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. 
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Country Offices, led by FAO Representatives, implement the corporate Strategic Framework at the country level. They provide policy advice and technical assistance to support the development of policies, programmes, and projects aimed at achieving food security, reducing hunger and malnutrition, and promoting sustainable agricultural development to ensure zero hunger. 
In Bangladesh, the FAO Representation (FAOBD) manages several corporate initiatives, national, regional and global projects and programmes under the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP), Trust Fund (TF) and Regular Programme (RP) budgets. These projects and programmes respond to priority needs identified by the Government and stakeholders and focus on strengthening capacities, introducing innovative technologies, and enhancing policy frameworks to drive sustainable transformation of agrifood systems. 

The objectives of these initiatives include: 
•     Promoting coordination among government ministries, development partners, and private sector actors to harmonize subsidy delivery and improve policy coherence. 
•     Facilitating the integration of subsidy reforms within broader agricultural and rural development strategies, including climate-smart agriculture and value chain development. 
•     Supporting the transition towards digital and data-driven subsidy management systems that improve accountability and reduce leakage. 
•     Enhancing transparency, targeting, and efficiency of agricultural input subsidy programmes to maximize benefits for smallholder farmers. 
•     Strengthening national and institutional capacities for evidence-based agricultural subsidy planning, implementation, and monitoring. 

The Agricultural Economist (Subsidy Management) will support the delivery of the ‘E-Voucher Feasibility and CSA with Sustainable Food Systems’ package of the ‘Technical Assistance for Repurposing of Agricultural Public Support Towards a Sustainable Food System Transformation in Bangladesh’ (TARAPS) project aimed to assess the feasibility of introducing fertilizer along with other input subsidy e-voucher system in 15 pilot upazilas and provide actionable recommendations for aligning the system with Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices in Bangladesh. The incumbent will provide technical and analytical support to the TARAPS project team in implementing the assignment. The role will contribute to the design of survey and study instruments, undertake desk reviews of existing agricultural subsidy mechanisms, support the assessment of CSA integration within subsidy systems, and contribute to the preparation of analytical outputs and reports as requested by the TARAPS Project Implementation Unit (PIU). The incumbent will also perform any additional assignment-related duties as may be delegated by their supervisors.

Reporting Lines

The Agricultural Economist (Subsidy Management) is a SC 10 position. Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Bangladesh, and direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme), the incumbent will closely collaborate with the National Senior Precision Agriculture and Technical Specialist and Programme Team of FAO Bangladesh. .

Technical Focus

The incumbent will provide technical inputs to the feasibility assessment through analytical review, data interpretation and contribution to study design and reporting processes. They will focus on collaboratively designing the study instruments to undertake the feasibility assessment, followed by review and analysis of existing agricultural subsidies and incentives in Bangladesh, as well as best practices globally to assess their effectiveness. Based on on-field data from household surveys, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), the incumbent, in collaboration with the project team, will work towards assessing, evaluating, and recommending appropriate e-Voucher approaches that integrate CSA practices.  

Tasks and responsibilities

In-Country Analysis of the Agricultural and Food System Context 

•     Conduct a comprehensive review of existing agricultural subsidy mechanisms (including fertilizer and other inputs) and incentive distribution frameworks, supply-chain management, and payment mechanisms, and identify good practices and inefficiencies. 
•     Conduct a thorough review of relevant national policies, rules, acts, strategies, assessments, research reports, and data related to agriculture, food security, social protection, digital finance, CSA, and sustainable agricultural development in Bangladesh. 
•     Evaluate regional and international best practices in e-Voucher and digital subsidies and incentive delivery systems, highlighting policy requirements, data collection and/or digital profiling approaches, application of e-Voucher in subsidy mechanisms, financial impact on value chain actors, challenges of adoption in Bangladesh, impact, and lessons on leakages, exclusion, and scalability. 
•     Analyze existing programmes that provide support to the agricultural sector and vulnerable farming communities, including their delivery mechanisms and effectiveness. 
•     Contribute to the preparation and documentation of FGDs and KIIs conducted with relevant stakeholders in the pre-selected 15 pilot upazilas. 
•     Analyze the barriers and enabling factors for the wider adoption of digital subsidy mechanisms. 

Feasibility Assessment of e-Voucher Implementation 

•     Support the National Senior Precision Agriculture and Technical Specialist in the assessment of the feasibility of the recommended three alternative e-Voucher approaches, considering technical, institutional, economic, financial, legal, political, social, and sustainability issues, with the recommendation of other alternative approaches as deemed feasible. 
•     Conduct a preliminary cost-benefit analysis of potential e-Voucher models. 
•     Contribute to the development of an analytical framework and technical inputs for the proposed e-Voucher implementation roadmap, including stakeholder roles, training, risk management, MIS linkages, escalation protocols, and data privacy compliance. 
•     Provide analytical inputs to support stakeholder engagement strategies proposed by the project team to enhance the sustainability of the proposed e-Voucher approach. 
•     Provide analytical inputs on institutional arrangements relevant to the proposed e-Voucher system. 
•     Identify potential partners for e-Voucher distribution and redemption, assess their capacity and willingness to participate, and identify potential risks with proposed mitigation strategies. 

Integration of e-Vouchers with CSA Practices and Sustainable Food Systems 

•     Support the integration of e-Vouchers with CSA practices, including the exploration of linkages and synergies, assessment of potential impact on sustainable food system outcomes, with appropriate gender and social inclusion. 

Overall 

•     Contribute technical inputs to validation sessions and support preparation of documentation and analytical outputs. 
•     Undertake any additional tasks assigned by the FAO Representative, the Deputy FAO Representative and/or the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme).

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements   

•     Advanced university degree (Master’s or PhD) in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Agricultural Science, Development Studies or a related field. 
•     At least 10 (ten) years of professional experience in agricultural policy analysis, particularly in subsidy and incentive design and reform. 
•     At least 5 (five) successful project completion experiences in the related field. 
•     Working knowledge of English (level C). 
•     National of Bangladesh or resident of the country with a valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Proven experience in economic development, strategic planning, and undertaking feasibility assessments. 
•     Experience in designing and evaluating digital subsidy delivery mechanisms, particularly for fertilizers. 
•     Proven expertise in economic modelling, with the ability to analyze complex economic data and provide actionable insights. 
•     Strong leadership and project management skills. 
•     Strong analytical, communication, and report-writing skills in English. 
•     Agricultural economics and policy analysis, particularly related to subsidies and incentives 
•     Public expenditure analysis and fiscal modelling in the agriculture sector 
•     Understanding of LDC graduation impacts on trade and subsidy frameworks 
•     Quantitative and qualitative impact assessment of agricultural programs 
•     Digital agriculture solutions, such as e-Vouchers, MIS, and blockchain for transparency 
•     Climate-smart agriculture and designing incentive structures for resilience 
•     Equity and inclusion analysis, especially gender and smallholder-focused 
•     Familiarity with international case studies on subsidy reform