Agribusiness and Market Linkage Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO helps developing countries in transition modernize and improve agriculture including livestock, forestry, and fisheries practices, ensuring good nutrition and food security for all. Upon request from the Government of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, the FAO has agreed to provide technical assistance for the execution of the Food and nutrition Security Enhancement Project (FANSEP), UTF/NEP/077/NEP from July 2019 to June, 2023. The project is implemented by Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.  

Objectives

FAO Technical Assistance to FANSEP will contribute to achieve the project development objective: improved agricultural productivity and nutrition practices of targeted smallholder farming communities in selected areas of Nepal

Reporting Lines

Under the overall operational supervision of FAOR, direct supervision of the Team Leader and technical supervision of the FAO designated technical backstopping officer in the FAO Regional Office in Bangkok or FAO HQ, close consultation and coordination with AFAOR (Programme), and in coordination with the Government of Nepal’s designated technical officer for market linkages at the PMU, the Agribusiness and Market Linkage Specialist will have the responsibility of supporting and technical backstopping the planning, implementation and management related to market linkage development and income diversification across all project components.

Technical Focus 

The consultant will assist the project team in accomplishing a participatory process in implementing the project activities with emphasis on the adoption of the Systems Learning Approach. The consultant will support in the planning, implementation and management of activities contributing to the outputs related to market linkage and income diversification across all project components. He/she will supervise the activities of and provide guidance to the Cluster Officers and field teams. He/she will spend considerable time in the field visiting and talking to groups engaged in agribusiness, field teams and other famers’ groups for enhanced market.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks: 

• Provide technical support and ensure integration of basic business module for the Farmer Field Schools, extended business training in Farmer Business Schools for selected groups
• Develop Market linkages Inventory and carry out Needs Assessment to ascertain a clear need for market linkage currently under implementation
• Assist to conduct market and value chain analyses of relevant commodities in the project areas. The analysis includes understanding and identifying the supply and demand situation of the targeted areas, characterizing and mapping the producers and buyers of relevant commodities and agricultural inputs. Familiarize him/herself with commodity value chains, including marketing of relevant agriculture commodities and identifying the key market linkages required to improve and sustain livelihoods of the beneficiaries
• Develop advanced quality management system by exposing the Producer Groups to markets, and processing facilities to improve food safety and hygiene conditions across the commodity chain through demonstration effects
• Guide and facilitate the formation/reactivation of farmers groups, cooperatives, organize agriculture fairs and strengthening of the CBOs for building market linkages and the implementation of agribusiness activities at Rural Municipality and ward levels
• Identify needs and design of the curriculum, lesson plans, guidelines and procedures for different training packages related to agribusiness, market linkage and basic business module to be embedded in ToT, refresher courses, Farmer Field School (FFS), Farmer Business School, and Home Nutrition Garden and provide backstopping support in their implementation
• Develop innovative mechanisms to provide access of smallholders to improved seeds or breeds, financial services for establishing small scale processing and preservation technologies and irrigation facilities
• Conduct stakeholder analysis to Identify the main actors and other stakeholders (supporters and influencer) and how are they linked and interact in the value chain related to smallholders
• Improve and diversify the income generating capacity of targeted beneficiaries by reducing transaction costs through investments in critical business skills and productive assets, supporting value-added activities, and building market linkages
• Organize and strengthen producer groups representing the targeted farmers by organizing them around commodities of common interest, and enhance their capacity in terms of governance, leadership skills, group dynamics, decision-making, problem-solving and risk management, book-keeping, meeting organization, agricultural seasonal planning, marketing, value addition, food safety, preparation of simple business plans, and simple monitoring and evaluation
• Develop a mechanism to establish the linkages between Producer Organizations (POs) and Agri-Business Enterprises (ABEs) supporting both input and output markets, including micro, small and mid-size enterprises (MSMEs), traders, and Rural Financial Institutions (RFIs) through the provision of financing for simple business plans
• Develop criteria for eligible business plans (BPs) that demonstrate real potential for marketing and income generation for the target beneficiaries
• Submit a work plan and monthly progress report as per the format developed by the project
• Undertake any other work as assigned by the Team Leader pertaining to project with focus to market linkage and income diversification
• Generate and apply innovative approaches and promote good practices such as ICT use to support the effective implementation and service delivery
• Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives related to agribusiness and market linkage development

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING 

Minimum Requirements 

• National of Nepal
• Advanced University (Master) Degree in Agribusiness/business management, Agricultural economics or any related field with a background in agriculture and rural development
• Seven Years of relevant experience in developing and implementing agribusiness programmes, tools and training materials
• Having experience of working with multi-disciplinary team will have an advantage
• Working knowledge of English and Nepali and limited knowledge of local language
• Candidate should have knowledge of computer skills (MS Office package: word, excel and power point)

FAO Core Competencies 

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

 Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience and in-depth knowledge in Agribusiness and market linkage development,
• Knowledge of integrating basic business module in the Farmer Field Schools,
• Design and conduct Farmer Business Schools (FBS)
• Working experience in Food and nutrition security programs
• Preparing guidelines and capacity building on FBS

Selection Criteria 

• Extent of relevant technical experience in the areas mentioned above
• Having experience of working with multi-disciplinary team
• Good working knowledge of English, especially on written  
• Experience with similar internationally funded development projects will be an added advantage