Organizational Setting

FAO had secured funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness programme, for implementing the project GCP/SRL/079/GCR “Capacity enhancement of the National Designated Authority (NDA) and other relevant stakeholders in Sri Lanka to re-evaluate technical needs for climate change adaptation and mitigation and assess climate finance priorities for agriculture by developing innovative climate smart investment mechanisms through increased partnerships between public and private sectors”. The Project Goal is to enhance the capacity of the Climate Change Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment and other relevant stakeholders, including the private sector, to jointly identify and implement technical needs for addressing Sri Lanka’s climate challenges in its priority sectors, and leverage public and private investment for climate-smart agriculture through scientific knowledge-based planning.

The main outputs of the project are:

•    Sectoral and national Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs) and Technology Action Plans (TAPs) updated for mitigation and adaptation with clear strategies to implement the Nationally Determined Contributions and the National Adaptation Plan.
•    Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) investment plan developed based on updated Agro-ecological maps and other relevant information.
•    Capacity of the NDA and relevant stakeholders strengthened to facilitate a dialogue and forge partnerships between the public and private sectors for increased private sector engagement and investment in CSA.
•    Concrete strategies and actions developed for improving private sector engagement and investment in CSA in the plantation and non-plantation sub-sectors identified through a public-private forum.
•    Capacities of relevant stakeholders enhanced to prepare quality concept notes for developing bankable projects for implementing the CSA investment plan.
•    GCF concept notes developed for in the plantation and non-plantation sub-sectors to advance the CSA investment plan through potential AEs, including FAO.
•    NDA’s data and information portal/web platform established to FAO’s Climate and Agriculture risk Visualization and Assessment (CAVA) platform to improve Sri Lanka’s capacity to analyse, manage and disseminate information concerning climate vulnerabilities and risks.
•    Awareness and capacity of NDA enhanced with clear ways forward to improve knowledge management related to climate finance.

For this purpose, FAO Sri Lanka is recruiting an Agriculture Economist, to conduct an economic analysis of the CSA measures / investment packages developed under the CSA investment plan. The incumbent is expected to work closely with the International Consultant in Climate Smart Agriculture Investment.

Job Summary:

Agriculture Economist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives and the direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programmes). He/she will work in close coordination with the International Consultant in Climate Smart Interventions, National Consultant in Impact Assessment, National Consultant in Climate Smart Agriculture and also the PMU of the GCF Readiness Project. Agriculture Economist will work under the overall technical supervision of the Environment and Climate Change Specialist, FAOLK and the Lead Technical Officer of the project.

Technical Focus

•    Enhance Private sector engagement.
•    Public private partnership
•    Financial and non-financial mechanisms in low emission and climate resilient agriculture

Responsibilities

•    Conduct a review of the existing literature and data on the agriculture plantation and non-plantation sectors.
•    Review the climate-smart measures / investment packages prioritized under the CSA investment planning process.
•    Develop the methodology, scope and workplan to conduct the economic analysis (cost benefit analysis and economic feasibility) of the CSA investment packages identified in the plan .
•    Collect data/information required from different relevant stakeholders to conduct the economic analysis.
•    Prepare the economic analysis and written chapters / inputs for the CSA investment plan.
•    Validate the draft economic analysis via stakeholder consultation workshop
•    Effectively contribute to the development and finalization of the CSA Investment Plan.
•    Provide possible inputs and supports to the other national and international consultants of the project for producing their deliverables.
•    Undertake any other tasks as requested by the FAOR / AFAOR (Programme).

Requirements

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•    Advanced university degree in Agriculture, Economics, Climate Change, or any other relevant subject.
•    A minimum of 4 years of experience in a field related to agriculture economics, climate smart agriculture investments and investment in public / private sectors with experience working on international donor-funded projects, preferably in the Asian region
•    Working knowledge of English and fluency in Sinhala and/or Tamil.
•    National or resident of Sri Lanka with valid work permit

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Familiarity with effective use of standard office software, such as MS Office (Windows, Word, Outlook, Excel, Power Point).
•    Good interpersonal skills, ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholder groups.
•    Strong analytical skills and experience in developing technical reports – undertaking research, primary and secondary data collection, analysis and report writing.
•    Ability to work/deliver independently with minimal supervision.

Selection Criteria 

•    Extent and relevance of experience in agriculture and economics.
•    Extent of experience in technical report writing.
•    Experience in coordinating and liaising with industry, academia, national authorities, UN agencies, donors, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
•    Familiarity with the UN System and /or development sector will be considered an asset.

REQUIRED EDUCATION Advanced Degree
WORK HOURS: 8 Hours a Day
EXPERIENCE IN MONTHS: 48