Agro-Economist

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 Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level.
The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.

Specifically, FAO Country Offices:

• advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
• provide technical assistance and deliver core services;
• assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation;
• position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation;
• ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.

The position is at SB IV SC 8 level and located at Hyderabad, Sindh.

Reporting Lines

Agro-Economist will report to Assistant FAO Representative (Programme) and work as team member of FAO Technical Assistance Team, The incumbent will work at Agriculture Delivery Unit, of Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation Project (ADU-SWAT), Agriculture Department and will support Project Director ADU-SWAT in day to day technical matters and project execution under Component-3 of SWAT. The Ag-Economist will also need to report on progress update to Project Coordination and Monitoring Unit (PCMU), which is overall client of this assignment.

Technical Focus

The Agro-Economist will provide strategic and technical advisory support to the Agriculture Delivery Unit under the Sindh Water & Agriculture Transformation (SWAT) program to advance sustainable, competitive, and climate-resilient agricultural development. The assignment focuses on strengthening agricultural production systems, crop protection, and climate-smart agriculture through policy advice, digitalization, technological innovation, and improved farm input and mechanization systems, with particular emphasis on enhancing productivity, diversification, and market orientation for small- and medium-scale farmers, including women farmers. The role also includes supporting multi-stakeholder collaboration, developing crop sector strategies for targeted communities, and providing technical backstopping for capacity development, policy support, and knowledge-sharing initiatives to improve livelihoods, nutrition, and incomes in both rural and urban contexts within the SWAT project framework.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Advise ADU in developing agricultural production and crop protection initiatives for more efficient, competitive, sustainable, climate-resilient and socially inclusive agriculture development, especially for small- and medium-scale farmers.
• Advise SWAT team in agricultural digitalization and technological innovation for sustainable crop production, crop diversification, and climate-smart agriculture to improve people's nutrition, livelihoods, and incomes in both rural and urban areas.
• Support in promoting Climate Smart/Resilient Agriculture through innovation, and technologies and develop multi-sectoral and stakeholder collaboration.
• Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge-sharing activities such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials, and online tools.
• Act as a knowledge resource to develop crop sector strategies for the targeted communities (small- and medium-scale farmers/women farmers) in SWAT project areas.
• Support in improving productivity of agricultural operations, and enables a shift from subsistence to more competitive, market-oriented farming through appropriate mechanization systems, improved technologies seed-delivery systems and other farm inputs (fertilizers etc.)

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in Agriculture Economy / Statistics, Climate Smart Agriculture / Agronomy or related discipline etc.
• At least 10 years of international experience in sustainable agriculture, climate-smart practices, and adaptation strategies, preferably in large-scale development projects.
• Working knowledge of English, Urdu and Sindhi
• National of Pakistan

FAO Core Competencies

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

Selection Criteria

• Candidates will be assessed against the requirements listed above