Senior Irrigation and Rural Infrastructure Engineer

Organizational Setting

The FAO Investment Centre (CFI) aims to be the go-to place for investment and finance solutions that lead to more efficient, sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems. Working in over 120 countries, CFI provides a full suite of investment and finance support to FAO Members. It partners with governments, international financing institutions, national and international organizations, the private sector, research institutions, academia and producer organizations to improve the quality and quantity of agrifood investment. The Centre’s four main areas of work include support to strategic investment planning and policy, public investment, private investment and innovative finance. These are complemented by the knowledge for investment and capacity development for investment programmes that serve to share knowledge more widely and position the Centre as a trusted voice on investment and finance. CFI is a multidisciplinary centre comprising the Director’s office, which leads on strategy and business development, knowledge management, communication and administration, and five regional services: Asia and the Pacific; Near East and North Africa, and Europe and Central Asia; West and Central Africa; East and Southern Africa; and Latin America and the Caribbean.

The post is located in the Asia and the Pacific Service (CFIB) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting lines The Senior Irrigation and Rural Infrastructure Engineer reports to the Chief, Asia and the Pacific Service CFIB).

Technical Focus Provide analytical and technical support on water resources management, irrigation, drainage and rural infrastructure aspects for the formulation, implementation and evaluation of investment policies, strategies, programmes and projects in food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing.

Key Results Provision of technical advice and capacity development for (i) the design of investment and finance support solutions, in collaboration with country stakeholders and cooperating partners, to mobilize resources for food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing; and (ii) implementation support and evaluation of investment and finance support solutions, in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions • Leads, or participates in, multidisciplinary teams to assist governments in the identification and preparation of investment and finance support initiatives in the fields of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing, and participates in pre-appraisal and appraisal missions. • Leads, or participates in, multidisciplinary teams for the implementation support and the preparation of final evaluation of investment and finance support solutions. • Advises governments in the preparation of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing studies and strategies, and in the formulation of national sector and/or sub-sector investment plans and programmes. • Advises on developing inclusive and sustainable food systems, involving producers, their organizations, other private sector actors, civil society organizations and governments. • Leads the formulation and delivery of capacity development initiatives in the areas of food and agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing investment support to government staff, non-state actors and private sector organizations. • Prepares documents in accordance with FAO, government and financing partners’ requirements. • Advises on task organization, selection of consultants, preparation of terms of reference and in ensuring the quality of outputs. • Represents the Organization at international and inter-governmental meetings and conferences, advocates for strategic partnerships, best practices and effective policy dialogue; develops and negotiates effective working relationships and agreements with international and national partners. • Establishes, promotes and maintains relationships with relevant Strategic Programmes, FAO Technical Units and Decentralized Offices in order to ensure best synergies between investment, policy and innovation work in support to Member Nations. • Leads or participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate Strategy. • Provides guidance, mentoring and advice to junior staff. Specific functions • Leads projects/programme formulation of irrigation and drainage, agriculture water resources management including on-farm, as well as rural infrastructure investment strategies and operations. • Advises and provides technical expertise to government agencies, development partners, producers, water users’ organizations and other stakeholders on best practices, and interacts to facilitate exchange of critical information, validation of findings and recommendations regarding investment constraints and opportunities. • Conducts review for technical soundness, consistency and compliance with national strategies and policies, as well as financing partners’ requirements, as applicable, investment project documentation, sector and policy reports and recommendations, technical documents including engineering design and institutional aspects of irrigation and drainage system operation and maintenance, and other relevant material. • Leads in CFI knowledge sharing in agriculture and water-requirements of crops, modern agriculture practices with applied irrigation technics and appropriate institutional set-ups.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements • Advanced university degree in irrigation engineering, agriculture water resources management, or a closely related field. • Ten years of relevant experience in irrigation, drainage and rural infrastructure and agriculture water management including experience in engineering design, construction, supervision, institutional set-ups in systems operation and maintenance for investments. • Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies • Results focus • Leading, engaging and empowering • Communication and advocacy • Partnering and resource mobilisation • Knowledge sharing and continuous Improvement • Strategic thinking

Technical/Functional Skills • Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions. • Extent and relevance of experience in major technical fields related to engineering design, construction and work supervision. • Extent and relevance of experience in leading, or participating in, multidisciplinary teams for the preparation of strategies and sector studies as well as formulation, implementation support or evaluation of irrigation, drainage and rural infrastructure, agriculture water resources management, food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agro-processing, investment and finance support solutions. • Extent and relevance of experience in investment formulation, implementation support and evaluation procedures of FAO’s main development partners, in particular the World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and other partner international financial institutions (IFIs). • Knowledge of the context as well as partners and institutions of the specific subregion would be an asset. • Extent of experience in capacity development for the formulation and implementation of support programmes for water users’ organizations and promotion of participatory irrigation management as well as the training of irrigation engineers and managers. • Demonstrated experience in dealing with senior government officials, development partners and other country stakeholders. • Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in English. • Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of Chinese would be an asset.