Agribusiness and Program Development Specialist

Food and Agriculture Organization

Cairo, Egypt

FAO country offices are responsible for leading FAO’s response to governments’ priorities in developing agrifood
system policies, programmes, and projects - to achieve food security and nutrition and reduce hunger and malnutrition, promote sustainable use of natural resources, reduce rural poverty, strengthen livelihood resilience and inclusive business and income generation models  in line with the Organization’s Strategic Objectives and to accelerate progress for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
As part of FAO country office effort to support the Government of Egypt in enhanced climate resilience and efficiency of natural resource for all/rural people in a sustainable environment, FAO has been working towards improving management of land, water, fertilizer, pesticide and other agriculture inputs for efficient, more sustainable, healthy, income-generating agriculture production. Within this context, FAO is implementing projects in Egypt to support smallholder farmers in better managing their natural resources through various interventions, including the utilization of modern irrigation techniques, land use consolidation, agriculture waste transformation into valuable secondary products and improving agriculture value chains to become more competitive and inclusive.
The position is located in the FAO-EG Office in Cairo.
Tasks and responsibilities:
 Program Development:

  • Supports monitoring and reviewing the status of program and project implementation in FAO Egypt
  • Assist in FAO Egypt’s resource mobilization efforts, including contributing to the development of concept notes with potential partners.
  • Other duties as needed.

 Technical support:

  • Carry out data and information collection and analysis.
  • Coordinate the planning and implementation of data collection activities on opportunities for MSMEs establishment, new legislations including preparing data collection tools and methodology.
  • Conduct data cleaning, analysis, validation, and visualization and develop structure for synthesis and reporting the information gathered in the field.
  • Collect, collate and review relevant documentation (ex. new legislations, initiatives, etc.) on the field of MSMEs financing/ creation/renewal/expansion, etc.
  • Identify successful examples of small enterprises in the region and document the findings.
  • Analyse and evaluate the experience, success factor and design a road map for the project activities that incorporate the findings.
  • Identify policies, strategies and methods that can be utilized/adapted within the assigned project context and propose general recommendations and directions for MSME development.
  • Design a methodology and conduct a realistic assessment of the current situation of SME sector in the target locations.
  • Identify potential MSMEs types to be established through the project interventions on improving the competitiveness of selected priority value chains.
  • Identify the required enabling environment, resources, finance, capacity required for establishment of the SMEs and support operationalization per target group.

 Capacity building:

  • Conduct feasibility studies and provide advice on economic viability for new entrepreneurs when requested.
  • Develop programmes on how to support SME development through business support services, business incubators, and other innovative approaches.
  • Support entrepreneurs in the design and implementation of tailored growth plans/strategies for their enterprises.
  • Review business proposals prepared by future entrepreneurs and ensure their soundness.
  • Support future entrepreneurs in identifying digital solutions to improve the MSME service quality.
  • Build capacity of staff at the Entrepreneurs Support Division on various elements of a successful SME strategies    development and monitoring and evaluation.
  • Design and conduct training workshop sessions as required.
  • Other duties as needed

Candidates Will Be Assessed Against The Following:
Minimum Requirements:

  • An advanced university degree in agriculture, agriculture economy, agribusiness, or a related field.
  • At least 7 years of experience in designing and implementing MSMEs establishment related activities.
  • Working knowledge (Level C) of English.
  • This position is only open to Egyptian nationals.

Technical/Functional Skills:

  • Relevance and extent of experience in working with inter-governemental bodies and multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Excellent organizational skills;
  • Good analytical skills with strong orientation to details;
  • Experience in report writing and data analysis;
  • Demonstrated communication skills, including the ability to convey and present sensitive issues/positions;
  • Excellent analysis and report writing skills including the ability to develop presentations and deliver them to national level stakeholders.

Source: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2302881