Organizational Setting
FAOโs Sub-regional Office for Southern Africa (SFS) covers 15 countries, which are also member states of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). These countries face numerous challenges in their agri-food systems. The SADC region is experiencing recurrent climate change-related disasters that negatively impact rain-fed agriculture, food security and nutrition, and overall socio-economic development. The number of food-insecure people in the region is also increasing. At the same time, there are several opportunities for investment and trade in the agri-food systems in the region, including expanded market opportunities provided through the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement. There is therefore genuine demand for transformative approaches for agribusiness investment and value chain development, including instruments on how to develop and implement interventions which deliver results. Such approaches should help address the needs of large numbers of actors across priority value chains. ย
FAO SFS has identified the necessity for catalyzing inclusive investments and trade in food systems in Southern Africa as one of its major flagship programmes to increase the contribution of agriculture to inclusive economic growth and reduced rural poverty in the SADC region. The flagship programme for catalyzing inclusive investments and trade in food systems is one of three such programmes proposed in SFS, which together respond to the new FAO structure, cutting across the different coordination units, and addressing the priorities in FAOโs new Strategic Framework. A key component under the SFS Flagship programme on agribusiness and Investment for agrifood system transformation is support to implementation of the AfCFTA. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was conceptualized in 2012 to enhance trade integration on the continent. This agreement is of substantial economic interest to South Africa and the African continent and will provide a market of over 1 billion people with a GDP of over US$2.6 trillion. However, to fully harness the benefits of the AfCFTA, African countries capacities and systems need to be developed including building in digital technologies in farm to fork product development and movement across the continent. ย This proposed Technical Cooperation Project Facility (TCPF) is aimed at providing preparatory support to implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The main envisaged outputs are i) A comprehensive Gap and barrier analysis in implementation of AfCFTA looking at all structural, systemic and institutional gaps and barriers to implementation of the AfCFTA; ii) Partnerships and opportunities mapping to establish all relevant actors with whom FAO can partners and all the opportunities for resource mobilization and pooling resources which FAO could leverage, and iii) A Catalytic Capacity development and awareness programme which includes regional training workshop for FAO SFS CUAI and strategic partners, educational webinars, concept note for a broader Capacity development Programme
Reporting Lines
The position will be under the overall supervision of the Sub-Regional Coordinator for Southern Africa, and technical supervision of SFS Agri-Food Systems and Investment Policy Specialist and Investment Support Officer from CFI, other assigned members of SFS Programme taskforce, in close collaboration with the SADC task team members.
Technical Focus
This assignment is aimed at providing preparatory support to implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The main envisaged outputs are i) A comprehensive Gap and barrier analysis in implementation of AfCFTA looking at all structural, systemic and institutional gaps and barriers to implementation of the AfCFTA; ii) Partnerships and opportunities mapping to establish all relevant actors with whom FAO can partner and all the opportunities for resource mobilization and pooling resources which FAO could leverage, and iii) A Catalytic Capacity development and awareness programme which includes regional training workshop for FAO SFS CUAI and strategic partners, educational webinars, concept note for a broader Capacity development Programme
Tasks and responsibilities
โข ย ย ย ย Engage with relevant government agencies, IFIs, donors, CSOs, RECs, NGOs, private sector representatives, media, and local communities to identify barriers and gaps in the implementation of AfCFTA. Equal participation of women will be ensured in consultations to capture diverse perspectives and needs.ย
โข ย ย ย ย Ensure clear data collection protocols and privacy measures; engage stakeholders early in the process to build trust and cooperation and provide training on data collection and analysis techniques.ย
โข ย ย ย ย Develop/draft a document with a comprehensive gap and barrier analysis in the implementation of AfCFTA the SFS subregion.
โข ย ย ย ย Conduct a rapid mapping of partnerships and opportunities to identify all relevant actors with whom FAO can partner and all the opportunities for resource mobilisation and pooling resources, which FAO could leverage in the implementation of AfCFTA.
โข ย ย ย ย Develop specific awareness materials including i) brochures and ii) content for the generation of e-extension videos on implementing the AFCFTA.ย
โข ย ย ย ย Support in the rolling out of a training programme consisting of the following: i) a regional capacity building workshop on AfCFTA for FAO and strategic partners, ii) three webinars on specific aspects of the AFCFTA in collaboration with the AfCFTA Secretariat and other relevant institutions
โข ย ย ย ย Develop a pitch document for a broader capacity development programme for implementation of the AfCFTA to be presented to various bilateral and multilateral financial institutions.
โข ย ย ย ย Conduct any other duty that is necessary to achieve the objectives of this assignment.
FAO Standards and guidelines:
โข ย ย ย ย Liaison with OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, aligned messaging, and appropriate review and clearance processes.
โข ย ย ย ย All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en ย ย
FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia ย ย
Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en ย
FAOSTYLE https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en ย
FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm ย
FAO Names of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en ย ย ย
Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff).ย
โข ย ย ย ย Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
โข ย ย ย ย Advanced University degree in Agricultural Economics, Trade, Agribusiness, Marketing, or closely related fields
โข ย ย ย ย Ten (10) years of concrete experience in agricultural development in Southern African and global context
โข ย ย ย ย Full proficiency/working knowledge of English (Level C)
FAO Core Competencies
โข ย ย ย ย Results Focus
โข ย ย ย ย Teamwork
โข ย ย ย ย Communication
โข ย ย ย ย Building Effective Relationships
โข ย ย ย ย Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
โข ย ย ย ย Work experience in more than one location or area of workย
โข ย ย ย ย Extent and relevance of experience in Southern Africa agriculture, trade, marketing context demonstrated through working with SADC, AUDA, COMESA, FAO, and other related institutions
โข ย ย ย ย Familiarity with NEPAD/AUDA, SADC and COMESA policies, programmes and projects in agribusiness, trade, and investment