Eswatini ()
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
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- Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
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Organizational Setting
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports countries in achieving the 2030 Agenda through its Strategic Framework, which promotes the transformation of agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable, contributing to better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.
In Eswatini, FAO is supporting the Government through TCP/SWA/4101 to accelerate the national agrifood systems transformation agenda. The project focuses on strengthening the enabling environment for investment and policy implementation, including the review of the National Agriculture Investment Plan and related instruments, mobilization of investment capital through FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative tools, and support to the development of bankable project proposals for resource mobilization.
To support the effective implementation of these activities, FAO will engage a Junior Agrifood Systems Specialist to work closely with national institutions, technical experts, project teams and key stakeholders. The incumbent will contribute to the research, data and information compilation to inform plans, strategies and projects and make regular follow-up of project activities, with particular emphasis on agrifood systems analysis, investment planning, stakeholder engagement and resource mobilization support.
Reporting Lines
Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Eswatini and guidance of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme), the Junior Agrifood Systems Specialist (Research) will provide technical support and work closely with project teams, government counterparts, development partners, commodity associations, producer organizations, financial institutions and private-sector stakeholders involved in agrifood systems transformation initiatives.
Technical Focus
Serve as the project’s national technical coordination and delivery-support expert and designated focal point for agrifood systems and FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative in Eswatini. The incumbent will coordinate day-to-day engagement with national institutions and stakeholders; maintain oversight and follow-through across project outputs, activities, milestones and agreed actions; support agrifood systems investment programming, analytics, investment planning and investor engagement; facilitate review and updating of the National Agriculture Investment Plan in line with the Kampala Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Declaration and CAADP Strategy and Action Plan 2026–2035; and provide research, data and coordination support for the Eswatini Agriculture Development Fund (EADF) transition under FAO technical guidance.
Tasks and responsibilities
• Prepare an inception note, integrated project-delivery workplan, national coordination plan, stakeholder map, data requirements matrix and field schedule.
• Serve as the day-to-day national coordination focal point linking FAO, the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Project Coordinator, EADF, Government task teams, implementing partners, consultants and stakeholders.
• Maintain an integrated results and delivery tracker covering project outputs, indicators, activities, deliverables, deadlines, responsibilities, dependencies, risks, decisions and follow-up actions.
• Coordinate products and processes under Output 1 on strategic engagement and coordination, Output 2 on bankable concept notes and proposals, and Output 3 on investment cases, matchmaking and investment forums.
• Support national technical meetings, task teams, working groups, consultations, trainings, learning missions, validation workshops and investment engagements, including preparation of agendas, briefing packs, presentations, minutes, decision logs and action matrices.
• Maintain a consolidated overview of national agrifood systems priorities, initiatives, coordination platforms, investments, policies, data needs and partnerships.
• Compile Kampala CAADP Declaration and Strategy implementation guidance, targets and accountability requirements into a practical reference package.
• Support review of the current NAIP against the six Kampala strategic objectives and agreed targets, maintaining a compliance, gap and recommendations matrix.
• Serve as the operational focal point for FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative in Eswatini and coordinate country inputs, data requests, analytics and investment-planning processes.
• Coordinate preparation and quality control of Hand-in-Hand investment cases, country investment plans, investor briefs, presentations and supporting datasets.
• Maintain the national investment pipeline and partnership tracker, document investor feedback and follow up agreed next steps.
• Undertake literature, policy and document reviews and support research and analysis for concept notes, proposals, investment cases and the EADF institutional assessment.
• Develop and administer approved data-collection and consultation tools and organize interviews, focus groups and field visits.
• Prepare monthly progress dashboards and quarterly synthesis reports highlighting delivery status, emerging issues, decisions required and the forward workplan.
• Facilitate engagement with commodity associations, producer organizations, agribusiness enterprises, financial institutions and other market actors.
• At completion, submit a final project-output delivery status report, unresolved-actions register, indexed evidence archive, stakeholder and investment databases, Hand-in-Hand repository and comprehensive handover note.
• Perform other programme-related duties assigned by the FAO Representation.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in Agribusiness, Agricultural Development, Development Studies, Environmental Science or a related field and a minimum of two (2) years of relevant work experience in agrifood systems, agricultural development, agribusiness, agricultural investment planning, research, project implementation or related fields; or University Degree and a minimum of four (4) years of relevant working experience.
• Working knowledge of English (Level C).
• National of Eswatini or resident of the country with a valid work permit.
FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
• Extent and relevance of experience in supporting agricultural programmes, investment frameworks, research, data collection, analysis and technical report writing.
• Extent and relevance of experience in agribusiness development, value chains, market systems, concept notes, proposals
• and resource mobilization.
• Extent and relevance of experience in engaging commodity associations, producer organizations, financial institutions and private-sector actors.
• Extent and relevance of experience in project cycle management, facilitation of stakeholder consultations and multi-partner coordination.
• Familiarity with agricultural investment planning, agrifood systems transformation and FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative.
• Excellent communication, analytical, organizational and problem-solving skills, with proficiency in Microsoft Office and data-management tools.
• Working Knowledge (Level C) of Siswati will be considered an asset
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
- Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
- Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
- For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
- Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.
FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.
HOW TO APPLY
• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/.These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings.
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
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• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.
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