Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

FAO India has the mandate to support the Government of India through its representation to improve livelihoods of farmers, promote agrifood systems transformation, and respond to the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation, through developing resilient and sustainable agrifood systems

All FAO interventions in India focus on promoting sustainable agriculture and enhancing capacities of stakeholders, especially small and marginalized farmers. In addition, some of the projects also work with farmers collectives. Along the course of project implementation, a number of targeted training and capacity building programs and events are organised, from training of trainers on sustainable agriculture to awareness generation and training on climate resilience and climate smart agriculture.

GEF 8 PPG: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) supports innovative projects that demonstrate a holistic and systemic approach to addressing the “levers” for transformation, integrating cross-cutting priorities including livelihood and climate resilience with a focus on biodiversity, climate change, and land degradation. At core of the overall GEF-8 architecture is the Healthy Planet, Healthy People framework, inspired by the explicit recognition of the interdependency between human well-being and a healthy environment. The GEF investments are targeted toward tackling the breakdown in food, energy, urban, health, and natural systems that underpin human development. FAO, as a partner agency of GEF, is supporting countries in designing and delivering projects that achieve sustainable and scalable results in the GEF-8 Focal Areas. The PIF on “Enabling resilience of livestock keepers through integrated landscape management” with multi-focal areas had been submitted under the GEF-8 funding cycle, aiming to address these challenges by supporting the Government of India (GoI) and livestock keepers in adopting sustainable livestock management practices. The PIF has now received endorsement and will commence the PPG phase where the project document will be developed.

FAO is seeking to recruit an experienced agriculture economist to be a part of the GEF 8 proposal development team to contribute to the overall proposal while specifically focusing on some of the key sections of the proposal, based on national and state level evidence and data analysis on agri economic parameters.

The position is located in the FAO Country Office in India.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in India, Assistant FAO Representatives (Program and Administration) and direct reporting to the Sr. Specialist, Strategy, Innovations and Partnerships, the consultant will work in close coordination with the International GEF Expert, other consultants and specialists who will be part of the PPG proposal development team.

Technical Focus

Agriculture economics, economic policies, regulations and programs at the national and state level (Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand) on agriculture, agroforestry, fodder, dairying, livestock development and forest land management

Tasks and responsibilities

The overall objective is contribute to the GEF 8 detailed proposal development for the project titled “Enabling resilience of livestock keepers through integrated landscape management” by focusing on specific sessions and technical areas on agriculture economics, financing, policies and regulations. 

The specific tasks and responsibilities will be to:
•     Prepare a comprehensive report based on secondary research of national and state (Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand) policies related to integrated and sustainable fodder management, green fodder, fodder banks, livestock health, nutrition, and related areas to support project proposal development.
•     Prepare a financial assessment report through secondary analysis of national and state budgets, expenditures, and scheme allocations related to dairying, livestock development, integrated fodder systems, and other relevant programmes to support project proposal development.
•     Estimate potential co financing contributions from national and state implementing agencies and other relevant institutions based on budget allocations, utilization patterns, and sectoral investments in the Animal Husbandry and Dairying sector.
•     Conduct an economic analysis of livestock production systems in the proposed project locations.
•     Prepare a note on innovative finance mechanisms, including asset backed value chain financing, green loans, first loss capital guarantee funds, and credit guarantee schemes for cooperatives or producer groups.
•     Coordinate the collection and consolidation of relevant data from key stakeholders, including information on government schemes, plans, programmes, and related investments.
•     Ensure that all necessary data that is required from the partners and stakeholders at the state level are timely collected and shared with relevant PPG team members
•     Ensure that the data, documents and materials are properly organized and stored in the FAO SharePoint
•     Carry out other relevant duties within his/her technical competence as requested by FAO.

Miscellaneous

•     Support FAOR/AFAOR for meetings and representations when requested by the FAOIN leadership.
•     Collaborate with the FAO Country Office, FAO Lead Technical Officers (LTOs), other National Experts as required
•     Any other duties assigned by the FAOIN leadership.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     Master’s degree in agriculture economics, environmental science and/or related field. Doctorate degree will be preferred
•     At least ten (10) years of professional experience in working on research in agriculture, agriculture economics, livestock sector, agroforestry, etc including interpretation and analysis of complex data
•     Excellent report writing skills
•     Working knowledge (level C) of spoken and written English is essential and working proficiency in Hindi is desirable.
•     National of India

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Experience working with government agencies on development projects.
•     Experience of writing detailed proposals for multilateral institutions 
•     Knowledge and experience in sustainable agriculture, climate change, agro forestry, livestock and/or dairyi sector
•     Excellent multicultural and interpersonal skills, with experience networking with partners at all levels (ministries, donors, private sector, NGOs, and local community-based organizations).
•     Experience working with international and donor organizations (e.g., World Bank, IFAD, Asian Development Bank)
•     Proven written, analytical, computing, presentation, and reporting skills.