Livestock Value Chain Specialist

Organizational Context

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency dedicated to achieving food security for all and leading international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO supports the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems globally. With 195 Member Nations, FAO operates in over 130 countries, providing policy advice, technical assistance, and capacity development. In Iran, FAO supports the "Empowering Local Communities to Conserve and Develop Endangered Indigenous Livestock Gene Pool" project, aiming to strengthen conservation and sustainable use of indigenous livestock breeds.

Job Purpose

This role provides high-level technical guidance for developing competitive, conservation-linked livestock value chains for endangered indigenous breeds in Northwest Iran. The objective is to enhance sustainability, branding, traceability, and long-term economic viability by leveraging international best practices and global market experience. The specialist will contribute to integrating economic sustainability mechanisms into the broader Animal Genetic Resources conservation strategy, ensuring that efforts to preserve biodiversity are economically viable and beneficial to local communities.

Responsibilities

The specialist will conduct a comprehensive review and analysis of livestock value chains for indigenous breeds (Bactrian camel, Sarabi cattle, Mahabadi goat, Markhoz goat), benchmarking them against international models. Key responsibilities include identifying global best practices in conservation-driven value chains, niche marketing, eco-labeling, and traceability systems. The role involves developing a value chain upgrading framework, providing guidance on product differentiation, advising on traceability systems, and recommending improvements for competitiveness and export readiness. The specialist will also review processing center designs, develop business models for enterprises, identify market partnerships, mentor national specialists, and deliver policy recommendations to MAJ and FAO, culminating in a final report with actionable recommendations.

Work Experience

A minimum of 5 years of relevant international experience in livestock value chain development and market system strengthening is required. Experience in designing value chain upgrading approaches for indigenous or niche livestock products, and familiarity with product branding, certification, traceability, and geographical indication schemes are essential.

Skills

The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical and strategic planning skills, with demonstrated experience in integrating biodiversity conservation with market incentives. Essential skills include expertise in value chain upgrading, product branding, certification, traceability, and geographical indication schemes. Familiarity with international quality standards, export compliance, and premium market positioning is crucial. Experience mentoring national experts and institutions, and working with FAO or UN agencies is desirable. Core competencies include Results Focus, Teamwork, Communication, Building Effective Relationships, and Knowledge Sharing.

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