Market Development Specialist

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FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.


Qualified female applicants are encouraged to apply.

People with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

Organizational Setting

The FAO Coordination Office for the West Bank and Gaza Strip Programme is currently implementing a Multi-donor Agribusiness Programme (MAP) titled “Reform and Development of Markets, Value Chains and Producers’ Organizations” in the West Bank and Gaza Strip (WBGS). The programme, which is funded by Denmark, the Netherlands, the European Union, Switzerland and Spain seeks to enable the Palestinian agriculture sector to generate better income, trade and welfare following an integrated value chain development approach towards more market-oriented, competitive and profitable agribusiness.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Office, the technical guidance of the Head of Programme, and the direct supervision of the Project Manager with day-to-day guidance and in close consultation with the Agronomist and the Agribusiness and Marketing Specialist.

Technical Focus

Timely and quality implementation of activity 4.1 “Background market intelligence to identify priority commodities and market opportunities (domestic and export markets)” and in particular on the sub-activity 4.1.2“Local market assessment building on existing studies and analysis and further consultations in order to identify priority value chains and local market bottlenecks”.

Tasks and responsibilities

In support of the programme activity 4.1 with the overall purpose of improved service delivery and institutional capacities, FAO is seeking the services of a highly qualified consultant to conduct and deliver a local market assessment study based on value chain analysis, building on existing studies and analysis and further consultations in order to identify at least six priority value chains and their local market bottlenecks. The study will identify at least six value chains for agricultural products with the highest potential considering feasibility, risk, profitability, and demand in local market, local market requirements, and identification of main bottlenecks and opportunities for programmatic interventions for future investments opportunities. The study will also assess agro-ecological conditions of promising crops for import substitution, improved quality and demand.

The consultant will perform the following\:

I. Conduct an analytical local market assessment study, building on existing studies and value chain analysis and further consultations in order to identify priority value chains that have potential in terms of market demand and production feasibility and sustainability in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and identification of the main bottlenecks and opportunities for future interventions through the conduction of the following tasks\:
– Conduct a desk review of existing market intelligence studies and other records on local market value chains and bottlenecks in WBGS;
– Conduct consultative meetings and interviews with relevant stakeholders including Palestine Trade Center (PalTrade), Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Ministry of National Economy (MoNE), agricultural cooperatives, producing companies and other value chain actors in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip;
– Define at least six priority value chains with the highest potential in the national market taking into consideration economic feasibility, socio –political feasibility, environmental feasibility for each value chain.
– Identify and analyze the local market for these value chains considering the market characteristics, prices, buyers, contractual arrangements and transaction costs involved, degree of competitiveness of the value chains, market shares and the main local market bottlenecks of each value chain.
– Specific analysis for each value chain; develop a value chain map identifying based on the potential in terms of market demand and production feasibility and sustainability in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the main actors and stakeholders, functional analysis of the value chain profiling the structure, skills and production technologies, sequence of operations concerning production, processing, marketing, and distribution. Factors affecting the value chain actors and the support services associated with the value chains.
– Validate assessment findings through structured consultations/ Workshops in WB and GS to collect and consolidate possible feedback and reflect them in the report;
– Finalize the analytical assessment and submit the final report (ready for publication) based on FAO feedback for
approval.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

- University degree in agribusiness, agriculture economics, marketing, or other related field;
- At least 4 years of relevant experience in agri-food marketing;
- Excellent proficiency in English and Arabic language;
- Ability to travel the West Bank and to the Gaza Strip.
- Be resident and hold a work permit for the West Bank and Gaza Strip
FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

- Succinct writing, presentation and reporting skills
- Demonstrated capability to deliver against tight deadlines and targets
- Sound knowledge of major political economy issues
- Sound knowledge of agribusiness sector in West Bank and Gaza Strip
- Outstanding research and analytical skills
- Excellent analytical and reporting skills;
- Excellent computer skills;
- Excellent communication skills;

Selection Criteria

- Demonstrated experience in conducting market studies and assessments related to the agribusiness sector.
- Demonstrated experience in conducting development, value chain analysis and local market assessments.