Tasks and responsibilities

•    Advise and provide technical expertise to local stakeholders, including public officials and representatives of local financial institutions in leveraging the RuralInvest methodology for the following: (i) preparation of financing mechanisms for agribusinesses, (ii) agribusiness planning and (iii) improving access to finance for rural enterprises including small and medium-scale entrepreneurs.
•    Prepare, and conduct RuralInvest training: prepare training materials adapted to local contexts, coordinate with the stakeholders involved, prepare exercises, facilitate sessions and report to the RuralInvest team.
•    Provide technical services to support entrepreneurs in business plan development, building the said business plans with the RuralInvest methodology.
•    Contribute, as part of CFI multidisciplinary teams working with partner international financial institutions (IFIs), to the preparation of technical documents including feasibility studies, technical annexes to funding proposals, as well as participate in the quality review and assurance processes of the respective partner IFIs.
•    Provide technical reviews of proposals for financing mechanisms for agri businesses, as well as of business plans and activities intended to support improved access to finance for rural enterprises including small and medium-scale entrepreneurs.
•    Lead, or participate in, multidisciplinary teams to assist country institutions in identification, pre-appraisal and appraisal of initiatives in the fields of financing mechanisms, business planning and access to finance for rural enterprises including small and medium-scale entrepreneurs. In particular, supporting integration of the RuralInvest methodology when relevant.
•    Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in business management, economics, agronomy, agro-economy or related areas.
•    From one to fifteen years of relevant experience supporting rural entrepreneurs, business planning, business plan development and/or management of rural businesses.
•    Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian (for consultants). Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English, French, Spanish, Arabic or Russian (for PSAs).

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Extent and relevance of experience in supporting the design or revision of initiatives such as financing mechanisms, programmes supporting business planning and access to finance for rural enterprises including small and medium-scale entrepreneurs;
•    Extent and relevance of experience in working with SMEs, productive alliances and cooperatives, small and medium scale entrepreneurs, particularly in the agrifood sector, as well as extent and relevance of experience in supporting them in the development of their business plans (experience in developing business plans with RuralInvest would be an asset);
•    Demonstrated ability and relevance of experience in training adults on professional topics preferably linked to agribusiness/agricultural value chains and/or finance;
•    Working experience in teaching and training RuralInvest, would be an asset;
•    Extent and relevance of experience in participating in, or leading, multidisciplinary teams for the preparation and/or implementation of investment programmes/projects focusing on topics such as  financing mechanisms for agrifood sector, business planning and access to finance for rural enterprises including small and medium-scale entrepreneurs; Extent and relevance of experience in dealing with government officials, development partners, local financial institutions and other public and private sector country level stakeholders;
•    Excellent drafting skills and capacity to synthesize;
•    Completion of RuralInvest e-learning courses within the FAO e-learning Academy, acquiring three (3) badges;
•    Participation in face-to-face RuralInvest training (Initial training and follow-up training) leading to certification as a RuralInvest user, would be an asset;
•    Relevance of experience in different geographical areas.