National Agro-Socio- Economist Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources of Rwanda is implementing the project aimed at reconsidering the potential of water resources development to expand irrigated land in Rwanda. The project aims to put more effort into increasing the area under irrigation by reconsidering all irrigation potentials, including medium, small, and micro sites. By reconsidering irrigation potential in Rwanda, the project will increase the total irrigated land to maximize crop production and productivity, sustainable land use and crop intensification, adaption to environmental degradation and climate resilience. Reconsidering irrigation potential will decrease the barriers to accessing water, impact poverty through different dimensions such as crop/animal production and productivity, on-farm and off-farm employment generation, income/consumption, vulnerability, food security, non-farm output, nutrition, multiple use of water (e.g. domestic and irrigation purposes).

Thematically the projects focus on two outputs:

(1) Analyze and review geographic data and prepare an inventory of national irrigation potential sites in Rwanda, (2) Conduct comprehensive preliminary feasibility studies and validate the identified potential sites.

FAO is now hiring a National Agro-Socio- economist Expert to develop investments proposals for the mapped large, medium, small, and micro irrigation potential sites, and carry out pre-feasibility studies for the most suitable sites in consideration of easy implementation and cost efficiency.

FAO is now hiring a national an Agro-Socio- economist Expert to assess the economic and financial feasibility of the selected potential sites i.e large, medium, small and micro irrigation potential sites to be prioritized as Climate Smart, and Efficient Irrigation sites in Rwanda.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will report to the FAO Representative in Rwanda through the Better Production Officer at FAO-Rwanda, under the technical supervision of the Project Lead Technical Officer (LTO), and in close collaboration with national counterparts and FAO-SFE technical officers.

Technical Focus

The consultant will conduct a thorough economic and financial feasibility assessment of the selected potential sites across the country. S/he will tally the anticipated return expected from development of the selected irrigation sites and prepare needed reports.

Tasks and responsibilities

The incumbent will specifically:

• By considering a period of 30 years s/he will determine, in particular, economic and financial internal rate of return, with sensitivity tests indicating change in these rates taking into account various theories about the costs and profits. • Propose the total investment cost of every selected site. • Conduct the financial analysis of the irrigation projects’ capability to repay the investment and the operation as well as maintenance costs. • Propose the Public Private Partnerships models that can be applied for the identified sites with emphasis on the implication of the youth and gender balance. • Propose the resource mobilization strategy for the identified potential sites. • Support to organize the consultation workshops to inform potentials stakeholders (government, private sector, international organizations, donors other stakeholders who intervene in irrigation sub-sector) for the identified sites. • Organize the validation meetings of the feasibility studies of the potential selected sites, • Categorize and prioritize needed investments to develop the quick win projects that are promising.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree with an advanced university degree in agribusiness, development studies, agronomy, agriculture engineering or other related fields. • 7 years - experience in Agro - socio-economic studies and analyses of the project, • Working knowledge of English • National of Rwanda or resident of the country with valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Proficiency in the study, design, and implementation of irrigation infrastructure development projects. • Knowledge of environmental and safety regulations and compliance. • Experience in feasibility studies. • Excellent skills in analysis and report writing. • Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills in English. • Ability to effectively use standard Irrigation software such as Irrigation Model Maker Software, for designing irrigation potential sites and others. • Good command of computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Power point, Internet). • Capable to work independently and perform under tight deadlines. • Good interpersonal and teamwork skills, networking aptitude, and ability to engage effectively with policy and decision-makers.