International Consultant on Policy and Institutional Framework for agro-industrial clusters

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

• 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 member nations, 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 our values. FAO has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and FAO, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination
• All selected candidates, therefore, will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization

Organizational Setting

This project is a part of larger programme aimed at promoting green investment that increases efficiency and competitiveness, thus reducing dependency of communities on direct uses of resources (i.e., wood and pasture) and improving their livelihoods through benefits gained by improving ecosystem functions and diversification of livelihood opportunities for women and men.

In this context the project activities would be both aligned to the immediate needs, particularly those associated with the post-COVID socio-economic rehabilitation framework, as well as longer term development challenges associated with Agenda 2030 and beyond.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative in Kyrgyzstan, direct technical supervision of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO), and in close coordination with the Legal Officer, the International/National legal specialists, the National Project Coordinator (NPC), the RKDF Project Focal Point, the national counterparts, and other project team consultants, he/she will undertake the following duties:

Technical Focus

Agro-industrial Clusters in Kyrgyzstan.

Tasks and responsibilities

Project Output 1: International best practices in establishing agro-industrial clusters
- Review of international experience of creating agro-industrial clusters with a particular focus on sub-sectors which might be of importance and relevance for Kyrgyzstan;
- Analysis of the current policy and institutional framework both at macro level and at the level of selected sub/sectors; and recommend the modalities of policy and institutional set up in establishing clusters in Kyrgyzstan. This will be done in liaison with the International Legal Consultant responsible for analysis the regulatory frameworks
- Develop a report on “Good Practices in Agro-industrial Cluster in Kyrgyzstan” that includes the best international experiences and practices in the way to be effectively adapted in Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries, and used both by public and private outfits while establishing local clusters;
- Formulate policy recommendations for key national ministries (Ministry of Economy, Central Bank, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Agriculture, Food Industry and Melioration) to enhance policy, institutional and legal/regulatory environment for development of clusters;
- Contribute to the development of the MoA's Agro-industrial Clustering strategy (2021-2025);
- Contribute to the organization of a multi-stakeholder workshop to select the two value chains that would be clustered;
- Develop a report on “ Generic Guidelines for Agro-industrial Clusters” , in close cooperation with the international and national consultants on Feasibility Studies, that would serve as a Manual for the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund (RKDF), as well as for its partners and other financial institutions while establishing and financing of respective clusters. Draft Guidelines will be presented to RKDF, MEF and Ministry of Agriculture beforehand, and published in the web making it available for comments from private sector-producers etc.
- The Guidelines will include, among others, (i) a methodology to conduct an analysis of pre-conditions for cluster creation in particular sub-sectors; (ii) directions for launching of a cluster and engage stakeholders; (iii) instructions for each phase of cluster creation (pre-cluster etc.); (iv) methodology to formulate and evaluate bankable sub-projects proposal financial, social and environmental viable across the value chains
- Support the Round Table Workshop to present the Good Practices and the Generic Guidelines on Agro-industrial Clustering to national and international stakeholders (about 60 participants from different stakeholders);
Project Output 3 Policy, legal and institutional framework for establishing and development of agro-industrial clusters. As planned in the project document, this output will be initiated in the last quarter of Year 1. Therefore, it would be expected drafts and annotated outlines of the two main activities in Year 1 of the project:
- Outline of draft of Policy and institutional framework (national document)to launch the 2 pilot clusters – Contributions to develop the set of legal framework will be provided by the International / national consultants with whom the International Consultant on Policy/Institutional framework will work close and cooperate.
- Support an Investment Forum Workshop (for 2 pilot clusters and about 100 participants);

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

- University degree in Agro-economy, Public administration or similar field.
- At least 5 years of working experience in policy and institutional frameworks to establish Agro-industrial clusters and in other areas such as agricultural institutions, local entrepreneurship, agribusiness cluster formation and the development of competitive value chains; Sustainable Value Chain Analysis, agricultural and agri-business development.
- Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the other FAO languages, preferably Russian.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

- Research, data analysis, analytical and reporting skills.
- Demonstrable experience working in the Agri-food sector of Kyrgyzstan 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