Project Officer – Sustainable Agriculture and Agrifood Value Chain Development (Local Agent Group I)
We are
The European Union (EU) is an economic and political partnership between 27 European countries. It plays an important role in international affairs through diplomacy, trade, development aid and working with global organizations. Abroad, the EU is represented through more than 140 diplomatic representations, known also as EU Delegations, which have a similar function to those of an embassy.
The EU Delegation to the Pacific in Suva, Fiji works in close coordination with the Embassies and Consulates of the 27 EU Member States. We are a fully-fledged diplomatic mission and represent the European Union in dealings with the Government of Fiji and of the 12 other Pacific Island Countries, The Section of the EU Delegation called “Regional Partnerships in the Pacific” oversees the EU’s bilateral and regional development assistance benefitting the 13 Pacific Island Countries, the three French Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) in the Pacific and (as of 01/09/2026) Papua New Guinea.
We offer
The post of Project Officer (Group I) is offered in the Delegation’s Regional Partnerships Section, under a fixed-term employment contract of 2 years. For internal candidates holding an indefinite-term contract, alternative contractual arrangements may apply in accordance with institutional policies. The team consists of 50+ people and there are occasional atypical working hours, in the evening/morning, to accommodate online meetings with headquarters and stakeholders based in Europe.
The recruited person will be attributed functions depending on the needs of the Delegation which may evolve over time. The successful candidate will serve under the supervision and responsibility of the Head of Regional Partnerships and a Team Leader, providing support, expertise and assistance with managing projects and programmes focused on sustainable agriculture and agrifood value chains development in the Pacific Island Countries, Papua New Guinea and/or the three French Overseas Countries and Territories.
The following main tasks and duties are currently required:
Sustainable Agriculture and Agrifood Value Chain Development
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Agricultural Sector Analysis and Strategy
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Monitor and analyse the performance of agricultural sectors across Pacific Island Countries (PICs), with a focus on agrifood value chains, food security, exports, and import substitution.
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Assess the impact of climate change, extreme weather events, and global market trends on agricultural systems in the Pacific, identifying risks and opportunities.
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Identify high-potential commodities for domestic markets, the tourism industry, and export, and analyse market access conditions.
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Analyse land tenure systems and their impact on agriculture productivity and sustainability
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Climate-Resilient and Climate-Smart Agriculture
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Promote the adoption of climate-resilient and climate-smart agricultural practices among smallholder farmers and cooperatives, in line with the Pacific region's vulnerability to climate change.
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Support the integration of sustainable land use, biodiversity conservation, and environmental protection into agricultural programmes.
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Contribute to the design of actions that build the adaptive capacity of farming communities, including crop diversification and sustainable water and soil management.
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Value Chain Development and Investment Support
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Support the identification, design, and development of agrifood value chains, including the assessment of infrastructure needs (e.g., rural roads, storage facilities, processing units, marketplaces) to be potentially financed under the Global Gateway Strategy.
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Analyse investment opportunities and constraints along value chains (production, processing, logistics, marketing) and facilitate the engagement of public and private stakeholders.
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Support the coordination with EU agencies (e.g., EIB) and European and international financial institutions to mobilise blended finance for agricultural infrastructure and value chain development.
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Sectoral Synergies and Cross-Cutting Linkages
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Agriculture–Tourism Linkages
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Identify and promote synergies between agricultural value chains and the tourism sector, including the supply of locally produced food to hotels, resorts, and the hospitality industry.
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Work with the Delegation team managing tourism and private sector development to ensure complementarity between agricultural diversification and the broader economic agenda.
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Trade and Export Development
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Assess opportunities for Pacific agrifood products to access EU and regional markets, in line with the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and EU market standards.
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Support synergies with EU-funded programmes promoting trade and market access (e.g., PAC-TSD, AGRINFO) and facilitate linkages between producers and exporters.
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MSME and Private Sector Engagement
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Engage with MSMEs, agribusiness entrepreneurs, farmer organisations, and cooperatives to understand constraints and opportunities, and incorporate their perspectives into project design.
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Coordinate with Delegation colleagues managing MSME and private sector development to identify complementarities and avoid duplication.
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Project / Programme Management
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Manage end-to-end project lifecycle (planning, execution, monitoring, closure) for actions in the sustainable agriculture and agrifood value chains portfolio.
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Oversee financial compliance (e.g., contract verification, payment certification, and system updates in OPSYS/CRIS and other European Commission tools).
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Monitor evaluation reports and the implementation of recommendations.
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Assist with procurement (drafting Terms of Reference, launching tenders, assessing offers).
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Build and maintain partnerships with donors, implementing partners, governments, and local stakeholders.
Policy Analysis and Dialogue
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Develop and maintain a consistent understanding of bilateral relations and sectoral policies in the countries where the Delegation implements or prepares agricultural programmes.
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Contribute to policy dialogue at country and regional levels, including on agricultural transition, food systems transformation, and sustainable development.
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Provide relevant and timely input and feedback to the Team Leader on sectoral developments, partner strategies, and opportunities for EU engagement.
Representation, Negotiation, and Participation
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Assist the Head of Regional Partnerships and Team Leader in developing close contacts with local stakeholders, including government ministries, farmer organisations, private sector actors, and development partners.
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Lead or assist in stakeholder meetings, workshops, and technical working groups. Document action items and follow-ups.
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Represent the EU Delegation at relevant sectoral events, regional forums, and donor coordination meetings related to agriculture, food security, and rural development.
External Communication
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Contribute to the Delegation's communication and visibility strategy, including by organising visibility events related to agriculture and rural development.
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Provide policy and implementation updates for communication materials published by the Delegation, including the website and social media platforms.
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Present and disseminate results of projects at workshops, seminars, conferences, and public events. Extract and share best practices and lessons learned.
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Contribute to the production of EU Delegation reports and publications.
The base salary will depend on relevant and verified employment experience, typically starting from FJD 7,966 monthly. There is a competitive benefits package, subject to certain conditions, including personal leave days and public holidays, health insurance and a retirement savings plan.
The expected start date will be as soon as possible.
Minimum requirements / eligibility criteria (necessary for the application to be considered)
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Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in agriculture, agricultural economics, rural development, or equivalent;
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Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in sustainable agriculture, agrifood value chains, rural development or related fields;
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Working knowledge (C2) of English;
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Right to residence and work in Fiji;
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Medically fit to perform the required duties;
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A clean police record and ability to produce a clearance report when requested.
Assets / selection criteria (basis for awarding points to select the best applicant)
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Higher university degree (Master's or above) in a relevant field such as agricultural economics, agronomy, food systems, or equivalent;
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Experience working in the Pacific region or other Small Island Developing States (SIDS), including knowledge of the specific agricultural and climate challenges of the region;
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Demonstrated experience in value chain development, agribusiness, or agricultural market systems;
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Experience with development cooperation, EU-funded programmes, or international organisations;
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Familiarity with the tourism sector and its linkages with local agricultural production;
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Knowledge of trade facilitation, export market development, or EPA-related agrifood matters;
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Knowledge of AI tools and technologies;
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Knowledge of other European languages, in particular French.
How to apply
The applicant must apply by sending:
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a cover letter, signed
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a detailed Europass Curriculum Vitæ (to include, at the minimum, exact job titles, employer names and detailed task descriptions) using one of the Europass templates available at:
All documents to the following email address:
And mention in the email subject:
"512895 Project Officer - Sustainable Agriculture and Agrifood Value Chain Development + NAME OF APPLICANT"
no later than 4pm Fiji Time on Monday 13/07/2026.
Caution: The applicant must verify that he/she fulfils all the conditions. The absence of one of these conditions or documents is a reason for the rejection of the application.
The process
After the deadline for applications, the eligible applications will be admitted to the Selection by the Committee set up for this purpose.
Depending on the number of applications received, successive phases of Selection may include shortlisting of candidates based on assessment of the information provided in the cover letter and CV, practical testing, and interviews. At least, the five (5) best candidates will be invited to the final interview.
Only candidates admitted to each successive selection phase will be contacted individually. The Delegation will not supply additional information or discuss the selection procedure. During the selection process, please do not contact the members of the Selection Committee, but address your questions and comments to the Delegation's Administration.
The successful candidate will be subject to a medical check and background check.
Candidates who wish to lodge a complaint regarding the recruitment process may submit a written communication to the functional mailbox to which they sent the initial application. Upon receipt, the Delegation will review the matter and, where appropriate, consult Headquarters before providing a response.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES:
The European Union is committed to an equal opportunities policy for all its employees and applicants for employment. As an employer, the EU is committed to promoting gender equality, preventing discrimination on any grounds and ensuring a zero tolerance approach to any form of harassment. It actively welcomes applications from all qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds. We aim at a service which is truly representative of society, where each staff member feels respected, is able to give their best and can develop their full potential.
If pre-selected, candidates with disabilities are invited to contact the Delegation: eeasjobs-093@eeas.europa.eu in order to accommodate any special needs and provide assistance to ensure equality of opportunities with other candidates.
If a candidate with a disability is selected and recruited, the EEAS is committed to appropriate measures in order to accommodate his or her special needs to the working place or working conditions in accordance with Art 4 of the Decision ADMIN(2025)13 of the Director-General for Resource Management of the European External Action Service on providing reasonable accommodation for local staff with disabilities working in Union Delegations.
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