Investment Analyst -Green Cities Initiative

Finance & Economy

Overview

Develop an investment plan for Bulawayo and Harare aligning with urban sustainability priorities.

You have:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s) in Economics, Business Administration or other relevant financial disciplines
• 10 years relevant experience in investment analysis and planning in private and public sector in areas of environmental management including waste management, agroforestry, and food systems
• Working knowledge (Level C) of English
• National of Zimbabwe or a legal resident in the country
• Good technical writing and communication skills, computer literacy (Microsoft -Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Good interpersonal relationships and ability to relate with communities in Urban and peri urban areas
• Experience and exposure to urban planning will be an added advantage
• Working knowledge of Shona and Ndebele will be an added advantage

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO country offices is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner. For the period 2022-2026, the FAO Office in Zimbabwe is supporting Government efforts through the Country Programme Framework (CPF) which is based on three pillars: (i) Promotion of inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems to address food security and nutrition; (ii) Building resilience to climate change, agricultural threats and crisis; (iii) Sustainable management of natural resources and environmental protection.

Project Background

The world is becoming more and more urbanized with 55 percent of the population living in cities. The urban population is set to reach 68 percent by 2050, with 90 percent in low-income countries - especially in Africa and Asia. Cities already consume almost 80 percent of the total energy produced in the world and absorb up to 70 percent of the food supply. To address these challenges, cities are taking a more active role in contributing to national governments’ efforts in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. Population growth and rapid urbanization are exacerbating the limits of our current food systems (increased levels of Green House Gases (GHGs,) deforestation, food loss and waste) and increasing competition for natural resources. Local administrations are finding it increasingly challenging to ensure urban and peri-urban populations have access to sustainable and nutritious food, build resistance to zoonotic diseases, develop green spaces and reduce food waste. Maintaining sustainable agrifood systems with green spaces that include urban and peri-urban agriculture and forests are essential for cities, making them more resilient to the impacts of climate change and socio-economic crises. To trigger transformative actions for cities to become greener, cleaner, more resilient and regenerative, FAO launched the Green Cities Initiative and Action Plan on 18 September 2020. The FAO Green Cities Initiative focuses on improving the urban environment, strengthening urban-rural linkages and the resilience of urban systems, services and populations to external shocks with an eye towards constructing a robust constituency of actors. The concept will help ensure access to a healthy environment and healthy diets from sustainable agri-food systems, increasing availability of green spaces through urban and peri-urban forestry. The Initiative will also contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as sustainable resource management. In Zimbabwe, FAO has (triggered/launched) the GCI through the signing of letters of intent with the City of Bulawayo and City of Harare. Initial activities involved hiring an analyst to assess the two cities and their peri urban areas under the three key pillars of Urban Food Systems, Urban and Peri urban agriculture and Urban- and Peri urban forestry. FAO is seeking for services of an investment analyst to come up with a 4-5year investment plan based on these identified priorities.

The following priority clusters were identified and validated during the assessment: Priority Cluster 1:

• Valorize waste by adopting circular economy approach to solid waste management and solid waste pollution. • Mobilize funding to fully implement Master Plans and Local Environment Action Plans of both Cities of Bulawayo and Harare Priority Cluster 2: • Rehabilitate, restore wetlands. Identify and formalize wetlands that can be used for sustainable urban agriculture. Highly sensitive wetlands should not be cultivated. • Rehabilitate and upgrade sewage reticulation system. Priority Cluster 3: • Provide more market spaces for vendors and informal traders along the outskirts of the cities to release pressure in the city centre markets. • Construct Green Market Infrastructure (with increased space, tables for products display, water, adequate toilets, and energy). • Strengthen the national food quality and safety surveillance system–farm to fork and establish robust food safety information management system. Priority Cluster 4: • Revise By-laws of both cities in respond to existing and predictable future challenges • Increase capacity of Local Authorities, EMA, and Forestry Commission among others to enforce regulations. FAO is implementing this project under the Green Cities Initiative- Technical Cooperation Project (TCP/ZIM/3902/C2).

Reporting lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Zimbabwe, and the direct operational supervision of the GCI Focal Person with guidance from the Lead Technical Officer of the project, Regional Office for Africa and technical divisions at FAO Head Quarters,

Technical Focus

The incumbent will develop an investment plan for the two Cities of Bulawayo and Harare and their Peri-Urban, in alignment with identified priority areas under the three pillars of Urban-Peri Urban Agriculture, Urban Food Systems and Urban-Peri-urban Forestry with a focus on waste management, reclamation of wetlands, reforestation of degraded land, Food Safety, water reticulation and greening of food markets

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Assist in meetings with stakeholders that participated in assessment and together unpack the identified priorities to understand required investments over a period of 4-5 years. • Conduct a careful assessment of the current and near future local macroeconomic and political investment environment. -including but not limited to Socio-economic and financial analysis focused on investments in identified priority areas and analysis of governance and institutional capacities of the two cities. • Assess and understand the investment goals and existing investment strategies/policies for the two cities aligned to the identified priority clusters and within the context of risk tolerances for the two cities for the proposed duration of 4-5 years. • Map, characterize and recommend potential (public, traditional and private) investors in the local, regional and international environment based on the identified priority areas. • Prepare an investment strategy and plan for 4–5-year duration considering the above factors/analysis-include any proposed capacity building strategy and institutional reform as may be necessary. • Propose a dashboard for monitoring and evaluation of the Investment strategy.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s) in Economics, Business Administration or other relevant financial disciplines • 10 years relevant experience in investment analysis and planning in private and public sector in areas of environmental management including waste management, agroforestry, and food systems. • Working knowledge (Level C) of English. • National of Zimbabwe or a legal resident in the country

Technical skills

• Good technical writing and communication skills, computer literacy (Microsoft -Excel, Word, PowerPoint) • Good interpersonal relationships and ability to relate with communities in Urban and peri urban areas.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Selection Criteria

• Experience and exposure to urban planning will be an added advantage • Working knowledge of Shona and Ndebele will be an added advantage

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Potential interview questions

Added 2 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: fao.org