Senior Economist

1L091L09

• 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
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• 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.

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 financing 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 for 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 located in the Latin America and the Caribbean Service (CFIF) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting lines
The Senior Economist reports to the Chief, Latin America and the Caribbean Service (CFIF).

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 advice and 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
• Leads, or participates in, multidisciplinary teams to assist governments in the identification and preparation of investment and finance support initiatives in the fields of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing, and participates in pre-appraisal and appraisal missions.
• Leads, or participates in, multidisciplinary teams for the implementation support and the preparation of final evaluation of investment and finance support solutions.
• Advises governments in the preparation of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing studies and strategies, and in the formulation of national sector and/or sub-sector investment plans and programmes.
• Advises on developing inclusive and sustainable food systems, involving producers, their organizations, other private sector actors, civil society organizations and governments.
• Leads the formulation and delivery of capacity development initiatives in the areas of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing investment support to government staff, non-state actors and private sector organizations.
• Prepares documents in accordance with FAO, government and financing partners’ requirements.
• Advises on task organization, selection of consultants, and preparation of terms of reference and in ensuring the quality of outputs.
• Represents the Organization at international and inter-governmental meetings and conferences, advocates for strategic partnerships, best practices and effective policy dialogue; develops and negotiates effective working relationships and agreements with international and national partners.
• 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 to Member Nations.
• Leads or participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate Strategy.
• Provides guidance, mentoring and advice to junior staff.

Specific functions
• Provides substantial contributions for the design of investment and finance support projects and programmes, such as the development of the project logical/results framework, the monitoring and evaluation system, and the costing of investment and finance support solutions.
• Determines the feasibility and viability of investment proposals through reviewing market prospects, prices, costs and risks, and carrying out financial and economic analysis.
• Advises on the performance of investment projects or programmes during implementation and their impact after completion, and makes recommendations for enhancing design of future operations.
• Advises on investment implications of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing policies, national plans and programmes, including poverty alleviation, and 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
• Ten years of relevant experience in the practical application of economic and financial analysis to development issues, including analytical studies, and/or in the formulation and implementation of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing investment and finance support programmes in developing countries and/or countries in transition.
• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and Spanish.

Competencies
• Results focus
• Leading, engaging and empowering
• Communication and advocacy
• Partnering and resource mobilisation
• Knowledge sharing and continuous Improvement
• Strategic thinking

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, feasibility studies and programme evaluation and/or in leading public-private policy dialogue to promote investment.
• Extent and relevance of experience in leading, or 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 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.
• Extent of experience in capacity development for the design and implementation of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing investments.
• Demonstrated experience in dealing with senior government officials, development partners and other country stakeholders.
• Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in English.