Senior Economist

Organizational Setting

In pursuit of these aspirations, the Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP) coordinates Programme Priority Areas on gender equality and rural women's empowerment and on inclusive rural transformation. The Division works with Members and other partners to achieve resilient and inclusive rural livelihoods for people on conditions of vulnerability, reduce gender inequalities and advance women's economic empowerment and promote people-centred climate action and equitable access to natural resources. The Division also leads efforts to integrate the cross-cutting themes of gender, youth and inclusion throughout the work programmes of the Organization. One of ESP's three main objectives is to promote equitable, inclusive and sustainable climate action and natural resource management aligned with supporting the implementation of elements of the FAO Climate Change and Biodiversity Mainstreaming Strategies and their respective Action Plans.

The post is located in the Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Senior Economist reports to the Director, ESP with a secondary reporting line to the Director of the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB).

Technical Focus

Equitable, inclusive, and sustainable climate action, natural resource management and biodiversity.

Key Results

Leadership and conceptual thinking for the development and implementation of comprehensive technical, statistical and/or analytical frameworks to support the programme of work and related products, projects and services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Manages or leads highly specialized or multi-disciplinary teams, and provides technical leadership in high-level policy analysis missions or projects, policy networks and/or international policy setting bodies.

• Leads the work carried out by technical or policy officers in the Regional Office in collaboration with colleagues from Subregional Offices and headquarters in relation to policy and governance work under the FAO Strategic Framework.

• Advocates strategic partnerships, best practices and policy dialogue in support of enhanced policies and governance for food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture and food systems.

• Interacts with UN Regional and Country Teams to improve cross-sectoral policies and strategies concerning agriculture, food security, nutrition and sustainable development.

• Engages with development partners, including international financial institutions, to advocate and strengthen the linkages between knowledge and policy work with investments in food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture and food systems.

• Analyses regional and country-level issues to provide input into the identification of country and regional priorities and requirements.

• Designs, implements and monitors regional and subregional policy work programmes and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies.

• Plans, organizes and participates in capacity development activities involving the provision of technical advice and assistance, and oversees the development of related materials, on-line tools and information kits.

• Represents the Organization at international/inter-governmental meetings and conferences.

Specific Functions

• In close collaboration with ESP technical teams, OCB and other relevant Divisions/ Offices and Centres , develops and implements a strategy and work plan for leveraging ESP's technical competencies on inclusive rural transformation and gender equality to advance a people-centred approach to climate actions in agrifood systems, within the context of the FAO Strategic Framework.

• Provides overall coordination and thought leadership for the technical work within ESP on inclusive climate actions, natural resource management and biodiversity and managing reporting on the impact of this work.

• Ensures a strategic alignment of ESP's workplan activities related to inclusive and sustainable climate actions, natural resource management and biodiversity across the Division's technical work areas.

• Ensures a strong integration of ESP's work on inclusive climate actions into FAO Strategic Plan for Climate Change and the FAO Strategic Framework.

• Enhances the technical capacity of ESP in the area of climate change and identifies key technical gaps and opportunities within the Division's technical teams.

• Facilitates and supports interactions with OCB to ensure coherent and coordinated implementation of work.

• Leads resource mobilization efforts in the area of inclusive climate actions for the Division.

• Represents FAO externally in dealing with inclusive climate actions.

• Contributes directly to ESP's technical work on climate change, natural resource management and biodiversity, including through technical reports and outreach events.

• Performs other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in economics, agricultural economics, environmental economics, geography, rural sociology, climate sciences or other relevant social sciences.

• Ten years of relevant experience in economic and quantitative analysis of food and agricultural issues, natural resources use, climate change mitigation and adaptation, or related areas.

• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

• Results Focus

• Leading, Engaging and Empowering

• Communication

• Partnering and Advocating

• 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 experience or knowledge of the socio-economic dimensions of climate change adaptation and mitigation, climate financing, natural resource management, and just transitions.

• Extent and relevance of experience in climate change policy development and implementation, with a focus on agrifood systems and rural communities.

• Extent and relevance of experience in planning and implementation of programmes related to the socio-economic dimensions of climate change adaptation and mitigation in development organizations.

• Ability to mobilize resources.

• Extent and relevance of experience in organizing international meetings, seminars and training courses.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

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