Socio-economic Specialist (3 positions)

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO Country Offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments in developing policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and nutrition and reduce hunger and malnutrition, promote sustainable agricultural development, reduce rural poverty, develop inclusive agri-food systems and strengthen livelihood resilience – in line with the Organization’s Strategic Objectives and United Nations’ global and Government of Egypt’s national Sustainable Development Goals.

FAO is implementing a project entitled \"EU for Hayah Karima - EU support to Rural Development, Climate Change Resilience and Nutrition\" in Upper Egypt. The Action is in line with a major Egyptian initiative, “Hayah Karima” (Decent Life), launched in 2019 initially for five years, which seeks to improve the life and livelihoods of 57 million Egyptians in rural areas by renovating local infrastructures, upgrading basic services, and creating jobs.

The project will support rural development, food and nutrition security, and climate change resilience in 120 villages in Assiut, Sohag, and Qena governorates. It is focused on supporting the farmers in improving agriculture and irrigation techniques and rural communities' income generation through employment and skills development opportunities. FAO action will help in managing food losses through value chain analysis and value addition of income-generating crops, transformation of agricultural waste into economic secondary products, and strengthening the capacity of value chain actors in food safety and waste management.

The Socio-economic Specialist will be based in one of FAO’s intervention governorates (Assiut, Sohag, or Qena). She/he will work closely with the governorate coordinator and project personnel.

Reporting Lines

The Socio-economic Specialist will work under the direct supervision of FAO Representative in Egypt, the day-to-day guidance of the Project Manager, and in close collaboration with the governorate coordinator, FAO country office and project personnel as well as Government counterparts and all stakeholders.

Technical Focus

The Socioeconomic Specialist will be responsible for conducting a socio-economic assessment of the project area, focusing on the project's impact on the beneficiaries. The assessment will provide an analysis of the economic, social, and environmental implications of the project and provide recommendations on how the project can be improved to maximize its impact on the target beneficiaries.

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Conduct socioeconomic assessments and analyses of rural livelihoods, poverty, employment, gender, and youth dynamics to inform project interventions.
•     Ensure inclusion of vulnerable groups, gender equality, and youth engagement across all project activities.
•     Contribute to value chain analysis with focus on income-generating crops and agricultural waste transformation.
•     Identify barriers and opportunities for women and youth participation in agribusiness and waste management start-ups.
•     Promote gender equality and youth engagement by identifying opportunities for job creation, skills development, and entrepreneurship.
•     Provide recommendations to strengthen community-based enterprises and farmers’ organizations.
•     Design and deliver training, awareness campaigns, and Farmer Business School (FBS) activities to strengthen agripreneurship, cooperative management, micro-enterprise creation, and waste management practices.
•     Support awareness campaigns on socioeconomic and environmental benefits of waste management and food loss reduction.
•     Facilitate participatory approaches to ensure communities are engaged in planning and decision-making.
•     Facilitate market linkages by mapping buyers, processors, and private sector partners, organizing B2B events, trade fairs, and buyer–seller meetings.
•     Provide advisory support to start-ups on quality standards, branding, and market entry strategies.
•     Facilitate linkages with micro-finance institutions, banks, and cooperatives, ensuring equitable access to finance.
•     Support strengthening partnerships and linkages with public and private institutions that generate relevant information and technologies related to value chain enhancement.
•     Develop socioeconomic indicators and contribute to project monitoring and evaluation.
•     Support implementation of Letters of Agreement (LoAs), including follow-up, timely reporting, and performance tracking.
•     Collaborate with the communications team to ensure documentation of project activities, lessons learned, best practices, and success stories.
•     Prepare reports, briefings, and other written materials on socioeconomic issues related to the project.
•     Work with local authorities, civil society, and cooperatives to enhance ownership and sustainability of interventions.
•     Support the project management team in strategies to increase project impact and sustainability.
•     Perform any other duties as requested.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•     Advanced university degree in agriculture economics, social sciences, agribusiness developments or other related fields.
•     At least 5 years of experience in similar functions designing, implementing and reporting on socio-economic activities.
•     Working knowledge of English.
•     National of Egypt.

FAO Core Competencies

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION