UNIDO recruits 01 National Expert in Entrepreneurship and Agribusiness

National Expert in Entrepreneurship and Agribusiness

Post Level: SB4 – Local Professional (Junior & Mid Level)

Vacancy Announcement

VACANCY  ANNOUNCEMENT TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL EXTERNAL

Only nationals and/or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are eligible to apply. Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

Vacancy Announcement No : VA2021_ISA_EXT_153

Duty Station : Guinea-Bissau

Date of Issuance : 07 October 2021

Type of Appointment : Individual Service Agreement

Employment Fraction : NonStaff-Regular

Closing Date : 04 November 2021

Organizational Context

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development in the next fifteen years. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Departments/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

DTA/DTI assists countries in their efforts to develop, through trade, investment and innovation, the potential of the manufacturing sector to stimulate socio-economic progress. The Department is responsible for helping countries to strengthen their competitiveness in global markets by building their capacity in quality, environmental sustainability and social responsibility, in line with international standards. It supports the establishment of links between producers/processors in developing countries and local, regional and global value chains (retailers, manufacturers) by developing capacities in the area of product quality related to activities aimed at encouraging export consortia.

DTA/AGR aims to link resources to markets as part of the value chain approach, by strengthening industrial links upstream and downstream of the chain and, therefore, strengthening living conditions and socio-economic development of countries in a sustainable manner. The Department provides a range of technical cooperation services to help developing countries increase the added value of their agricultural sector and create jobs in non-farm activities for rural communities, thereby helping to increase food security and improve sustainably reducing of poverty.

The National Expert in Entrepreneurship and Agribusiness will be functionally attached to the DTA/AGR/RJH unit, which is responsible for the entrepreneurship component.

PROJECT CONTEXT

The project “Improving the Competitiveness of the Mango Value-Chain in Guinea Bissau: Production, Local Processing and Export Support” is the national component for the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, of the West African Competitiveness Program, WACOMP. It is part of the Specific Objective 2 (Support for the Competitiveness of the Private Sector) of the priority area of concentration 2 (Regional Economic Integration and Aid for Trade) of the Regional Indicative Program (RIP) 2014–2020 for the West Africa (11th FED).

The overall objective of this project is to contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of West African countries and its integration into regional and international trading systems. The specific objectives and expected results of the action under the Guinea Bissau component of the WACOMP are:

Specific Objective 1: Improve the performance of the “Mango” sector in Guinea Bissau and promote its growth, by stimulating its contribution to local industry, regional and international trade as well as job creation in the country:

Outcome 1: The competitiveness of key economic agents in the mango value chain in Guinea Bissau is improved, in particular through activities to strengthen productive and commercial capacities, upgrade and network;

Outcome 2: Intermediate organizations supporting the horticultural sector are strengthened and their services are improved and expanded.

Specific Objective 2: Improve the business climate in Guinea Bissau, in particular through the integration of regional policies in favor of competitiveness in national policies.

Outcome 3: The policies, standards and mechanisms of ECOWAS competitiveness are integrated into the political, strategic, legal and regulatory framework of Guinea-Bissau and contribute to improving the business climate.

DURATION: 2 months

DUTY STATION: Guinea-Bissau

Main Functions

Under the supervision of the Project Manager based at UNIDO Headquarters in Vienna, the National Expert in Entrepreneurship and Agribusiness is expected to work under the direct administrative supervision of the National Project Coordinator (NPC) and general technical guidance of the Chief Technical Adviser, CTA, within the framework of WACOMP-GB. The national expert will work under direct technical supervision of the international experts involved in the implementation of the project. His/her duties shall be performed in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of UNIDO and these Terms and Reference. Specifically, the incumbent will be responsible for the following tasks:

– Advise and technically assist in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of strategic/technical choices and project activities in the domains of entrepreneurship and agrobusiness.

– Support the implementation of IDEA App and IDEA Centers in Guinea-Bissau.

– Support the implementation and follow-up of innovative primary production related initiatives promoted by the project (smart irrigation, smart use of drones, etc.).

– Support the implementation of innovative finance mechanisms for the agribusiness domain.

– Support the implementation and follow-up of the mango and by-products processing units foreseen within WACOMP-GB.

– Provide periodic activity reports for the components of the agribusiness and entrepreneurship.

– Carry out studies/analyzes in narrative and presentation formats.

– Follow-up project activities carried out in beneficiary zones under supervision of the NPC and the CTA.

– Provide all technical expertise/assistance within its competence and in accordance with the request and guidelines of the Project Manager, NPC, CTA and the designated international experts.

– Prepare the End-of-Assignment report detailing activities carried out and summarizing the challenges and recommendations.

Core Competencies

WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

Minimum Requirements

Education

Advanced university degree in engineering, economics, business administration, production management, economics or other relevant field.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English and Portuguese is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of another official UN language, particularly French, is desirable.

Field of Expertise

– At least three (3) years of experience in working with the agricultural value-chains is required;

– Good knowledge of the Guinea-Bissau agricultural value-chains. Knowledge of the mango value chain is an asset;

– Good knowledge of entrepreneurial dynamics and systems of financing and support for Micro and SMEs in Guinea-Bissau is desirable;

– Excellent writing, presentation and communication skills are desirable;

– Experience and proficiency in using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and internet is required.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.

Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependants, under the procedures established by the Director General.

NOTE : The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.

Notice to applicants :

UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregards it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org