Job Description Agribusiness Specialist
Primary Location
: Egypt-Cairo
Organizational Setting
The main aim of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO’s) Representation in Egypt, which is headed by a FAO Representative, is to assist the Government of Egypt in developing policies, programmes, and projects to improve food security and nutrition, promote sustainable agricultural development, reduce rural poverty, develop inclusive agri-food systems and strengthen livelihood resilience – in line with the Organization’s Strategic Objectives and United Nations’ global and Government of Egypt’s national Sustainable Development Goals.
FAO is currently implementing a project titled “Promoting Climate Smart Agriculture and Agricultural Biodiversity for Enhancing the Adaptive Capacity of Vulnerable Rural Communities in Old and New Lands of Upper and Lower Egypt”. The main aim of the project is to sustainably enhance the adaptive capacity of smallholder men and women farmers and landless and unemployed or seasonally working rural women, youth and men with vulnerability to climate impacts on agriculture. It will also, through the development and adoption of innovative and improved climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and local variety date palm production techniques, strengthening of concerned commodity value chains and establishment of related micro and small agri-food enterprises, sustainably improve agricultural productivity and, in turn, increase household incomes and create employment.
The position is in three project sites namely Kafr El-Sheikh, Beheira and Aswan.
Reporting Lines
Under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative and the direct supervision and technical guidance of the project manager and the regional Plant protection Officer (LTO) and with technical support and backstopping of the project team.
Technical Focus
The agri-business specialist under GCP /EGY/039/CAN titled as “Promoting Climate Smart Agriculture and Agricultural Biodiversity for Enhancing the Adaptive Capacity of Vulnerable Rural Communities in Old and New Lands of Upper and Lower Egypt” will be responsible for providing the technical support on Promoting entrepreneurship and start-up development in the agriculture and agro-food sectors in Behira, Kafr El-Sheikh and Aswan.
Tasks and responsibilities
The agri-business specialist will perform the following duties:
• Prepare the training materials using FAO Farm Business School and ILO Start Your Business manuals
• Participate in conducting a need assessment to identify which skills are important and necessary
• Support the training sessions on how to start and manage the agri-enterprise to the beneficiaries in the three project locations (at Aswan, Behira and Kafr El Sheikh) targeting not less than 75 participants (25 per each training)
• Provide technical support for all groups formed during the training to follow up their formation of business plans and update the proposed enterprises’ BMCs (the NSHR can assign local mentors for each location)
• Participate in the organisation of business plan competitions to select 36 business ideas in the agriculture and agro-food sectors to benefit from coaching and seed funding in the three governorates i.e., Aswan, Behira and Kafr El Sheikh;
• Contribute to the development of the TORs for evaluation and selection of the winning competitors.
• Support holding 3 workshops (one per each governorate; 2 days each) to evaluate the enterprises’ ideas generated during the trainings to select twelve winners per each governorate.
• Support holding a combined workshop to present the 36 selected winning ideas
• Contribute to the provision of intensive coaching and regular follow-up to 36 businesses established (one at each village/12 at each governorate) in the agriculture and agro-food sectors
• In collaboration with project technical team, facilitate the training on specific topics such as value addition, reducing food loss and waste, post-harvest practices, and food handling to increase incomes.
• Assist in the establishment of a monitoring and evaluation framework including baseline and endline indicators to monitor progress and measure the impact of the intervention.
• Contribute to the technical guidance and mentorship for all start-up ideas to ensure finalization of their registration and legalization procedures.
• Assist in conducting three workshops on linking producers with micro-finance/credit schemes/ business incubators for long-term financial support (one day per event / at least 25 trainees per training).
• Support the project in conducting three workshops to link producers with the potential market (one day per event / at least 25 trainees per training).
• Participate in the project team field visits (at least 1 per governorate) to follow up and refreshment trainees’ knowledge and revise their BMC.
• Prepare technical reports related to training and coaching activities and progress reports and tracking tools related to overall implementation progress, challenges, and mitigation measures.
• Support the selection of 360 individual micro enterprises across the three governorates (10 at each village)
• Support the project team in any other relevant technical assistance needed.
• Maintain communication with the project staff for any advice that could be raised.
• Perform any other duties as required.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements • Bachelor's degree in agri-business management, business administration with an emphasis in Agri-Business, or a related field.
• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience.
• Working knowledge of English and Arabic.
• National of Egypt or resident of the country with valid work permit.
FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing). Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at For other issues, visit the FAO employment website: Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. Subject to certain exemptions, vaccination against COVID-19 will in principle be required. Vaccination status will be verified as part of the medical clearance process.
HOW TO APPLY
• To apply, visit the recruitment website at and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before
