Agro-pole Development Specialist
UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization
Home-based
Under the overall guidance of the Director General, the direct supervision of the Managing Director, Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET), and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, the Division of Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development (IET/AGR) supports Member States in their efforts to pave the way to sustainable rural development and a structurally transformed and modernized agribusiness sector. Capitalizing on the experience gained by UNIDO in this field over decades and on tried-and-tested and to-be-developed service modules, the Division will explore innovative approaches to maximise the potential that exists in agribusiness development, addressing emerging global trends, in particular food security, poverty alleviation and climate change. It will explore new ways to contribute to global efforts to reduce hunger, accelerate food systems transition, and generate income and employment, especially among women and youth.
The Division provides technical cooperation services to assist the modernization of agriculture and agro-industry, especially in less-developed countries, ensuring that enterprises add value to primary agricultural production, substitute the imports of food and other value-added agricultural products, and participate effectively in local, regional and global value chains. Where needed, it will develop infrastructure and agro-industrial parks and capacities for agro-industrialization, value addition, quality assurance and food safety. It will also bring innovative approaches to Member States to fully benefit from carbon-neutral and biodiversity-enhancing agricultural and agro-industrial production and development opportunities in the green and blue bioeconomy.
FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Agropole Development Specialist will be responsible for the following main duties:
- Lead technical team undertaking pre-feasibility studies in selected francophone countries in Africa;
- Review pre-feasibility studies scope and objectives for selected countries and provide feedback, including required human resources;
- Prepare outline and methodology for pre-feasibility study;
- Undertake preliminary desk-based research/lead the preparation of an inception report based on desk-based research with technical inputs from team members;
- Lead in-country pre-feasibility study team, including the gathering of technical inputs, business development inputs, stakeholder consultations and liaising with counterparts;
- Lead the preparation of a draft pre-feasibility report for counterpart, UNIDO and partners’ review;
- Lead/coordinate counterpart and partner inputs to the pre-feasibility study, lead revisions and submission to the project manager;
- Provide guidance on national and sub-national institutional arrangements to agropole development;
- Prepare follow-up steps to be undertaken subsequent to the pre-feasibility study.
MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Education:
- Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in economics, business administration, agro-industries, engineering, or other relevant discipline is required.
Technical and Functional Experience:
- At least ten (10) years of professional experience in preparing feasibility studies for industrial park development or similar projects, is required;
- Experience in agribusiness, agropole development and operations, industrial park development and operations, or infrastructure development, is required;
- Experience leading technical teams in the area of industrial development in developing countries, particularly within the African context, is required;
- Experience in research and technical writing, specifically in industrial park development and agribusiness, is required;
- Experience working in the private sector in the agribusiness sector, is desirable;
- Knowledge of the international development agenda and strategic issues related to economic transformation is desirable.
Languages:
- Fluency in written and spoken French and English is required.
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES
Core values:
- WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially;
- WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner;
- WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.
Key competencies:
- WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity;
- WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world;
- WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work;
- WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.
Managerial and Leadership Competencies:
- WE ARE STRATEGIC, DECISIVE, PRINCIPLED AND INSPIRATIONAL: As managers, we are strategic and fair in driving our team’s performance. As leaders, we are a source of inspiration, stand for norms and standards established in the UN Charter and duty bound to defend these ideals with a principled approach;
- WE ARE INCLUSIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE: As managers, we are inclusive in our approach and maintain constructive engagement with all our stakeholders. As leaders, we embrace all personnel and stakeholders and are accountable mutually within UNIDO, within the system, to beneficiaries and the public and beyond;
- WE ARE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL AND TRANSFORMATIONAL: As managers, we go beyond conventional methods to help our organizational units strengthen their own agility and adaptability to change. As leaders in the UN system, we have a vision which is integrated and engaged across the pillars of Peace and Security, Human Rights and Development;
- WE ARE COLLABORATIVE AND CO-CREATIVE: As managers, we foster a team spirit and create meaningful opportunities to hear the voices of those around us, while realizing that only by working together can we accomplish our mission. As leaders we see the inter-dependency of imperatives of the UN Charter and personally champion a collaborative inter-agency, multi-stakeholders and cross-thinking approach.
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