Agribusiness Finance Officer

The Agribusiness Finance Officer provides analytical and technical support on agribusiness finance in the context of public and private investment operations, focusing on financial institutions, rural finance, agricultural risk management, blended finance and private sector investment. The role supports investment and finance solutions to transform agrifood systems sustainably and inclusively.

Responsibilities

• Participates in multidisciplinary teams for identification and preparation of investment and finance support solutions in food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing, including pre-appraisal and appraisal missions.
• Supports implementation of investment and finance support solutions and preparation of final evaluations.
• Participates in preparation of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing studies and strategies, and formulation of national sector and/or sub-sector investment plans and programmes.
• Supports development of inclusive and sustainable food systems involving producers, their organizations, private sector actors, civil society organizations and governments.
• Contributes to capacity development activities in food security, 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 governments and financing partners' requirements.
• Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences, and interacts with international and national partners.
• Supports promotion and maintenance of relationships with relevant Programme Priority Areas, FAO technical units and Decentralized Offices to ensure synergies between investment, policy and innovation work.
• Supports resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.
• Supports design and appraisal of agrifood investment and finance operations with International Financial Institutions and development partners, focusing on financial viability, sustainability, and development impact.
• Participates in multidisciplinary teams to support preparation and implementation of investment projects and programmes, providing technical inputs on agrifinance, rural finance systems, and private sector engagement.
• Analyses constraints to access to finance across selected value chains and identifies solutions to unlock financing, including strengthening linkages with financial institutions, improving bankability of investments, and addressing risk perceptions.
• Supports design and application of innovative and blended finance solutions, including guarantees, concessional financing, risk-sharing facilities and other de-risking instruments to crowd in private capital.
• Contributes to analytical work and knowledge products on agrifinance, rural finance and private sector investment, including lessons learned and practical tools to support project design and implementation.
• Provides technical support to project implementation, advising on financial mechanisms, monitoring financial performance, and ensuring alignment with project objectives and partner requirements.
• Supports development of financing strategies and investment pipelines, identifying priority opportunities to scale up investment and mobilize private sector participation in agrifood systems.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics, agricultural economics, agribusiness, finance, agriculture, agro-industry, business administration or a closely related field.
• Five years of relevant experience in the practical application of agribusiness finance (particularly as it relates to financial institutions), agribusiness investments and, more generally, formulation and/or implementation of agrifood investment and finance solutions in developing countries.
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions.
• Experience in technical fields related to agribusiness finance, rural finance, value-chain development and analysis, business planning, agriculture marketing, blended finance and private sector development.
• Experience in participating in multidisciplinary teams for preparation of strategies and sector studies as well as formulation, implementation support or evaluation of agrifood investment and finance support solutions, focusing on rural finance, value chain development and agribusiness.
• Experience in capacity development activities related to financing agrifood investments, including capacity development to support financial institutions.
• Knowledge of stakeholder context including partners and institutions in blended finance and rural finance space (including impact fund managers, investors, development finance institutions), and knowledge of IFIs and donors like the European Union.
• Demonstrated experience in dealing with government officials, development partners and other country stakeholders.
• Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in English.

Skills

• Agribusiness Finance
• Agribusiness Investment
• Agrifood Investment
• Rural Finance
• Value Chain Analysis
• Business Planning
• Agricultural Marketing
• Blended Finance Structuring
• Private Sector Development
• Financial Institutions Sector
• Capacity Development
• Investment Strategy Development
• Sector Studies Preparation
• Agricultural Risk Management
• Technical Report Preparation
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration
• Development Finance Institutions Knowledge
• Donor Relations
• English Language Proficiency

Languages

English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish