UNDP Jobs - 67634- Senior Agribusiness Development Advisor

Senior Agribusiness Development Advisor

Location :

Suva, FIJI

Type of Contract :

Other

Starting Date :

05-Sep-2016

Application Deadline :

02-Aug-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Other

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Renewable subject to performance and availability of funding.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Ministry of Agriculture and the International Fund for Agricultural Development(IFAD) are funding a rural development project titled Fiji Agricultural Partnership Project(FAPP) to support smallholder farmers in the highlands of Viti Levu to grow more food and improve business skills to be in a better position to engage with the markets. The project would also support existing agribusiness enterprises throughout the country in business planning and more targeted capital assistance. The proposed FAPP would support and develop further the Government of Fiji's priority to transform the prevailing smallholder production systems into more productive and sustainable market-oriented agriculture. FAPP would also support Government of Fiji in accelerating the growth of the private sector in agricultural and horticultural crops, comprising all value-adders in the market chains including input suppliers, traders, transporters, processors, wholesalers, retailers and exporters as well as the all-important primary producers themselves. The Senior Agribusiness Development Advisor will support Ministry of Agriculture's capacity to promote private sector agribusiness and to target assistance towards accelerating the development of agribusiness enterprises all over Fiji.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Senior Agribusiness Development Advisor (SADA) will provide advice to the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) on the development of a Programme of support to private sector agribusiness with an emphasis on the linkages between the private sector and small farmers. S/he will be responsible for on-the-job training of up to five staff of MoA seconded at ADU and for advising on the technical implementation of the IFAD-Government of FAPP, in close collaboration with MoA and the FAPP implementation support team. This assignment entails the SADA to advise and support MoA/ADU to carry out the necessary activities rather than carrying them out by her/himself. Specifically, the Senior Agribusiness Development Adviser would undertake the following tasks:

Familiarize her/himself with Fiji’s agricultural and agribusiness environment, reviewing existing documentation on the topic, including FAPP Design Document, Working Papers, and the PIM, and understand MoA organizational structure, establishing contacts with senior staff of all divisions, as the basis to: i) identify the gaps in the MoA that require to be addressed and can be addressed in the framework of project implementation; ii) advise on the VC and policy studies and on policy formulation, amendment and update; and iii) inform project implementation, including component 2 and to the possible extent 3 (linking producers with SMEs) and sub-components 3.2 and 3.3 (in coordination with the LIP and service providers);
Carry out a (on-the-job) training/capacity need assessment of ADU and extension staff and on the basis of it and inputs by the ADU staff, develop a training/capacity building plan to be carried out during implementation and particularly during the first implementation year. The training will be in form of conventional one-to-one training, international/overseas training, distance learning training, exchange visits, and study tours. The training must be oriented to enhance the institutional capacity of MoA to promote private sector agribusiness, including thorough market identification, quality and safety enhancement and the improvement of market linkages with farmers;
Deliver the training and/or arrange other training activities (e.g. by identifying adequate service providers to contract for training delivery; opportunities for exchange visits or study tours; selection of international trainings, etc.), in line with project focus and content and the training need assessment;
Accompanied by at least one staff member of the ADU at all meetings, meet with leading stakeholders of the main agricultural crop and livestock sectors, including farmers, traders, processors, exporters and their organizations, such as the Fiji Crop & Livestock Council (FCLC), Pacific Island Farmers Organisation Network (PIFON), and the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO), as well as development organizations and projects working on these topics;
Accompanied by at least one staff member of the ADU, visit major agricultural areas in Viti Levu, including the highland areas being supported under FAPP, as well as important outer islands, in particular Vanua Levu and Taveuni;
In consultation with FCLC and other relevant parties, provide advice to the ADU on the organization and facilitation of a series of stakeholder consultations or consultative technical working group meetings for stakeholders (farmers, traders, transporters and processors) of various commodity sectors (up to eight), with particular emphasis on those sectors predominantly supplied by small farmers. Assess first what platforms/stakeholder fora already exist to work through them and form new ones only if not existing. Together with ADU, ensure that especially in the beginning, the project shows a strong leadership in putting together the various stakeholders and in organizing the meetings ensuring proper preparation and follow-up (agenda of the meeting, items of discussion, ensuring everybody’s prior notification and participation, preparation of minutes of the meetings and main decisions taken or follow-up action required etc.), to maintain interest and over time to consolidate the group and maintain the members engaged;
In consultation with MoA staff, revise and improve the Terms of Reference (ToRs) outline for value chain assessments, making them more relevant to the specific crops or livestock chosen for the studies. Work with the FAPP implementation support team to commission value chain assessments to be carried out by external agencies (e.g. by conducting an inventory of what VC studies already exist, those that can be used/updated/improved and those that may be produced newly; identifying the consultants to carry out the studies; reviewing, providing inputs and finalizing the studies so that they can be operationalised during FAPP implementation, ensuring that they incorporate inputs/comments from the stakeholder fora/workshops); provide professional training to ADU staff to enable them to contribute to such studies;
As a result of the widespread stakeholder consultations, work with ADU staff to identify policy studies that need to be carried out, assist in designing ToRs and work with the FAPP implementation support team to commission appropriate studies (including the identification of consultants), and providing inputs and finalizing the studies incorporating inputs/comments from the stakeholder fora/workshops and in a manner that they can provide concrete and implementable recommendations or can translate into policy formulation/update. Where possible, facilitate the participation of ADU staff in the conduct of such studies and provide training to them to enable them to carry out their responsibilities to a high professional level;
Provide inputs and advice for the finalization of the VC and policy studies, ensuring that these are delivered timely and in quality; that they are shared in draft form to the relevant stakeholder forum for comments; and that the comments/inputs/concerns of the stakeholder fora are incorporated in the final draft;
As a result of the widespread stakeholder consultations and the commissioned studies, work with ADU staff to identify policies, procedures and regulations related to the business and trade of domestically produced agricultural products that require formulation, change, update or amendment and advise the Unit on the best approach towards making representations for such changes to the appropriate authorities;
Collaborate with ADU staff and the Head of Extension in MoA to prepare a detailed outline for a three-day training course on agribusiness and value chains, to be delivered to all relevant agricultural extension officers of MoA and others from external agencies. Assist in identifying roles for her/himself and ADU staff in such training and work with the FAPP implementation support team to identify appropriate external service providers able to assist with the training. Consult with those service providers regarding course structure and implementation, including material preparation;
As a result of the widespread industry consultations, work with the ADU to identify problems faced by agricultural SMEs, including farmers who also trade, in managing their business, particularly from a financial management standpoint, but also in procuring agricultural products from small farmers and constraints in linking with highland producers. Clarify the range of assistance and advice that SMEs would require and, together with MoA staff, develop a selection of mentoring packages from 2-3 days to a maximum of 15 days, in association with organizations with mentoring experience, such as the Market Development Facility (AusAID);
In association with MoA and the FAPP implementation support team, identify mentors who would be recruited to respond to requests for assistance from SMEs on an “as required” basis. A list of “potential” or “qualified” mentors will be prepared indicating their location, specialisation, and characteristics in order to later on be able to select from the list the most suitable ones depending on which SME will be selected from the application process. Work with ADU staff to ensure full promotion of mentoring opportunities to be offered by the ADU through the stakeholder meetings and commodity associations, local media, and other appropriate channels;
Advise on establishment of a small Committee within MoA to approve requests for mentoring and serve on that Committee, together with one other staff member of the Unit and others from MoA. Advise the ADU team on preparation of submissions to the Committee that would outline all requests received and the recommendations of the ADU;
In association with staff of the ADU, re-engage and consult with the six commercial banks that were approached during design regarding a Programme of grant assistance to be given to agricultural SMEs in association with loan finance, equity of the SME and the mentoring Programme. Together with the FAPP implementation support team, agree with participating banks regarding procedures and develop a common MoU to be signed with all banks;
Maintain close collaboration with the agencies chosen to implement the component of the project that will provide direct assistance to farmers of the highland areas of Viti Levu, in particular in relation to sub-components 3.2 and 3.3. and in: planning, executing, reporting and monitoring project activities; providing appropriate support in areas such as staff training, identification of potential buyers of produce from highland areas, and advice on linkage development between farmers and buyers. Together with members of the ADU maintain close liaison with other similar development projects working directly with farmers to promote their access to markets, primarily PIFON/MTCP II grant funded by IFAD and a new IFAD grant which has just been approved (Leveraging the Development of Local Food Crops and Fisheries Value Chains for Improved Nutrition and Sustainable Food Systems in the Pacific Islands, which will inter alia be implemented in Fiji;
Contribute to the annual work plan and budget as well as project progress reports and M&E together with the FAPP implementation support team as required under IFAD regulations and assist staff of MoA with meeting their reporting obligations, if required; and
Implement all FAPP activities under your responsibility and establish linkages with other programmes and across components as detailed in the PIM.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Functional Competencies

Knowledge Management and Learning

Substantive and technical expertise in one or more of the following areas:

Conflict analysis and assessment;
Facilitating multi-stakeholder national/local dialogues for tension reduction;
Building national capacities to manage/prevent/reduce conflict;
Conflict sensitive programming;
Sound knowledge of and exposure to a wide range of post-conflict, peace-building, good governance, human rights and development-related issues;
Knowledge and experience in electoral and constitutional processes;
Good knowledge of the country and region of assignment, including the political, economic and social dimensions, and their relation to the main engines of conflict;
Ability to advocate and provide timely policy advice;
Ability to identify issues and to use sound judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems;
Ability to work under pressure in a stressful environment.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
Strong analytical capacity, including the ability to analyze and articulate conflict management, peace-building, recovery and development dimensions and related issues that require a coordinated UN response;
Good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to peace-building, recovery and development issues and sound knowledge of the institutions of the UN system;
Willingness to keep abreast of new developments in the field.

Management and Leadership

Excellent communication (spoken and written) skills, including the ability to draft/edit a variety of written reports and communications and to articulate ideas in a clear, concise style;
Ability to plan own work, manage conflicting priorities and work under pressure of tight and conflicting deadlines;
Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications;
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations;
Very strong leadership capacities to guide dialogue activities in mixed groups.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

An advanced degree in agribusiness, agricultural marketing, agricultural economics, economics, business administration or related subject.

Experience:

A minimum of 8 years at a senior level in a relevant public institution, the private sector, an international organization, or NGO sector, with proven skills in the implementation of activities to support agribusiness and value chain development in developing countries.

Knowledge of and relevant working experience in the Pacific Islands environment would be a distinct advantage. Computer literacy and demonstrated ability to carry out training activities particularly on-the-job training is desirable.

Language:

Good command of spoken and written English are essential.