Socio-economic Specialist (2 positions)

Organizational Context

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Country Offices assist governments in developing policies and programs to achieve food security, reduce hunger, promote sustainable agriculture, and strengthen livelihoods. FAO is implementing the "EU for Hayah Karima" project in Upper Egypt, supporting rural development, climate change resilience, and nutrition. This initiative aligns with Egypt's "Decent Life" program, aiming to improve the lives of millions in rural areas by upgrading infrastructure, services, and creating jobs. The project focuses on enhancing agricultural techniques, income generation, and managing food losses.

Job Purpose

The Socio-economic Specialist will conduct comprehensive socio-economic assessments within the project's intervention areas, with a specific focus on evaluating the project's impact on beneficiaries. This role involves analyzing the economic, social, and environmental implications of project activities. The specialist will be responsible for providing data-driven recommendations to optimize the project's effectiveness and maximize its positive impact on the target populations. This includes identifying key socio-economic factors influencing rural livelihoods and ensuring project interventions are responsive to local needs and opportunities.

Responsibilities

Conduct socioeconomic assessments and analyses of rural livelihoods, poverty, employment, gender, and youth dynamics to inform project interventions. Ensure the inclusion of vulnerable groups, gender equality, and youth engagement across all project activities. Contribute to value chain analysis, focusing on income-generating crops and agricultural waste transformation, and identify barriers and opportunities for women and youth in agribusiness and waste management start-ups. Promote gender equality and youth engagement by identifying job creation, skills development, and entrepreneurship opportunities. Provide recommendations to strengthen community-based enterprises and farmers’ organizations. Design and deliver training, awareness campaigns, and Farmer Business School activities. Support awareness campaigns on the socioeconomic and environmental benefits of waste management and food loss reduction. Facilitate participatory approaches for community engagement in planning and decision-making. Facilitate market linkages by mapping buyers, processors, and private sector partners, and organizing B2B events. Provide advisory support to start-ups on quality standards, branding, and market entry strategies. Facilitate linkages with micro-finance institutions, banks, and cooperatives. Support strengthening partnerships with public and private institutions. Develop socioeconomic indicators and contribute to project monitoring and evaluation. Support the implementation of Letters of Agreement (LoAs), including follow-up and reporting. Collaborate with the communications team for documentation and reporting. Prepare reports and briefings on socioeconomic issues. Work with local authorities, civil society, and cooperatives to enhance ownership and sustainability. Support the project management team in strategies to increase project impact and sustainability.

Work Experience

At least 5 years of experience in designing, implementing, and reporting on socio-economic activities, preferably within rural development or agricultural projects.

Skills

Results Focus, Teamwork, Communication, Building Effective Relationships, Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement, socioeconomic assessment, value chain analysis, gender equality, youth engagement, training delivery, market linkage facilitation, project monitoring and evaluation.

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