Economist; Environment

Position: Economist (Environment)
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 position is located in the Asia and the Pacific Service (CFIB) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI) at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines   The Economist (Environment) reports to the Chief, Asia and the Pacific Service (CFIB) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI).

Technical Focus   Provide analytical and technical support on financial and economic aspects 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 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 the 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 government.

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 Strategic Framework .

Provides guidance and advice to junior staff.

Specific Functions
Contributes to the identification, design and appraisal of investment operations, including the development of analytical and sector studies, project logical/results frameworks, monitoring and evaluation system and the costing of investment operations, with a focus on environmental and climate dimensions. It includes the integration of climate adaptation and mitigation, natural capital considerations, and sustainability into project design, results frameworks and costing.

Assesses the feasibility and viability of investment operations through studying market prospects, prices, costs and risks, and carrying out financial and economic analysis, including consideration of environmental externalities.

Participates in the evaluation of the performance of investment projects or programmes during implementation and their impact after completion and makes recommendations for enhancing the design of future operations.

Supports in the assessment of investment implications of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and…