Organizational Setting
Upon request from the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, represented by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka; the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will provide technical assistance for the improvement of livelihood of farmers of selected districts (Anuradhapura, Hambanthota, Vavuniya and Kurunegala) through increasing productivity of paddy while diversifying a sizable quantity of paddy lands with legumes and other field crops (OFC) using Climate Smart Good Agriculture Practices (CSGAP) with increased cropping intensity, efficient water and fertilizer management systems which leads to increase overall land productivity, profitability, and sustainability of the system.
The above will be accomplished through the 4-year Project OSRO/SRL/205/USA “Rice Rethink; Enhancing Paddy Farmer Resilience and Return through Crop Diversification”.
Reporting Lines
The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative, direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme), the guidance of the Project Management Specialist and in close coordination with the Administrative Section of the FAO Representation and consultants in the project. Additionally, he/she will work in close collaboration with other Government counterparts, the Lead Technical Officer (LTO), and Lead Technical Unit in FAO HQ.
Technical Focus
National Consultant on Value Chain and Marketing
Tasks and responsibilities
• Facilitate decision-making by farmers using market intelligence and production forecasts for better cultivation planning, crop diversification and marketing.
• Facilitate cultivation planning and market linkages with Producer Groups (PGs) in person and using existing IT-enabled platforms available with the government.
• Provide technical guidance and support to the third-party service provider
o To conduct four feasibility studies (one in each district) in all 100 tracts, including a situation analysis on agriculture production-related potential value chain addition activities, off-farm income, market information, and linkages and preparation of reports.
o To prepare required training material to conduct capacity-building programs for 100 entrepreneurial youth and women farmers on business development skills (e.g., entrepreneurship, financial literacy, business management, credit facilities, accounting, auditing, etc.).
o To conduct the capacity-building training programs for 100 entrepreneurial youth and women farmers on business development skills and creating Public-Private partnership.
• Facilitate marketing of crop harvest for each tract (both paddy and OFC) with appropriate post-harvest management, value addition, branding and with appropriate market linkages.
• Prepare a list of equipment with specifications for post-harvest value addition for 100 entrepreneurs based on the outcome of the feasibility study in consultation with the project team.
• Facilitate the private-public partnership with/among the 100 entrepreneurial youth and women farmers.
• Collaborate with FAO IT specialists and draft a marketing strategy that empowers farmers to showcase their produce on online platforms (including social media), enhancing their skills in branding, packaging, and utilizing online financial tools.
• Implement the above marketing strategy and other activities with farmers/PGs, enhance their skills in branding and packaging and empower them to showcase their produce in online platforms while utilizing online and other financial tools.
• Prepare training outcome documents for all the training/activities with the necessary details.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• Advanced University Degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and related field
• At least 7 years’ experience in the government or private sector (preferably for both paddy and OFCs) on Value chain development for agricultural commodities, branding and Marketing.
• Full proficiency in English and either Tamil or Sinhala
• A National of Sri Lanka
FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
• In-depth knowledge on Value Chain Analysis & Development and experience in conducting value chain assessments using participatory and analytical tools (e.g., SWOT, GAP analysis, mapping) and upgrading strategies for agricultural commodities, particularly in smallholder contexts.
• Ability to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and opportunities across the full value chain from input supply and production to processing, branding and marketing preferably in relation to Rice and OFC
• Knowledge on Agricultural Market Systems - Understanding of domestic and international agri-market systems, including supply-demand dynamics, pricing mechanisms, quality standards, and trade regulations.
• Familiarity with agricultural product marketing, logistics, and aggregation models (e.g., farmer producer groups, cooperatives, and contract farming).
• Knowledge on post-harvest handling, storage, processing and Agro-Industrial Planning (agro-processing facilities, identification of required machinery, layout, cost-benefit estimation, and feasibility analysis) including quality assurance and food safety standards.
• Ability to assess technological options for small- to medium-scale processing that align with local production capacity and market needs.
• Skills in developing / facilitating Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) with private sector actors, including input suppliers, processors, traders, exporters, and investors.
• Capacity to support agribusiness development, including business planning, investment proposals, and financial viability assessments and familiarity with value chain financing mechanisms, including credit schemes, input financing,
• Soft Skills and Cross-Cutting Competencies- Strong analytical, communication, and negotiation skills. High level of organizational and interpersonal skills to work with diverse stakeholders. Sensitivity to gender, youth, and social inclusion in agricultural value chains.