Title:  Agricultural Finance Expert

​Requisition ID: 6606 
Grade: ISA-NOB 
Country: Sudan 
Duty Station: Gedaref 
Category: National Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-When Act. Employed
Contract Duration: 45 days over a period
Application deadline: 10-Nov-2025, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible. 
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
 

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 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, 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. 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 Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Directorate houses the Divisions of Quality, Impact and Accountability (IET/QUA), Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development (IET/AGR), Innovative Finance and International Financial Institutions (IET/IFI), Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade (IET/PST), Public-Private Partnerships (IET/PPP), and Climate and Technology Partnerships (IET/CTP). The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions and relevant entities in the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) and the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS).  

Due to its mandate as industrial development arm of the United Nations, UNIDO has a unique and long experience as a platform for business-sector cooperation. UNIDO’s Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET) is responsible for the development of innovative services in the areas of agro-industry and agribusiness, sustainability standards and fair production, and climate-relevant or climate-improving technologies. The project will be implemented by a coordinated effort between UNIDO’s following units within IET: the Food Security and Food Systems (IET/AGR/FSS), and the Skills Development, Entrepreneurship and Fair Production Unit (IET/PST/SEF).

The IET/AGR/FSS promotes the development of food industries and food value chains and the production of local food products in developing and less developed countries to end hunger and ensure food and nutrition security while generating income and employment adhering to principles of sustainable industrial development. It provides a range of technical assistance services that allow food enterprises – including in the informal sector and especially SMEs – to extend their production, improve their products, comply with quality and other standards, become more competitive and deliver adequate and nutritious food to local populations and for export. It also promotes the development of food safety compliance infrastructure and building related food safety systems capacities.

The IET/PST/SEF supports Member States in integrating into the emerging global systems of fair and sustainable trade and supply chains. It aims to increase employability, strengthen access to decent employment, augment job retention, and increase access to qualified workforce by the industry, through modern technical and vocational education and training (TVET), professional education and entrepreneurship systems essential for driving sustainable transition. Central to its mandate is the commitment to provide the skills required to enabling sustainable supply chain practices, ensuring resilience, particularly at the firm level, and addressing the challenges and opportunities arising from new due diligence regulations.

PROJECT CONTEXT

Funded by the European Union (EU), the project for Developing agro-value chains for the improved resilience of rural communities has the overall objective to contribute to sustainable livelihoods and food security in rural communities most affected by food insecurity, climate change and conflicts. The specific outcome is increased productivity and profitability of agriculture value chains by adopting more sustainable agro-production and processing practices. Building on the vast experience of UNIDO in value chain, clusters, and skill development approaches, this project aims to address these gaps by strengthening quality innovation, access to finance and market opportunities of the sesame value chain in the Gedaref State of Sudan.  

The project outputs have been defined as follows:  

• Output 1. Project inception phase is finalized, and project management is established.  

• Output 2: Value chain stakeholders are strengthened through better integration of agro-ecological practices, digital and financial services into the value chains.

• Output 3: Agro-food processing is enhanced by fostering entrepreneurship and value addition pilot initiatives.  
• Output 4: Monitoring and Evaluation activities are conducted

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall guidance of the UNIDO Project Manager and in close coordination with the National Project Coordinator and the Project Implementation Unit (PIU), the Agricultural Finance Expert will be responsible for ensuring financial services are directly tied to sesame actors’ operational realities, diagnostic insights into actionable support for financial institutions, aligned with project overall objectives.

The scope of work includes conducting financial institutional mapping, capacity assessment, assess the degree of financial inclusion and provide disaggregated information within the financial sector and financial products (savings, credit, insurance, payment), assess the current digital financial landscape with a thorough analysis of the constraints and opportunities at both the supply side as well as demand side, identify barriers and constraints that has been limiting the uptake of women and youth groups to financial/digital financial products and services. Identify constraints and barriers in accessing formal financial services by MSMEs particularly led by women and youth groups, stakeholder consultation and engagement, value chain alignment, and strategic recommendations to be aligned with the project outcomes.

Specifically, he/she will be expected to carry out the following task, including a field mission for tentatively 25 days:

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education

Advanced degree in Finance, Agricultural Economics, Development Studies, or related field is required.

Technical/ Functional Experience

• At least three (3) years of relevant experience, especially in financial sector analysis, preferably in agricultural value chain or rural finance, is required.
• Proven experience in value chain development and inclusive finance is required.
• Strong analytical, facilitation, and report writing skills.
• Familiarity with Sudanese financial systems and sesame sector dynamics is highly desirable.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English is required.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core values

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.

Key competencies

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.

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 dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org

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 disregard 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