Economist (Capacity Development)

Organizational Setting

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 FAO Investment Centre (CFI) 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 innovation - 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 Office of the Director (CFID) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Economist (Capacity Development) reports to the Deputy Director, Business Development, CFI.

Technical Focus

Provide analytical and technical support on financial and economic aspects of the design and appraisal of public and private investment operations in domains such as food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing. Expansion of existing and formulation of new capacity development initiatives that support agrifood system investments.

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 in 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 resource management and agro-processing; participates in pre-appraisal and appraisal missions.
• Participates in and eventually leads multidisciplinary teams for the implementation support and preparation of final evaluation of investment operations.
• Provides technical expertise for the preparation of food and 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.
• Formulates and delivers 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 reports in accordance with governments and financing partners' requirements.
• 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.
• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate Strategy.
• Provides guidance and advice to junior staff.

Specific Functions

• Contributes to the design and appraisal of public and private investment operations.
• Assesses the feasibility and viability of investment operations through studying market prospects, prices, costs and risks, and carrying out financial and economic analysis.
• Analyses selected agricultural sub sectors and value chains, with a high level of interaction with all relevant stakeholders.
• Assesses constraints and opportunities for investment at all levels of selected value chains, in relation to the functionality of markets and market institutions, existence and performance of support services, trade policies, risk management systems, as well as food safety standards adoption and control systems, when applicable.
• Contributes to the development and implementation of the Centre's work programme on capacity development and innovation - knowledge for investment activities. This includes conducting training, defining the content and format of capacity-building activities, in collaboration with relevant partners (governments, international financial institutions, universities, associations, non-governmental organizations etc.)
• Supports the identification of relevant knowledge products for the investment support solutions which can be shared as lessons learned or best practices.
• Supports the development and growth of the RuralInvest programme in collaboration with FAO colleagues and external partners (including financiers and academic institutions).
• Supports the development and implementation of capacity development methods, materials and tools, including the delivery of training, in particular on RuralInvest.
• Contributes to the design of capacity development for investment programmes and projects (in particular those financed by partner international financial institutions).
• Contributes to the development of knowledge products, including analytical work and practical tools, related to agribusiness, marketing and value chain development.

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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.
• Seven years of relevant experience in the practical application of economic analysis to development issues, value chain analysis and development, agribusiness and market development, 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 (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency- 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, is desirable.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the expansion and strengthening of capacity development and knowledge programmes, preferably related to agrifood systems.
• Experience in collaborating with academic or other training institutions is desirable.
• Excellent analytical and conceptual skills, particularly in terms of agribusiness investments appraisal.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the preparation of agrifood systems-related analytical studies including agribusiness investment feasibility studies, agrifood value chain analysis or other thematic agrifood sector studies.
• Demonstrated experience in dealing with government officials, development partners and other country stakeholders.
• Extent and relevance of experience in investment design, implementation support and evaluation procedures of FAO's main financial institution partners, in particular the World Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and other partner international financial institutions (IFIs).
• Extent and relevance of experience in organizing and conducting workshops and technical meetings and managing multi-stakeholder platforms and processes.
• Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in English.
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in emerging markets, is desirable.
• Private sector experience is desirable.