Title:  Project Associate

The Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET) houses the Divisions of Coordination and Integration Support (IET/CIS), 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 (PPP), and Climate and Technology Partnerships (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).

The Division of Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development (IET/AGR) under the overall guidance of the Director General, the direct supervision of the Managing Director, Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET), and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, the Division of Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development (IET/AGR) supports Member States in their efforts to pave the way to sustainable rural development and a structurally transformed and modernized agribusiness sector. Capitalizing on the experience gained by UNIDO in this field over decades and on tried-and-tested and to-be-developed service modules, the Division will explore innovative approaches to maximise the potential that exists in agribusiness development, addressing emerging global trends, in particular food security, poverty alleviation and climate change. It will explore new ways to contribute to global efforts to reduce hunger, accelerate food systems transition, and generate income and employment, especially among women and youth.

The Division provides technical cooperation services to assist the modernization of agriculture and agro- industry, especially in less-developed countries, ensuring that enterprises add value to primary agricultural production, substitute the imports of food and other value-added agricultural products, and participate effectively in local, regional and global value chains. Where needed, it will develop infrastructure and agro- industrial parks and capacities for agro-industrialization, value addition, quality assurance and food safety. It will also bring innovative approaches to Member States to fully benefit from carbon-neutral and biodiversity- enhancing agricultural and agro-industrial production and development opportunities in the green and blue bioeconomy.

The position is located under the Food Security and Food Systems Unit (IET/AGR/FSS) which promotes the development of food industries and food value chains and the production of local food products in 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. Where opportune, it also promotes the development of food safety compliance infrastructure and building related food safety systems capacities. 

Project 220085 “Agribusiness for food security in Sudan”

The UNIDO project has the overall objective to enhance food security, increase target agricultural communities and households’ incomes while creating jobs, particularly for women and youth in the selected states in Sudan. This will improve incomes and food security through creation of an institutional ecosystem to boost access to agribusiness support services for MSMEs and smallholder farmers’ groups/associations. This will be done through setting up of Agribusiness Transformation Hubs to deliver these solutions. The Hubs will be a one stop shop for access to essential support services for agri-MSMEs, processors, and smallholder farmer cooperatives. It is envisioned that the knowledge and skills acquired, combined with the transfer of technologies and market support services at the hubs will increase the capacity of MSMEs and smallholder farmer cooperatives to generate additional value from agricultural products, creating jobs (especially for women) and addressing food insecurity in Sudan. The specific objective is to provide technical assistance to upgrade strategic agro-food value chains and increase equitable economic opportunities for women small farmers and producers in Gedaref State in Sudan.

The project will contribute towards “SDG 1”: End poverty in all its forms everywhere”. It will also contribute to “SDG 5”: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, and “SDG 9”: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. It also falls into UNIDO’s poverty reduction portfolio (EC1) and in particular Agribusiness and Rural Enterprise Development (GC11); its thematic area is poverty reduction through productive activities (PRP).

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, and working with the project team, applies basic theoretical knowledge and administrative skills in supporting and in acquiring a broad understanding of the interrelated administrative and programme/project functions contributing to technical cooperation activities in a particular sector, geographical area or programme/project. The incumbent shall carry out following main duties.

•    Compile general background information from readily available sources, on economic and social factors for an assigned sector, area, country or programme/project: design and draft supporting flow charts, schedules, graphs and tables; coordinate the collection and verification of documents, actions and data with substantive or support units, assemble and edit basic data required for planning and negotiation, in format dictated by agenda or supervisor's instructions, check project documents for clarity, consistency and completeness;

•    Describe progress of ongoing project/s, investigate designated project activities, discuss findings with supervisor to identify implications for the work of the project unit, discuss rationale and context of project activities, consider the alternative methods for project design, management, problem identification and problem resolution;

•    Support project implementation, including planning the roll out of activities, tracking the project log frame, budget, procurement, and recruitment;

•    Maintain institutional memories or other documentation systems to record project/programme, history and ongoing activities;

•    Assist in monitoring exercises related to the project execution, retrieve substantive information on status of project, outcome, output, key performance indicators (KPIs), risks, etc. from the SAP Portfolio and Project Management (PPM) module;

•    Support the Project Officer in developing concept notes and scoping for donor engagement;

•    Draft reports, ad-hoc assignments and research activities, as required;

•    Arrange briefings, tours, and related activities for visitors, missions and fellowship holders.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education:  Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in engineering, sciences, economics, business administration, international relations or other relevant discipline with specialization in value chain development or any other related field, is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

At least one (1) year of relevant work experience in value chain development, including practical application of the context of technical cooperation activities is required. 

Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems in developing countries, is desirable.

Ability to research and analyse information.

Ability to write in a clear and concise manner.

Ability to work effectively in multi-cultural teams.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency and working knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

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.