National Agribusiness Project Coordinator

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is implementing the Zimbabwe – Mozambique Agriculture Vale Chain and Trade Development Project, financed by AICS in the Provinces of Manica and Sofala. The project aims to strengthen the region’s agricultural driven economies by facilitating bilateral, regional and international trade. 

The project has two main intervention areas. The first relates to supporting Government and relevant stakeholders in implementing effective trade policy frameworks, operationalization of trade agreements and provision of effective trade support to the private sector, for deepening existing or expanding new market opportunities. The second area focuses on trade and investment facilitation, which includes strengthening the capacity of economic agents along selected value chains to meet quality requirements and comply with trade regulations in international markets. Additionally, the project will support the private sector in expanding new market opportunities through export facilitation.

By expanding new market opportunities, lowering trade barriers, the project will unlock new economic opportunities and improve trade relationships between Mozambique and Zimbabwe, fostering regional and international integration.

The project post is based in Chimoio. 

Reporting Lines

The national HUB coordinator reports to the Chief Technical Officer. 

Technical Focus

• The National Agribusiness Project Coordinator will play a crucial role in defining and aligning public and private investment capacities for trade and investment enhancement. This role involves leading technical and operational support for key stakeholders, both private and public, in agribusiness and market development. The coordinator will effectively translate concrete market leads into actionable private sector strategies while ensuring that policy frameworks are conducive to market growth.

Tasks and responsibilities

Project Coordination: 

• Coordinate all project activities, ensuring alignment with project goals and timelines.
• Facilitate communication and cooperation between stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector entities, and international partners.
• Manage two agribusiness technicians.

Trade Policy Support. 

• Support Government in improving the policy environment for trade enhancement through diagnostics and policy framework analysis.
• Provide technical assistance in the operationalization of trade agreements and measures to address tariff or non-tariff related barriers, including phytosanitary trade protocols.
• Enhance multi-sectoral policy dialogue between Mozambique – Zimbabwe and other relevant markets to align policy and legal frameworks.

Trade and Investment Facilitation. 

• Provide trade support to the private sector, and especially micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) to cope with trade regulations and compliance requirements.
• Promote agricultural trade export facilitation through (national, regional and international) business matchmaking, market days, and high-level investment forums.
• Ensure that the value chain actors, including farmers, are capable in meeting quality requirements for high demanding off-taker markets.

Value Chain Development. 

• Identify and prioritize relevant agricultural value chains for trade facilitation in agreement with stakeholders.
• Conduct diagnostics of critical enabling infrastructure and policies for trade promotion.
• Map the barriers, opportunities and develop dedicated investment proposals to attract private investors and align public – private partnerships and their investment capacities.

International Dialogue. 

• Contribute to the development of knowledge products, including analytical work and practical tools, related to trade and investment facilitation.
• Lead public-private platforms and designs strategies to strengthen the enabling environment for scaling up investments along the value chain.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in (Business) Economics, Agribusiness, International Trade or any related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in an expert or project coordination role, in agribusiness, trade or private sector development in challenging markets.
• Working knowledge of Portuguese and English.
• National of Mozambique.

Source: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2402680