Agribusiness Development Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security and nutrition. Established in 1945, FAO has a mission to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to lead active and healthy lives. With 195 Members, including 194 countries and the European Union, FAO operates in over 130 countries worldwide. The organization provides policy advice and technical support to countries in its mandated areas through its Country Offices, which work in alignment with the FAO Strategic Framework and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). In Papua New Guinea, FAO implements a portfolio of Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) projects that focus on agriculture, food security, nutrition, and sustainable agrifood systems, supporting national priorities and capacity development through partnerships and resource mobilization.

Job Overview:
The Agribusiness Development Specialist will play a crucial role in strengthening agribusiness development and market systems for smallholder farmers, particularly in the livestock, poultry, and apiculture value chains. The position requires the incumbent to provide technical expertise and support for the development of inclusive and sustainable agribusiness models, enhance value chain performance, and facilitate market linkages to improve income opportunities and food security for rural producers. The specialist will work closely with the Department of Agriculture & Livestock (DAL) and relevant government stakeholders, cooperatives, and farmer groups to implement activities under specific TCP projects. This role demands a strong understanding of agribusiness development, market systems, and the integration of gender-responsive approaches into agribusiness activities. The incumbent will also be responsible for delivering training on business skills and establishing linkages with local and regional buyers, ensuring that the initiatives align with national strategies and FAO corporate frameworks.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Agribusiness Development Specialist include:

• Providing technical expertise on agribusiness development, value chain strengthening, and market systems to support inclusive, sustainable, and nutrition-sensitive food systems.
• Offering technical support on agribusiness and market development for small livestock, poultry, and apiculture value chains to enhance income and food security.
• Integrating gender-responsive agribusiness activities into District Development Plans and business plans for depots and nurseries.
• Developing practical cost-recovery and revenue-generation models to ensure financial sustainability beyond project closure.
• Supporting women in establishing market linkages for eggs, meat, honey, and other livestock products.
• Promoting collective marketing and bulk sales approaches to strengthen women’s market access and bargaining power.
• Delivering training on business skills, including bookkeeping, pricing, negotiation, and customer management.
• Establishing and coordinating linkages with local and regional buyers, including support for sales and transport logistics.
• Monitoring sales performance, farmer incomes, and market demand to improve depot operations and market strategies. 1
• Strengthening the capacities of government counterparts and farmer organizations through technical guidance, training, and policy advice.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Marketing, Rural Development, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field. A Bachelor’s degree in the aforementioned fields, combined with additional years of relevant professional experience, may also be considered. Furthermore, candidates should have a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in agribusiness development, value chain strengthening, or market systems programming, or 10 years of experience if holding a Bachelor’s degree. A working knowledge of English is essential, and candidates must be nationals of Papua New Guinea.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in relevant fields such as Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Marketing, Rural Development, Business Administration, or Economics. Alternatively, a Bachelor’s degree in these fields, along with significant professional experience, may be acceptable. It is important that the educational qualifications are obtained from institutions accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in agribusiness development, value chain strengthening, or market systems programming if they hold a Master’s degree. If candidates possess a Bachelor’s degree, they should have at least 10 years of relevant experience. Experience in working in multiple locations or areas related to agribusiness development and agricultural value chain strengthening is highly valued, particularly in collaboration with government institutions, cooperatives, and smallholder farmer groups.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, although not explicitly stated as a requirement.

Additional Notes:
FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or processing. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Candidates should be aware that appointment is subject to certification of medical fitness, accreditation, residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. The position may involve full-time engagement, and candidates are encouraged to visit the FAO employment website for additional opportunities.