Investment Support Officer

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the Agenda through FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Organizational Setting

The FAO Investment Centre (CFI) provides investment and finance solutions that lead to more efficient, sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems. Working in over countries, the Centre provides a full suite of investment and finance support to FAO Members. It partners with governments, international and national financing institutions, the private sector and farmers, research institutions and academia to improve the quality and quantity of agrifood investment. The Centre's four main areas of work include support to strategic investment planning and policy, public investment, private investment, and innovative finance. These are complemented by the knowledge for investment and capacity development for investment programmes that serve to share knowledge, learn and build capacities at country level.

The position is located in the West and Central Africa Service (CFIE) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI) in the Regional Office for Africa (RAF) in Accra, Ghana.

Reporting Lines

The Investment Support Officer reports to the Chief, West and Central Africa Service (CFIE) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI) and works in collaboration with the Assistant Director-General/Regional Representative for Africa (RAF).

Technical Focus

Provide analytical and technical support on any of the following areas linked to: agricultural development, economic and financial aspects, water resources management, irrigation, drainage and rural infrastructure, agribusiness development, access to markets, private sector development, financial services, sustainable natural resource management, land tenure and land administration, sustainable livestock management, agricultural services, rural institutions, resilience and risk management, for the formulation, implementation and evaluation of investment policies, strategies, programmes and projects in food and agriculture, rural development, agrifood systems, natural resource management and agro-processing. The specific area of technical focus will depend on the actual expertise of the candidate, which will be assessed during the selection process.

Key Results

Delivering investment and finance support solutions through the provision of technical expertise/assistance and support to capacity development, in collaboration with country stakeholders and cooperating partners, to achieve impact at scale in the transformation of agrifood systems within the scope of the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

Participates in multidisciplinary teams to assist governments in the identification and preparation of investment and finance support initiatives in the fields of for food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing, and participates in pre-appraisal and appraisal missions.

Supports the implementation and the preparation of final evaluation of investment and finance support solutions.

Participates in the preparation of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing studies and strategies, in the formulation of national sector and/or sub-sector investment policies, plans and programmes.

Supports the development of inclusive and sustainable food systems involving producers, their organizations, other private sector actors, civil society organizations and governments.

Contributes to capacity development activities in the areas of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing investment support to government staff, non-state actors and private sector organizations.

Prepares reports in accordance with FAO, governments and financing partners' requirements.

Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences, and interacts with international and national partners.

Establishes, promotes, and maintains relationships with relevant Programme Priority Areas, FAO technical units and Decentralized Offices in order to ensure best synergies between investment, policy and innovation work in support to Members.

Supports resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, agricultural economics, agricultural sciences, environmental sciences, agribusiness management, natural resource management, irrigation and drainage engineering, rural infrastructure engineering, social sciences, business administration or a related field.

Five years of relevant experience in conducting agricultural/rural sector/subsector analytical studies, and/or in planning, design, supervision of agricultural and rural investment operations, including elaboration of feasibility studies and implementation of agricultural and rural investment operations in developing countries and/or countries in transition.

Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

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, particularly in field positions, is desirable.

Extent and relevance of experience in formulation, implementation support or evaluation of strategies, policies, studies and investment programmes/projects in food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and other related subjects.

Extent and relevance of experience in participating in multidisciplinary teams for the preparation of strategies, sector studies, and investment programmes/projects.

Extent and relevance of experience with FAO's main development partners, in particular the World Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the European Union and other development partners and international financial institutions.'

Demonstrated experience in dealing with government officials, development partners and other country stakeholders.

Knowledge of the context, as well as partners and institutions of the specific subregion would be an asset.

Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in English.

Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of French would be an important asset, including demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in French.

_________________________________________________________________

FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

_________________________________________________________________

GENERAL INFORMATION

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link:
Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:
• Dependency allowances
• Rental subsidy
• Education grant for children
• Home leave travel
• 30 working days of annual leave per year
• Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund
• International health insurance; optional life insurance
• Disability protectionFAO encourages a positive workplace culture to increase inclusivity and diversity within its workforce. FAO applies measures in which all staff members contribute equally and in full to the work and development of the Organization. This includes: 
• elements of family-friendly policies
• flexible working arrangements
• standards of conduct.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________