Technical Adviser

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind. The main aim of the FAO Representation in Cambodia is to assist government to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

FAO is an Accredited Entity (AE) of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). In partnership with Cambodia’s National Designated Authority (NDA), the Ministry of Environment (MoE), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) are developing a project ‘Public-Social-Private Partnerships for Ecologically-Sound Agriculture and Resilient Livelihoods in Northern Tonle Sap Basin (PEARL)”. This climate change adaptation project aims to enhance the climate resilience of farmers and local communities in the Northern Tonle Sap Basin (Kampong Thom, Siem Reap, Preah Vihear and Oddor Meanchey) through public-social-private partnerships and improved access to growing segments of the agricultural product market, while ensuring climate-resilient practices.

The project has three outcomes i) improved hydrological and agrometeorological services, ii) climate adapted agriculture value chains development and iii) strengthened agriculture regulation, policy, market, finance and institutional capacities. The project will work to improve four agriculture value chains: rice, mango, cashew nut and vegetables in the northern Tonle Sap Basin.

Activities under Outcome 2 of the PEARL project will bridge the current capacity and resource gaps faced by smallholder farmers and other small-scale local value chain actors in the target areas to adopt alternative practices for climate-resilient and high-value agricultural production and processing. The project will use the certification schemes already operational in the country, including CamGap, GI, SRP, organic certification, and HACCP, as the primary vehicles of transformation to develop market incentives around cashew, mango, organic rice, and vegetables. The project will enable this market-led transformation through an establishment of a Farmer-led Agricultural Resilience Mechanism (FARM) to assist smallholder farmers and other small-scale local value chain actors in acquiring technologies and infrastructure assets that are essential for adopting climate-resilient and high-value agricultural production and processing.

The Technical Adviser reports to the Senior Project Officer (SPO) and will be under the overall supervision of FAO Representative (FAOR) in Cambodia. He/she will receive technical guidance from the Lead Technical Officer/Team and other relevant technical officers at the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) and relevant units at FAO headquarters.

The Technical Advisor:  (Value Chain Development) will be responsible for managing the planning and implementation of all activities under Outcome 2 of the PEARL project with a focus on facilitating a ‘market-led transformation of the four value chains; creation of an enabling environment for efficient and inclusive production and value addition; increased adoption of climate-resilient; ‘high-value agricultural production and processing systems; and ultimately ensuring technical delivery of the expected outputs under Outcome 2.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned technical cooperation-related programmes/projects; review relevant documents and reports; identify priorities, liaise with relevant parties; identify follow-up actions.
• Coordinate technical cooperation activities and programme-related activities and reviews the assessments of issues and trends for their implementation and lead the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies.
• Supervise preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analyses, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications.
• Contribute to consultative and other meetings, conferences, including proposals for agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations.
• Participate in activities such as structuring of training workshops, seminars; make presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Lead field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties.
• Provide advice regarding the development of policies and strategies related to technical cooperation, as well as regional, sub regional and national protocols and guidelines for projects with specific domains related to FAO’s work.
• Manage the delivery of project activities under Outcome 2 of the PEARL project, including the multi-disciplinary team and other project resources.
• Work in collaboration with key project staff and operational partners to ensure the technical coherence and sustainability of the full range of project activities;
• Provide specialized expertise to project stakeholders as well as engage with relevant technical networks, international technical policy and standard setting bodies;
• Conduct comprehensive situation analysis of agricultural value chains for the four target crop commodities (rice, mango, cashew nut and vegetables) to give directions to the sustainable development of the commodity value chains;
• Provide technical support to and oversees the development and implementation of crop-specific business plans by producer groups, agricultural cooperatives;
• Design and conduct research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, innovative approaches and strategies, new tools, technologies, technical reports/publications, and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical/policy/ specialist/advice and expertise;
• Assess the status of rural agribusiness enterprises and local skills available in target commodities and identifies the development scope and constraints;
• Undertake technical capacity needs assessment for small producers, their cooperatives, agri-entrepreneurs, and value chain actors on agribusiness management, entrepreneurship and value chain development;
• Design and deliver need-based training programme on agribusiness management, entrepreneurship and value chain development for small producers and their cooperatives and other value chain actors including women and youth;
• Assess constraints and opportunities for investment at all levels of selected value chains, in relation to the functionality of private sector engagement, markets and market institutions, existence and performance of support services, trade policies, risk management systems, as well as food safety control systems when applicable;
• Facilitate and oversee the development and operationalization of inter-value-chain-actors roadmaps at the provincial level and action/business plans for climate-resilient, inclusive and gender-responsive premium value chain development and identify specific certification programs as key vehicles;
• Identify and promote innovative, cost-effective technologies for climate-resilient agriculture and value chain development;
• Oversee and facilitate the innovative climate adaptation asset acquisition mechanism including contribution to the preparation of technical specifications and procurement packages in consultation with beneficiary groups and procurement of identified infrastructure assets and technologies;
• Manage the implementation of a grants activity for qualified agriculture cooperatives and producer groups;
• Manage the efficient and timely delivery of inputs, equipment, technical assistance and services;
• Assist in preparation of quarterly, semi-annual and annual project component progress reports and identify lessons learnt, constraints and issues that require timely resolution and corrective actions and present recommendations for improving the performance;
• Represent FAO in meetings, workshops and conferences related to agricultural value chain development;
• Carry out any other relevant duties as required.

Candidates Will Be Assessed Against The Following:

Minimum Requirements:

• Advanced university degree in agriculture, agri-business, agricultural economics, development economics or related field;
• Seven years of relevant experience in agribusiness, application of value chain analysis and development, agribusiness and market development, processing, agricultural certification schemes;’
• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Technical/Functional Skills :

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions.
• Relevance and extent of experience in technical cooperation related activities, policy advice and analysis relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes.
• Relevance and extent of experience in working with inter-governmental bodies and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Extent and relevance of experience in one or more of the following areas: agricultural marketing, value chain development, analysis of agricultural investments, value chain analysis or diagnostic and feasibility studies for agro-industries;
• Extent and relevance of experience managing multidisciplinary teams for inclusive project implementation;
• Ability to plan and organize own work, deliver results and meet deadlines;
• Experience in working and/or coordinating project activities with governmental organizations, the private sector, NGOs and other partners;
• Extent and relevance of experience in the preparation and revision of technical/scientific documents and in organizing training events;
• Ability to write clear and concise technical documents.

Source:  https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2401004