• Food Technology and Security
 
 

Agro-business Development

The Unit promotes investment in agri-business and value chain development in close cooperation with the Business, Investment and Technology Services Branch and other relevant organizational units in UNIDO. It is responsible for identifying, establishing, and managing partnerships and linkages with key financing institutions. The Unit identifies and develops appropriate financing mechanisms for agri-business and value chain development projects. It formulates and implements value chain development programmes to enable agro-industries to gain access to support services, markets and trade opportunities. The Unit contributes to the capacity building of agri-business support or skill development agencies through its advisory and convening activities.

Functions

  • Provide advisory and support services on the development of the agri-business sector and priority value chains in developing countries.

  • Undertake strategic assessments (including global, regional and national trends), sector studies, and impact assessments, and identify strategies and investment plans to enhance the competitiveness of specific value chains, agri-businesses and services in developing countries.

  • Establish and manage partnerships with development finance institutions (DFIs) and other sources of finance to support the identification, development, funding and implementation of joint programmes and projects.

  • Support the strengthening of development institutions for agro-based value chains, regional or national DFIs, and skills development institutions (including R&D) to enhance the competitiveness of the agri-business sector in developing countries.

  • Develop tools and methodologies, and undertake global forum activities to exchange knowledge and promote the transfer of innovations and best practices in agri-business and, in cooperation with relevant units in the Trade Capacity-Building Branch and the Business, Investment and Technology Services Branch, in value chain development, investment and trade capacity-building.