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- FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
- Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;
- Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
- FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
- All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
- All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.
Organizational Setting
FAO is implementing the project TCP/SAP/4105, “Strengthening Sustainable Agrifood Systems through Tourism Linkages in the Pacific Region”. The project supports Cook Islands and Fiji to strengthen backward linkages between tourism operators, smallholder farmers, agribusinesses and other value chain actors, and to promote commercially viable tourism-linked agrifood systems that increase local food sourcing, reduce import dependence and improve rural incomes.
The position is home based and involves travel to Cook Islands and Fiji.
Reporting Lines
The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Subregional Coordinator for the Pacific and the direct supervision of the Lead Technical Officer. The incumbent will collaborate closely with the Ministries of Agriculture and Tourism in Cook Islands and Fiji, FAO country teams, national experts, service providers and relevant public and private stakeholders.
Technical Focus
The consultant will provide technical leadership, quality assurance and advisory support for the design, implementation, documentation and development of roadmap for scale-up of tourism-linked agrifood systems models in Cook Islands and Fiji, with particular focus on market diagnostics, buyer–seller linkages, farmer readiness, value addition, food safety, quality compliance, aggregation, logistics and inclusive participation of women and youth.
Tasks and responsibilities
• Review the project document, national agriculture and tourism strategies, previous FAO work, market studies, supplier databases, agritourism initiatives and relevant private sector information to establish the baseline and identify priority information gaps. In discussion with the LTO, develop and agree on a time lined activity and travel plan to Fiji and Cook Islands to plan and implement the activities during the assignment.
• Conduct an inception meeting with FAO, government counterparts, national experts and service providers to confirm the assignment scope, workplan, methodology, roles and responsibilities, reporting arrangements, travel schedule and coordination mechanisms.
• Review relevant project, policy, strategy and market information and discuss with the LTO and ministry colleagues to establish the baseline and identify priority information gaps to help refine the activity plan.
• Lead the development and subsequent management of Letters of Agreement in Cook Islands and Fiji with appropriate service providers supporting in-country implementation.
• Design or refine practical tools for rapid market diagnostics, including stakeholder interview guides, buyer demand assessment formats, farmer and aggregator profiling tools, value chain selection criteria and templates for documenting market linkage opportunities.
• Provide technical guidance to national experts and service providers to conduct consultations with ministries, hotels, resorts, restaurants, wholesalers, processors, farmer organizations, women and youth groups and other value chain actors.
• Lead the analysis of tourism-linked market demand, local supply capacity, product quality and food safety requirements, aggregation and logistics constraints, pricing issues, gender and youth participation gaps, import substitution opportunities and value addition potential.
• Develop commercially viable tourism-linked agrifood systems pilot models for Cook Islands and Fiji, including priority commodities, buyer–seller arrangements, aggregation and logistics options, quality standards, capacity development needs, digital linkage opportunities and implementation steps.
• Support implementation of the Cook Islands and Fiji pilots, including technical advice on farmer readiness, buyer engagement, value addition, food safety, quality compliance, institutional buyer linkages and documentation of lessons learned.
• Facilitate or contribute to national validation workshops and technical consultations to review diagnostic findings, validate pilot models, assess implementation progress and agree on practical measures for improving farmer access to tourism and institutional markets.
• Integrate the Cook Islands Food Innovation Center plan and Fiji agribusiness incubator support into pilot planning, and compare lessons learned during implementation to inform a long-term strategy.
• Develop country strategy papers and 3–5-year action plans for tourism-linked agrifood systems in Cook Islands and Fiji, incorporating lessons from diagnostics and pilots, priority commodities, partnership mechanisms, investment opportunities, capacity development needs, enabling policy measures and scale-up pathways.
• Prepare technical notes, guidance materials and presentations to support market linkage facilitation, farmer readiness, buyer engagement, value addition, food safety, quality compliance and replication of successful models.
• Organize a regional workshop to share lessons learned and strengthen tourism–agrifood systems linkages across countries in the Pacific region.
• Submit final deliverables to FAO, incorporating comments from government counterparts and relevant stakeholders, and provide technical inputs for project reporting, knowledge sharing and replication across other Pacific Island countries.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in agriculture, agribusiness, agricultural economics, rural development, food systems, tourism development, value chain development or a related field. Consultants with a bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
• At least five years of relevant experience in agrifood systems, value chain development, market linkages, agritourism, rural enterprise development or related technical areas.
• Working knowledge (level C) of English.
FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
• Strong technical knowledge of agrifood systems, value chain development, market linkages and agritourism models relevant to small island developing states.
• Demonstrated ability to assess tourism-sector demand, farmer supply capacity, aggregation arrangements, logistics, food safety and quality requirements.
• Proven capacity to design commercially viable pilot models, practical implementation tools, country strategy papers and multi-year action plans.
• Ability to facilitate multi-stakeholder consultations and partnerships involving government institutions, tourism operators, private sector actors, farmer organizations and development partners.
• Experience integrating gender, youth inclusion, climate resilience and smallholder market access considerations into agrifood systems interventions.
• Excellent analytical, drafting, communication and presentation skills, including preparation of technical reports, guidance materials and workshop documentation.
• Strong facilitation, stakeholder consultation and capacity-building skills.
• Knowledge of Pacific Island agricultural systems, market realities and stakeholder capacities is an advantage.
Selection Criteria
• Extent and relevance of experience in tourism-linked agrifood systems, value chain development and market linkage facilitation.
• Demonstrated capacity to design and document commercially viable pilot models and practical implementation tools.
• Experience in supporting inclusive market access for smallholder farmers, including women and youth.
• Knowledge of Pacific Island contexts, small island developing states, agritourism, food safety, quality standards and institutional buyer requirements.
• Quality of analytical, facilitation, communication and report-writing skills
• Demonstrated experience in developing market-based models linking farmers, aggregators, processors and institutional or tourism-sector buyers.
• Experience working with governments, development partners, private sector actors and farmer organizations in small island developing states or comparable contexts would be an asset.
Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing)
- Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list
- 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 more information, visit the FAO employment website
- Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.
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
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• 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.
If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp
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