Water Resource Management Economist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 members - 194 countries and the European Union, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

The FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 articulates FAO’s vision of a sustainable and food secure world for all, in the context of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 seeks to support the 2030 Agenda through the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) provides support to its member countries to access resources from various donors and partners through project identification, proposal development and implementation to meet its overall global strategic vision. Working closely with its member countries, RAP ensures multidisciplinary support to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with the Offices, Centres and Divisions at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to country and regional priorities.

The post is located in the Regional Office for Asia-Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand.

ScaleWat Project: The ScaleWat Project addresses the critical need to improve the governance of water by elevating water tenure to help ensure equitable and sustainable water allocation. By raising awareness of governments and non-state actors as to the many different types of tenure arrangements and the different ways each type is governed, by informing ongoing reform processes of water policies and laws- especially those regarding water allocation, by making clear the need to underpin water tenure assessments with water accounting which helps ensure allocation decisions are based on sound information and trusted by stakeholders. In Thailand, the ScaleWat project is implemented in partnership with the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR).

ONWR and FAO are carrying out a water tenure assessment study in the Praesae river basin with the aim of identifying current water users and uses, as well as formal and customary arrangements governing water access and use, complemented by a water balance study on water availability and demand by different sectors. The studies will result in recommendations to policymakers and institutions involved in water allocation to achieve fair and sustainable water allocation. 

The need to conduct a pre-feasibility study for the creation of a water fund is driven by three main factors: (i) the need to understand the diverse pressures on water resources in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) from different stakeholder perspectives, (ii) the importance of fostering discussions on the fund's establishment, and (iii) the necessity of evaluating the economic, institutional, social and financial implications of such a fund.

Objective

The objective of this pre-feasibility study is to assess the potential for establishing a water fund and a compensation mechanism that would support sustainable water management, improve water tenure security, and incentivize conservation practices within the Praesae basin. The pre-feasibility study will evaluate stakeholder opinions on the fund's necessity, mission, and key actors, and propose two potential designs, outlining focus areas, funding sources, beneficiaries, expected outcomes, and legal-institutional considerations.

Reporting Lines

The consultant shall report directly to the Senior Resilience Officer (FAORAP), and work closely with the National Project Coordinator. The consultant will work in close collaboration with the national counterpart and the Global Coordinator.

Technical Focus 

The pre-feasibility study will examine key components essential for assessing the viability of a water fund. It will draw on past experiences by analyzing similar initiatives worldwide, identifying enabling factors and their impacts. A baseline assessment for the EEC corridor will be conducted, leveraging the water tenure assessment and complementary sources to evaluate existing water governance institutions, tenure arrangements, and water balances. The study will also explore social and institutional perceptions, assessing how different stakeholders view the need for a water fund and its potential social, economic and environmental impacts. Additionally, it will review the legal and institutional framework to determine the extent of support for the proposed mechanisms. The study will explore financial mechanisms, including potential funding sources and compensation models such as payment for ecosystem services (PES) and tariffs. The study will further assess the economic, social, and environmental feasibility of the water fund and compensation mechanisms. Finally, it will outline pathways for a full feasibility study by developing two design proposals that align with the findings, providing detailed specifications where possible.

Tasks and responsibilities

Global review of Water Funds and Compensation Mechanisms: Provide evidence-based insights from other initiatives to inform the design of the Praesae water fund. (18 days)
•    Review relevant documentation (water tenure assessment, EEC corridor plans, water governance frameworks).
•    Conduct initial consultations with ONWR, FAO, and local stakeholders.
•    Conduct desk review of global and regional case studies of water funds and PES mechanisms.
•    Identify success factors, governance models, financial instruments, and implementation challenges.
•    Extract lessons relevant to the context of the Praesae basin.

Baseline Assessment for the Praesae Basin: Establish a contextual foundation for the design of a water fund. (6 days)
•    Review and synthesize findings from the water tenure assessment and water balance study, including current water availability, demand by sector, water use efficiency.
•    Map formal and informal water governance arrangements.
•    Conduct key informant interviews to assess stakeholder priorities and tensions.

Stakeholder Engagement and Perception Analysis: Understand stakeholder needs, perceptions, and expectations related to a water fund. (9 days)
•    Conduct stakeholder workshops and/or focus group discussions
•    Analyze perceptions of key actors regarding the purpose, design, and impacts of a water fund.
•    Identify potential champions and opponents of a water fund.

Assessment of Legal, Institutional, and Financial Feasibility. (12 days) Analyze enabling conditions and barriers for implementation.
•    Review legal and institutional frameworks affecting water allocation, compensation, and fund management.
•    Identify potential financial mechanisms (tariffs, subsidies, compensation, etc.).
•    Conduct preliminary cost-benefit analysis for different water use and conservation activities.

Design of 2 Water Fund Options. (14 days) Develop preliminary design options for the water fund.
•    Define vision, mission, and objectives of the fund.
•    Develop two distinct fund design options including institutional framework, monitoring and compensation arrangements.
•    Identify potential activities, beneficiaries, funding sources, expected outcomes.
•    Analyze anticipated changes in water allocation and impacts on stakeholders.

Roadmap, Terms of Reference for Full Feasibility Study and Reporting (14 days): Lay the groundwork for the next phase of detailed study and implementation.
•    Terms of Reference for a full feasibility study based on the results of the pre-feasibility study and identified gaps.
•    Provide roadmap for next steps, including additional assessments, legal/institutional reform needs, and stakeholder coordination.
•    Presentation of the results in national stakeholder workshop
•    Preparing final report including observations of workshop participants

General duties and responsibilities:
•    The incumbent shall familiarize themselves with FAO corporate communications policy and operational guidelines to ensure mandatory coherence in all outputs; 
•    The incumbent shall demonstrate a strong understanding of FAO style in drafting documentation, without the need for continuous correction and oversight; and 
•    The incumbent will keep relevant Lead Technical Officers in FAORAP and Communications Specialist in headquarters informed of progress with regular reporting and consultation. 

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in Economics, Environmental Science, Water Resource Management or a related field.
•    5 years of relevant experience in conducting economic research on water or other natural resources.
•    Full proficiency/Working knowledge of English (level C), 

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 conducting thorough research and analysis, with a keen interest in environment, water management and policy issues is considered an asset
•    Extent and relevance of experience in natural resource management 
•    Familiarity with the legal frameworks and national institutions in charge of water allocation