Back Vegetable Value Chain Specialist

Organizational Setting

The key mission of the FAO Country Offices, which are headed by the FAO Representatives, is to assist and support national governments to develop policies, strategies and programmes and projects to accelerate the implementation and achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in the area of FAO’s global mandate and Strategic Objectives. More specifically, FAO’s response aims at addressing national needs and priorities in achieving food security, and to reducing hunger and malnutrition, to help developing the agricultural, fisheries, livestock and forestry sectors, and to using their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner, in line with FAO’s mandate and Strategic Objectives. Agrifood systems are at the core of the 2030 Agenda and offer a wealth of opportunities to help Countries reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By supporting agrifood systems transformation, FAO aims to ensure that these systems are more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable -for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.
The Government of Liberia has proposed an agricultural development agenda focused on a value chain approach, private sector engagement, and rural inclusivity. To this end, the Ministry of Agriculture, in partnership with FAO other stakeholders   private sector, civil society and development partners, is formulating an agricultural investment plan (NAIP) for the next five years. 

The NAIP will be prepared by a multi-disciplinary technical team comprising the Government Ministries, Agencies, and Commissions (MACs) relevant to the value chains in the NAIP identified in the Government's proposed agenda under the supervision of a technical committee reporting to the national steering committee.

Reporting Lines

The Vegetable Value Chain Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Liberia, the direct coordination and guidance of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and in collaboration with the Assistant FAOR-Programme and the project team.

Technical Focus

All aspects of sustainable management of Vegetable including for small producers. 

Tasks and responsibilities

The main tasks of the Vegetable Value Chain Specialist include;
•    Engage relevant stakeholders and sectoral actors to generate data and enhance ownership.  
•    Contribute to the in-depth review of policies, programs and projects on Vegetable value chain
•    Develop the first draft of the value chain programme
•    Share the draft with the national technical drafting committee for review and inputs 
•    Incorporate inputs/address comments to strengthen draft 
•    Support the submission of updated draft to the national steering committee 
•    Incorporate inputs/address comments to finalize the programme

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced University Degree. Vegetable Research and expertise in agricultural development 
•    At least five (5) years of relevant experience in the preparation of development programmes and projects
•    Working knowledge of English (level C) and limited knowledge of another FAO language (level B)
•    National of Liberia

FAO Core 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 
•    Experience in one or more of the following disciplines: vegetable value chain analysis/value chain development, 
•    Experience in developing investment programs and technical report writing. 

Selection Criteria 

•    Very high skills/knowledge of background related to the ToR
•    Experience with UN and other International Organizations would be an asset
•    Proven record of work in the sector and understanding of the local context. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION