors;
  • establish the feasibility of the proposals through studying market prospects, prices, costs and risks, and identifying promising agribusiness activities;
  • analyze food security and food safety issues in relation to any agribusiness proposal;
  • assist the Service Chief on field mission organization and terms of reference, selection of consultants and in ensuring the quality of the Service outputs;
  • interact with senior government officials, development partners and beneficiaries to facilitate the exchange of critical information and validate the findings and recommendations regarding in particular the investment proposals for marketing and agribusiness development;
  • perform other related duties as required.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Candidates should meet the following:

  • University degree and advanced university studies in agriculture or closely related field
  • Seven years of relevant experience in the planning and implementation of investment projects and programmes in agriculture and rural development, including agricultural marketing and agribusiness, and including elaboration of feasibility studies and relevant field work in developing and/or countries in transition
  • Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two, or Arabic, Chinese or Russian

SELECTION CRITERIA
Candidates will be assessed against the following:

  • Extent and relevance of experience in working as member of a multi-disciplinary team addressing issues related to public and commercial marketing and agribusiness services, and in dealing with senior staff of governments and International Financing Institutions (IFIs)
  • Demonstrated experience in a range of marketing and agribusiness activities such as review of marketing channels, infrastructure and processing facilities for major crops, design of investment proposals for high value agricultural commodities, mapping out value chains of selected agricultural commodities and identification of promising agribusiness activities
  • Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
  • Extent of experience in working in different geographical contexts, and familiarity with the Asia and Pacific Region
  • Working knowledge of the language applicable to the specific region of assignment – in this case English – is an asset

Please note that all candidates should possess computer/word processing skills and should be capable of working with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
* The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.

REMUNERATION

Level P-4 carries a net salary per year (inclusive of a variable element for post adjustment) from US$ 103,427 US$ 126,727 (without dependants) and from US$ 111,067 to US$ 136,872 (with dependants)

TO APPLY: Carefully read and follow the Guidelines to applicants

Send your application to:

V.A CP-TCI-018/09
Director, Investment Centre Division
FAO Via delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome ITALY
Fax No: +39 06 57054657
E-mail: CP-TCI-018@fao.org

This vacancy is open to male and female candidates. Applications from qualified women candidates and applications from qualified candidates from non/under-represented member states are encouraged. Please note that FAO staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Director-General and may be assigned to any activities or office of the organization.

  FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT

  Post Number: 0025453