National Senior Economist

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programs 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.

In Ethiopia, the Integrated Agro-Industrial Park (IAIP) development is expected to drive the structural transformation of the economy, including modernization of the agriculture sector, by creating permanent linkages between agriculture and industry, fostering improved production and productivity (quantity and quality), as well as increasing commercialization of strategic agro-commodities. The Agro-Commodity Procurement Zones (ACPZs) are the area intended to supply the IAIP parks with agricultural raw materials. In 2019, FAO prepared investment plans for the four pilot ACPZs through the support of a European Union (EU) grant. Each plan includes: (i) the ACPZ development results framework; (ii) the mapping of public initiatives and investments; and (iii) the gap analysis of public investment and its costing. Its timeframe covers the 2020-2025 period.

While number of partners support the GoE to achieve the agro-industrialization programme (ACPZ development included), the Government of Ethiopia (GoE), as well as development experts and partners, have expressed some concerns regarding the investment plans implementation. The pace of production and productivity improvement is still slow, hence lagging the marketable surplus increase. The ACPZ development offers great opportunity to foster inclusion of vulnerable household and smallholder farmers, which should be promoted. The coordination of projects needs an enhancement to ensure a better predication of their contribution to the ACPZ development outcomes and greater synergy. The Monitoring and Evaluation system of the investment plans is not yet operational.

Under the Hand in Hand (HiH) initiative, launched by the FAO Director-General, FAO agreed with the GoE to develop a Technical Cooperation Program (TCP) under TCP/ETH/3802 project. Its objective is to enhance the ACPZ development implementation efficiency for increased productivity and marketed surplus through the following outputs: (i) bottlenecks inhibiting enhanced productivity and production of marketable surplus identified and addressed; (ii) institutional setting for ACPZ development strengthened and implementation, coordination and monitoring plans/tools developed.

Among others constraints identified during the first mission in Oromia and Sidama - SNNPR, the poor coordination of existing projects and the poor reference to the ACPZs investment plans; which is considered as main guiding document for orientation of interventions and evaluation of progress made towards the achievement of agro industrialization program in general and increasing of the production surplus in particular.

It is under this context that FAO Ethiopia is seeking to recruit a national economist to perform the below mentioned tasks.

Reporting Lines

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Ethiopia, the direct supervision of the International Agribusiness Consultant and in close coordination and technical guidance of the Agribusiness Officer -SFE and Lead Technical Officer (LTO).

Technical Focus

Supporting the HIH initiative in analysing the current institutional and coordination constraints inhibiting the implementation of the ACPZ development plans and improve communication strategy for adoption of the ACPZs Investment as reference document to track progress towards increased marketable surplus required for agro industries.

Tasks and responsibilities

The incumbent candidate will be in charge of the following specific tasks:

Output 1. Improved communication about the ACPZs Investment plan

• Prepare an abridged version of the Investment Plan (with a focus on lead commodities selected for Bulbula and Yirgalem IAIPs) to make the document easier to read for policy makers, development partners, Oromia Regional State High Officials, and key direct and indirect value chain actors involved into implementation of the 4 selected commodities (coffee, avocado, wheat and dairy);
• Prepare 4 short brochures of the ACPZ Investment plans specific to each of the 4 commodities to distribute to partners and key stakeholders;
• Organize a workshop to present the new ACPZs IP version
• Review some targets set in Results frameworks with commodities experts (FAO team working on EX-ACT related activities)
• Provide assistance and collaborate with HIH team working on preparation of investment prospectus
• Collaborate with the HIH team working on pro-poor business models to improve ACPZs inclusiveness.

Output 2. ACPZs IP Secretariat is established and operational at regional level

• Assist the MoA and RBoA to set up, at regional and federal level, coordination structures in charge of tracking and provision of guidance on how to reach the targets set in the ACPZs Investment plans to increase the commercial surplus and inclusiveness.
• Establish a similar structure specific for monitoring of the implementation of ACPZs programs and projects : develop the structure (secretariat unit at regional level) and propose communication lines, develop the ToR, identify and budget required financial / logistic and technical support to make the structure operational; secure increased articulation of the Secretariat Unit with existing institutional and coordination structures established by UNIDO and Ministry of Trade and Industry;
• Provide two months close technical support to established Regional ACPZs Secretariat Unit

Output 3. M&E tools produced and used by the Regional ACPZ Secretariat Unit

• Conduct and produce an assessment report on functionality performances of existing IAPs coordination structures and the communication channel between regional structure and decision makers at federal level;

• Identify the reasons why the ACPZs investment which was endorsed by Interministerial committees is no more perceived as reference document; analyse the risk related to this poor utilization and alternatives proposed by partners to secure efficient monitoring and coordination of IAPs interventions

• Collaborate with existing initiatives undertaken by UNIDO to set up IAPs interventions M&E system;
• Collaborate with the HiH team members to provide Technical assistance to MOA for increased institutional role on coordination and partnership development.

Output 4. Technical assistance provided to ACPZ Regional Secretariat Unit

• Propose required technical assistance to implement agreed recommendations such as support to regional structures
• Collaborate with UNIDO to elaborate a communication strategy for ACPZs interventions

Perform other related/relevant duties as required

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Candidate should be a national of Ethiopia or resident in the country with a regular work permit.
• Advanced university degree in economics or any rural development based sciences or closely related field
• 10 years of relevant experience in value chain development programme, Agro commodities procurement zones development, contacts and knowledge of stakeholders and institutions in IAIP and related works
• Working knowledge of English and good knowledge of the local language(s) used at the duty station is required.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work
• Extent and relevance of experience in IAIP initiative
• Familiarity with FAO Ethiopia rules and ongoing activities

Selection Criteria

• Extent and relevance of experience and knowledge of works execution and supervision;
• Familiarity to work with UN agencies in general and FAO similar assignment, Government and other partners;
• Ability to work under pressure and willingness to travel frequently to rural areas of Ethiopia (Sidama SNNPR and Oromia);