Agribusiness Finance Officer

The Agribusiness Finance Officer provides analytical and technical support on agrifood lending and value chain knowledge to formulate, implement and evaluate technical assistance activities in food and agriculture. The role supports investment and finance solutions to transform agrifood systems sustainably and inclusively, working closely with governments, financial institutions, and private sector partners.

Responsibilities

• Participate in and lead multidisciplinary teams to assist governments in identifying and preparing investment and finance support initiatives in food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing.
• Participate in and lead teams for implementation support and preparation of final evaluation of investment and finance support solutions.
• Provide technical expertise for preparation of studies and strategies in food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing, and formulation of national sector and/or sub-sector investment plans and programmes.
• Support development of inclusive and sustainable food systems involving producers, private sector actors, civil society organizations and governments.
• Formulate and deliver capacity development initiatives in food and agriculture investment support to government staff and non-state actors and private sector organizations.
• Prepare documents in accordance with FAO, government and financing partners' requirements.
• Support task organization, consultant selection, preparation of terms of reference and ensure quality of outputs.
• Promote international cooperation and collaboration leading to new investment opportunities and cooperative agreements, advocate best practices and effective policy dialogue, and provide technical expertise at international meetings.
• Establish and maintain relationships with relevant Strategic Programmes, FAO technical units and Decentralized Offices to ensure synergies between investment, policy and innovation work.
• Participate in resource mobilization activities in accordance with FAO Corporate Strategy.
• Provide guidance and advice to junior staff.
• Support successful implementation of the TERRA programme and execution of agreed work plans.
• Ensure good communication with counterparts, namely CDP and DG INTPA.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments of agrifood portfolio, strategy and lending practices of selected financial institutions and present findings.
• Engage with financial institutions to identify technical assistance needs.
• Formulate and deliver capacity development initiatives to financial institutions and private sector organizations in relevant areas.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams to enhance financial institutions' ability to lend to the agrifood sector.
• Provide technical expertise for preparation of studies and strategies in relevant sectors.
• Participate in generation of knowledge products on food and agriculture investments and financing mechanisms.
• Prepare Terms of Reference and identify qualified specialists to support implementation.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in agriculture, agro-industry, business administration, economics, agricultural economics, agribusiness, finance, political sciences or a closely related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in the practical application of agrifood lending, value chain analysis and development, agribusiness and market development, agrifood processing, including experience in the formulation and/or implementation of agricultural investment and finance solutions in developing countries and/or countries in transition.
• 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 development, agrifood finance, rural finance, value-chain development and analysis, business planning, agriculture marketing, blended finance and private sector development.
• Experience in multidisciplinary teams for preparation of strategies and sector studies, formulation, implementation support or evaluation of agricultural investment and finance support solutions, focusing on rural finance, value chain development and agribusiness, and working directly with private sector and commercial financial institutions.
• Experience in formulation and delivery of capacity development in agriculture, rural development, natural resource management, agro-processing and blended finance.
• Knowledge of stakeholders including partners and institutions in blended finance and agrifood finance space, including Development Finance Institutions, commercial financial institutions, CDP and the European Union.
• Demonstrated experience dealing with government officials, development partners, financial institutions and other country stakeholders.
• Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in English.

Skills

• Agrifood Lending
• Value Chain Analysis
• Agribusiness Development
• Agrifood Processing
• Agricultural Investment
• Agrifood Finance
• Rural Finance
• Business Planning
• Agricultural Marketing
• Blended Finance Structuring
• Private Sector Development
• Capacity Development
• Natural Resource Management
• Agro-Processing
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Technical Report Preparation
• Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration
• Development Finance Institutions
• Commercial Financial Institutions

Languages

English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish