Economist

The FAO Investment Centre (CFI) provides investment and finance solutions that lead to more efficient, sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems. Working in over 120 countries, the Centre provides a full suite of investment and finance support to FAO members. It partners with governments, international and national financing institutions, the private sector and farmers, research institutions and academia 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 for investment and capacity development for investment programmes that serve to share knowledge, learn and build capacities at country level. For additional information on the FAO Investment Centre, its activities, partners and the organizational structure please visit the following link .

The post is located in the Asia and the Pacific Service (CFIB) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Economist reports to the Chief, Asia and the Pacific Service.

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 resource management and agro-processing.

Key Results

Delivering investment and finance support solutions through the provisions of technical 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 in the scope of the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Participates in multidisciplinary teams for the identification and preparation of investment operations in the fields of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing, and in pre-appraisal and appraisal missions.
• Supports the implementation of investment operations and the preparation of final evaluations.
• Participates in the preparation of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource 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.
• Contributes to capacity development activities in the areas of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing investment support to government staff, non-state actors and private sector organizations.
• Prepares reports in accordance with governments and financing partners’ requirements.
• Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences and interacts with international and national partners.
• Supports the promotion and maintenance of relationships with relevant Programme Priority Areas, FAO technical units and Decentralized Offices in order to ensure best synergies between investment, policy and innovation work in support to Members.
• Supports resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate Strategy.

Specific Functions

• Provides inputs for the design of investment operations, including the development of project logical/results framework, monitoring and evaluation systems and the costing of investment operation
• Analyses the feasibility and viability of investment proposals through studying market prospects, prices, costs and risks and carrying out financial and economic analysis.
• Supports the evaluation of the performance of investment projects or programmes during implementation and their impact after completion.
• Supports the review of investment implications of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing policies, national plans and programmes including, poverty alleviation and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
• Contributes to and leads the knowledge development and capacity building activities in the area economic and financial analysis.

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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.
• Five 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 resource 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 resource management and agro-processing analytical studies and programme evaluation.
• 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 resource management and agro-processing investment operations, 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 the European Bank for Reconstruction and other partner International Financial Institutions.
• Knowledge of the context, as well as partners and institutions of the specific subregion would be an asset.
• Extent of experience in capacity development for the design and implementation of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing investments.
• Depth of understanding of trends, challenges and opportunities in agricultural investments and agrifood systems in Asia and the Pacific region.
• Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in English.

Job Posting

02/Aug/2024

Closure Date

30/Aug/2024, 10:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit

FAO Investment Centre (CFI)

Job Type

Staff position

Type of Requisition

Professional

Grade Level

P-3

Primary Location

Italy-Rome

Duration

Fixed-term: one year with possibility of extension

Post Number

2002955

CCOG Code

1L09

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO’s values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

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.