Organizational Setting

Under the GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme, the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (FAO RAP), in collaboration with six countries of Southeast Asia, will implement a three-year project of strategic regional action entitled “Agriculture Sector Readiness for enhanced climate finance and implementation of Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture priorities in Southeast Asia”. The countries included under this collaborative project are: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The project will be implemented in close coordination with the respective NDAs and the Ministries of Agriculture through the ASEAN Climate Resilience Network focal points of each participating Southeast Asian country. This regional project will build capacity to access climate finance for the agriculture sector and create opportunities to scale promising models at national and regional levels. The project will also enable countries to share experiences and co-create proposals for sector specific climate action at the regional level with public and private sector climate and agriculture finance experts. Investment plans will focus on facilitating farmer’s access to capacity to access capacity, resources and finance to address climate change risks.

A regional project team and six country based national project teams will be established for the effective implementation of the project. While the regional project team will oversee project implementation progress and maintain communication with the rest of the PMU to ensure a smooth flow of work, the national project team will lead the implementation of the project activities in the country and coordination for the regional activities.

To support the implementation of the project activities, FAO Country Office is seeking a motivated, dynamic candidate to serve as a National Economist (GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme). This position will basically home-based (Hanoi) and intermittent. The position may require some field visits in the project coverage areas.

Reporting Lines

The National Economist (GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme) will work directly under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative and the direct supervision of Assistant FAO Representative (Programme). Additionally, s/he will work under the technical supervision of the National Team Leader and Technical Officer (LTO) from FAO-RAP and in collaboration with the Regional Coordinator and International Agriculture and Climate Change Specialist and Regional Project Team based at FAO-RAP, the FAO-GCF Coordination Unit, and with dedicated project staff and operational partners at country level.

Technical Focus

Economic aspects of Climate change  and Agriculture, Adaptation, Mitigation and cost effective ways of natural resource uses

Tasks and responsibilities

The National Economist is assigned with the following most specific duties:
•    Design of financial and economic analysis for a GCF concept note and prefeasibility study.
•    Collection of data and information on projects costs and prices based on concept note or prefeasibility study
•    Prepare guidance to team members on types of information required to support preliminary financial and economic analysis.
•    Preparation of financial and economic analysis, climate risks and climate resilience of adopting CSAs, mitigation measures in rice sub-sector in particular of proposed project based on information available from the prefeasibility study and data collected.
•    Recommend approach for economic and financial analysis during full proposal stage. Collect baseline information on climate economics and provide inputs for team leader to prepare inception phase reports.
•    Support for coordination of the agriculture climate change investment planning and project design process under Outcomes 2 and 4 of the project with primary focus on the economic feasibility and cost-benefit  aspects of the being designed project.
•    Support the development and implementation of a regional knowledge management and communication plan to enhance access to climate change finance for the rice sub-sector.
•    Support the coordination/consultation with relevant stakeholders at the national level including PSC members from the NDA and Ministry of Agriculture as well as ASEAN CRN members, DAEs, public and private and actors to identify innovative financing models at national and regional levels to support projects in accessing climate finance.
•    Participate in national workshops and knowledge exchanges on the climate finance, economics and investmet in rice subsector for Vietnam.
•    Perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•    An advanced degree in climate change, natural resources management, agricultural economics/environmental and resource economics or any relevant topics.
•    At least 5 years’ experience in areas related to project management, project finance and economic analysys. Pre-feasibility study, CBA  or investment analyses or management
•    Working knowledge of English and Vietnamese.
•    National of the country or resident with a valid work permit

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Good command of computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Power point, Internet)
•    Knowledge of the administrative policies and procedures of the United Nations and International Organizations.
•    Effective communication skills that emphasize teamwork.
•    Knowledge and experience in institutional capacity development
•    Knowledge of and familiarity with agriculture and sustainable  and cost effective ways of natural resource management
•    Proven capacity to conduct fieldwork and ability to work in teams and establish working relationships with central and local government institutions and civil society organizations
•    Prior experience with the UN and/or international organizations is an asset

Selection Criteria

•    Having knowledge in using different economic analytical tools (CBA, MACC,etc.)
•    Demonstrated knowledge of finance and economic pre-feasibility analysis, scenario/project portfolio development in project design and implementation
•    Demonstrated knowledge of agricultural sector, rice sub-sector in particular, finance/investment and economic/market analysis and evaluation on economic aspects of climate change related projects