Economist

Full Job Description

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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production , better nutrition , a better environment, and a better life , leaving no one behind.

Organizational Setting

The FAO Investment Centre (CFI) aims to be the go-to place for investment and finance solutions that lead to more efficient, sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems. Working in over 120 countries, CFI provides a full suite of investment and finance support to FAO Members. It partners with governments, international financial institutions, national and international organizations, the private sector, research institutions, academia and producer organizations to improve the quality and quantity of agrifood investment. The Centre’s four main areas of work include support to strategic investment planning and policy, public investment, private investment, and innovative finance. These are complemented by the knowledge of investment and capacity development for investment programmes that serve to share knowledge more widely and position the Centre as a trusted voice on investment and finance.

CFI is a multidisciplinary Centre comprising the Director’s office, which leads on strategy and business development, knowledge management, communication and administration, and five regional services: Asia and the Pacific; Near East and North Africa, and Europe and Central Asia; West and Central Africa; East and Southern Africa; and Latin America and the Caribbean.

The post is part of  the Asia and the Pacific Service (CFIB) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI) and is located at the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) in Bangkok, Thailand.

Reporting lines
The Economist reports to the Chief, Asia and the Pacific Service of the FAO Investment Centre and works in close collaboration with the ADG/Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific. 

Technical Focus
Provide analytical and technical support on economic and financial aspects for the formulation, implementation and evaluation of investment policies, strategies, programmes and projects in food and agriculture, rural development, natural resources management and agro-processing.

Key Results
Delivering investment and finance support solutions through the provisions of technical expertise/assistance and support to capacity development, in collaboration with country stakeholders and cooperating partners, to achieve impact at scale in the transformation of agrifood systems within the scope of the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions 
• Participates in, and eventually leads, multidisciplinary teams to assist governments in the identification and preparation of investment and finance support initiatives in the fields of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resources management and agro-processing, and participates in pre-appraisal and appraisal missions.
• Participates in, and eventually leads, multidisciplinary teams for the implementation support and the preparation of final evaluation of investment and finance support solutions.
• Provides technical expertise for the preparation of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resources management and agro-processing studies and strategies, in the formulation of national sector and/or sub-sector investment plans and programmes.
• Supports the development of inclusive and sustainable food systems involving producers, their organizations, other private sector actors,  civil society organizations and governments. 
• Formulates and delivers capacity development initiatives in the areas food and agriculture, rural development, natural resources management and agro-processing investment support to government staff, non-state actors and private sector organizations.
• Prepares documents in accordance with the requirements of FAO, governments and financial partners. 
• Provides support in task organization, selection of consultants, preparation of terms of reference and in ensuring the quality of outputs.
• Promotes international cooperation and collaboration leading to new investment opportunities and cooperative agreements, advocates best practices and effective policy dialogue, and provides technical expertise at international meetings.
• Establishes, promotes and maintains relationships with relevant Strategic Programmes, FAO Technical Units and Decentralized Offices in order to ensure best synergies between investment, policy and innovation work in support of  Member countries.
• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate Strategy.
• Provides guidance and advice to junior staff.
Specific Functions
• Provides contributions to  the design of investment operations, such as the development of the project logical/results framework, the monitoring and evaluation system, and the costing of investment operations.
• Assesses the feasibility and viability of investment proposals through studying market prospects, prices, costs and risks, and carrying out financial and economic analysis.
• Evaluates the performance of investment projects or programmes during implementation and their impact after completion, and make recommendations for enhancing design of future operations. 
• Assesses investment implications of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resources management and agro-processing policies in national plans and programmes, including, poverty alleviation  climate change adaptation and mitigation.

 
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING 

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced University degree in economics, agricultural economics, natural resources economics, agribusiness management or a closely related field. 
• Seven years of relevant experience in the practical application of economic analysis to development issues, including analytical studies, and/or in the formulation and implementation of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resources management and agro-processing investment operations in developing countries and/or countries in transition.
• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies
• Results Focus 
• Teamwork 
• Communication
• Building effective relationships 
• Knowledge sharing and continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions.
• Extent and relevance of experience in food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resources management and agro-processing analytical studies, feasibility studies and programme evaluation, and/or in participating in public-private policy dialogue to promote investment.
• Extent and relevance of experience in participating in multidisciplinary teams for the preparation of strategies and sector studies as well as formulation, implementation support or evaluation of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resources management and agro-processing investment and finance support solutions, with focus on financial and economic aspects.
• Extent and relevance of experience in investment design, implementation support and evaluation procedures of FAO’s main development partners, in particular the World Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and other partner International Financial Institutions (IFIs). 
• Knowledge of the context, as well as partners and institutions, of the specific subregion would be an asset.
• Relevance of experience in capacity development for the design and implementation of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resources management and agro-processing investments.
• Demonstrated experience in dealing with government officials, development partners and other country stakeholders.
• Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in English.

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