International Market Access, Trade and Value Chain Consultant

• Country: Remote
• No of vacancies: N/A
  
• Salary: N/A 
• Organization: FAO
• Gender: Both 
• Deadline: 2024-01-15

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Support three Value Chain Platforms (VCP) (enabled by SAMAP) to develop a strategic (sector) market access plan with a view on strengthening domestic and expanding into export markets. This would include complementing existing market assessments and scaling up from existing initiatives and actions identified by the VCP in their Strategic VCP Plans.
•    Provide guidance and coaching to the three VCP Steering Committees in implementing the Strategic (Sector) Market Access Plan with special emphasis on strengthening the organizational and operational market access capacities of the VCPs at practical level.
•    Assist in reviewing, updating and strengthening the marketing and export plans developed by the Association of Exporters (VEAPS) focusing on consolidation and expansion of exports of fresh fruit and vegetables to EU markets.
•    In consultation with SAMAP identify and assess the capabilities of 15 to 20 agribusinesses / cooperatives supported by SAMAP for consolidation / expansion of their domestic and/or export market potential.
•    Based on the outcomes of point 4 develop a comprehensive and tailored made Export Market Plans for each of the selected agribusinesses / cooperatives with strong (domestic / export) market potential. Guide and coach its implementation.
•    Develop and implement a comprehensive training and capacity building program in overarching subjects that relate to sales and export development in general, including market requirements, market entry, market intelligence, trade fair participation, famer-buyer linkages etc. The capacity building/training will take into consideration 2 levels (i) front runner agribusinesses selected in point 4; and (ii) other large group of  mostly smaller enterprises with limited or yet to develop market access / export capacity.
•    Assist in the identification of prospective buyers and / or niche markets for Surinamese products in the Netherlands and/or CARICOM. Facilitate business-to-business linkages. Assist in developing information dossiers of prospective buyers and markets, as well as other market requirements (i.e. certification, quarantine, regulations, logistics, etc).
•    Prepare and train VCPs and selected agribusinesses for participating in international expo fairs and trade negotiation missions, including guidance on how to conduct B-2-B negotiations; round tables, marketing and presentation of offerings and business prepositions. Assist in identifying potential venues to display and expose Surinamese products and support the participation of prospective exporters.
•    Support SAMAP in the identification of specific venues of collaboration with other relevant national entities responsible for trade promotion. Assist in developing a concept note / roadmap for materializing potential joint collaboration with other trade promotion entities.
•    Provide technical inputs to the design of terms of references or other related inputs for the imp[lamentation of other market studies and/or training courses on specific subject matters that are intended to meet export market requirements i.e. GAP, food safety and phytosanitary standards, certification, etc).
•    Prepare a concept note on how to strengthen producer-buyer linkages in the Suriname country context and support in the implementation of other training to strengthen farmer-buyer linkages and/or contract farming.
•    Undertake duty travels to Suriname and potential target markets.
•    Submit reports, including back-to-office reports for each mission to Suriname or target market country.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced University degree in agricultural economics, trade, marketing or equivalent qualification
•    Minimum of 15 years (Category A) of relevant experience in trade promotion, market and trade analysis; value chain development and strategic marketing planning.
•    Working knowledge (Level C) of English and limited knowledge (Level B) of one of the other FAO official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Knowledge of Dutch will be an asset.
•    Experience in conducting market facilitation and match-making work, including excellent knowledge of market access requirements and experience in the promotion of imports from developing countries;
•    Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing market / export plans at firm and sector levels in developing countries.
•    Ability to facilitate teams and encourage collaborative teamwork, experience sharing, effective problem solving and conflict resolution;
•    Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team, understanding its needs and support it accordingly;
•    Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, drafting skills, both written and verbal.

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