Senior Economist - Rome, Italia - FAO

Descrizione

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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 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 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the Agenda through the 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.

The FAO Investment Centre (CFI) provides investment and finance solutions that lead to more efficient, sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems. Working in over 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 .

The post is located in the East and Southern Africa Service (CFIA) of the FAO Investment Centre at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting lines
The Senior Economist reports to the Chief, East and Southern Africa Service.

Technical Focus
Provide analytical, strategic and technical leadership on economic and financial themes regarding agricultural and food systems-related policies, public sector strategies and plans, as well as individual public and private investment operations and programmes. This includes 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 in the scope of 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 countries.

• Leads or participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate Strategy.

• Provides guidance, mentoring and advice to junior staff.

Specific functions

• Leads and/or provides substantial contributions for the design of sovereign lending operations financed by partner financial institutions in close collaboration with local public institutions; including investment and finance support projects and programmes in agricultural and rural development topics.

• Assesses the feasibility and viability of different public investment options both from an economic perspective and in terms of institutional capacity and their suitability to be implemented at local level.

• Leads and/or participates in reviewing the performance of sovereign lending projects or programmes financed by partner financial institutions during implementation making recommendations for their enhancement, and assesses their impact after completion in order to inform the design of future operations.

• Conducts policy analysis (including potentially public expenditure reviews and market price support analysis) to identify opportunities to improve public investment and promote more and better private investment for agrifood systems transformation towards greater sustainability.

• Leads and/or participates in the preparation of public investment plans, strategies and other guiding public documents in agriculture and rural development or specific sub-sector.

• Leads and/or participates in conducting studies which support the identification of investments and improve sectoral policies.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree in economics, agricultural economics, natural resources economics, 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 limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or 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, is essential.

• Extent and relevance of public and private sector professional experience in areas such as agriculture, agribusiness, agro-processing, natural resource management and greening of agrifood systems;

• Extent and relevance of experience in leading/preparing analytical and feasibility studies on topics related to agrifood sector investments;

• Extent and relevance of experience in leading and/or contributing significantly to policy work related to agrifood sector investment (analytics and policy processes). Sound knowledge of policy analytical tools such as public expenditure reviews and market price incentives analysis is an advantage.

• Extent and relevance of experience in leading, or participating in the preparation of strategies and investment plans and other pre-investment work related to agrifood sector.

• Extent and relevance of experience in the formulation, implementation support and evaluation of investment operations related to topics such as food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management, agro-processing and finance;

• Knowledge of investment criteria and procedures of international development finance institutions is an asset;

• Extent and relevance of experience in leading, or participating in, multidisciplinary teams;

• Knowledge of the context as well as partners and institutions of Sub-Saharan Africa would be an asset, as well as work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions.

• Extent and relevance of experience in dealing with public and/or private sector stakeholders such as senior government officials, as well as development partners and other country stakeholders.

• Demonstrated capacity to write quality technical reports in English.

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FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds

FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link: Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:

• Dependency allowances

• Rental subsidy

• Education grant for children

• Home leave travel

• 30 working days of annual leave per year

• Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund

• International health insurance; optional life insurance

• Disability protection FAO encourages a positive workplace culture to increase inclusivity and diversity within its workforce. FAO applies measures in which all staff members contribute equally and in full to the work and development of the Organization. This includes:

• elements of family-friendly policies

• flexible working arrangements

• standards of conduct.
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