Background

Instructions to Applicants:

Click on the "Apply now" button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
• A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
• Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

Office/Unit/Project Description

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 least developed countries. With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic

level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development. UNCDF’s financing models work through three channels: inclusive digital economies, connecting individuals, households, and small businesses with financial eco-systems that catalyse participation in the local economy, and provide tools to climb out of poverty and manage financial lives; local development finance, that capacitates localities through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance to drive local economic expansion and sustainable development; and investment finance, that provides catalytic financial structuring, de-risking, and capital deployment to drive SDG impact and domestic resource mobilization.

By strengthening how finance works for poor people at the household, small enterprise, and local infrastructure levels, UNCDF contributes to Sustainable Development Goal-SDG 1 on eradicating poverty and SDG 17 on the means of implementation. By identifying those market segments where innovative financing models can have transformational impact in helping to reach the last mile and address exclusion and inequalities of access, UNCDF contributes to a broad diversity of SDGs. UNCDF strategy

‘Leaving no one behind in the digital era’ is based on over a decade of experience in digital finance in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. UNCDF recognizes that reaching the full potential of digital financial inclusion in support of the Sustainable Development Goals aligns with the vision of promoting digital economies that leave no one behind.

Travel

• UNCDF will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station or related country and excludes working from home arrangements.
• Consultants already residing at the duty station will not be compensated for living expenses.
•  Expected travel: Travel to the field and other relevant locations within duty station country may be required and will be compensated according to UN polices.

Institutional Arrangement
S/He will work under direct supervision of the Regional Manager for Inclusive Digital Economies (IDE)
 

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

Under the supervision of either UNCDF Digital Country Lead / Regional Digital Hub Manager, these Two Digital Agriculture Specialists will complete the following activities and deliverables. One Specialist will be based in Bangladesh and shall undertake the following activities and deliverables for the duration of 12 months:

Output 1: Conduct pre-investment work including

1. assessment of digital agriculture transformation potential, E-agriculture strategies and digital inclusive finance strategies;
2. Digitization strategies of sub-sectors such as livestock and fisheries (neglected at the moment in terms of digital transformation as compared to crops);
3. establishing building blocks for digital agriculture transformation (farmers’ registries anddigital literacy, rural connectivity and policy and regulatory framework); and
4. knowledge products for use by governments, international organizations, value chain actors and private sector.

Output 2: Design of digital agriculture interventions in areas including digitization of value chains; replication of AgrInvest Initiative; building capacity of farmer organizations on digital transformation; and digitization of land tenure systems. These digital agriculture interventions will be identified during the scoping work carried out on a bi-annual basis between FAO/IC and UNCDF.

Output 3: Implementation of specific technical assistance related to digital agriculture interventions and possible delivery of specific funding (grants, loans and guarantees) by UNCDF.

Output 4: Stock taking and knowledge management.

Summary of deliverables

• One or two pre-investment work outputs (digital strategies and digital building blocks) elaborated by Digital Agriculture Specialist.
• Detailed design of at least one digital agriculture interventions jointly elaborated by UNCDF under FAO/IC supervision.
• Implementation reports elaborated by UNCDF for one digital agriculture intervention
• Review of above implementation reports carried out by FAO/IC
• Relevant knowledge products associated with the above-mentioned pre-investment initiatives and investment interventions jointly elaborated by UNCDF and FAO/IC.

Expected results

1. The expected results are linked to the outputs, activities and deliverables presented above and are affecting recipient countries and food system actors at country level. More specifically:

• As a general result, a successful implementation of suitable digital agriculture solutions leading to positive impact on agri-food systems from economic, employment, environmental and social standpoints as measured by national frameworks and SDGs
• As related to the specific areas of collaboration (as listed above), main results could include:
• Reduced digital divide and improved access of small farmers to suitable digital solutions leading to improved equity, efficiency and environmental sustainability of agri-food systems.
• More conducive business environment for digital transformation at country-level leading to improved supply of digital solutions for all food system actors.
• Enhanced investment opportunities in agri-food systems for both public and private sector associated with reduced risks and enhanced financial returns.

All outputs shall be subject to review and written acceptance by the Technical Specialists who shall also authorize the disbursement of payment to the individual.

Competencies

UN Core Values and Competencies:

• Professionalism: Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients " and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Required Skills and Experience

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSA