Suriname Finance Sector Specialist

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FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.
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Qualified female applicants and qualified nationals of non-and under-represented member countries are encouraged to apply.

Persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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Organizational Setting

Suriname is a High Forest Low Deforestation (HFLD) country with 97% of its land mass covered by forests. With a very low deforestation rate, the area of permanent forest estate shows a declining trend, according to FRA 2020. Recently the country experienced a surge in timber production, increasing by approximately 78% in 2015 to 2018, driven by the increase of exports by 157% in the same period. The Government of Suriname is establishing a forest cover monitoring system as part of its REDD strategy.

Under the supervision of the Regional Forestry Officer for the Caribbean and in close collaboration with the International Forest Finance consultant, this consultant will contribute to the formulation of a forest finance strategy for Suriname, taking into consideration the forests’ biophysical and socioeconomic characteristics, and their priority functions, i.e. generation of socioeconomic benefits, ecosystem services, as well as types of management. The strategy should zone Suriname’s forests from an investment perspective, building a portfolio of options considering public, private and blended finance. It shall identify fund raising strategies and propose the governance structure to manage funds.

Reporting Lines

The Suriname Finance Sector Specialist will report to the Regional Forestry Officer for the Caribbean in Suriname.

Technical Focus

The work involves supporting the Regional Forestry Officer in liaising with Government of Suriname and other relevant local stakeholders to assess the main opportunities and challenges to attract finance to sustainable forest management of forests, taking into consideration the different forest products and ecosystem services. The consultant should assess the current levels of domestic and international finance directed to forest/based value chains. The consultant should assess especially the local finance sector in Suriname – the available financial instruments and their criteria. The work is built on internationally agreed methodologies, identifying the opportunities and transaction costs. Finally, in collaboration with the international finance consultant, a finance strategy outlining a portfolio of finance options, including public, private and blended finance, as well as of governance requirements and recommendations should be presented to the stakeholders for validation and attraction of investors.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Engage all relevant stakeholders, especially the local finance sector, international donor community and private investors.
• Work in coordination with other forest projects and initiatives in the country.
• Assess the current and potential level of domestic and international forest finance in Suriname, identifying the main opportunities and challenges to attract finance to sustainable forest management of natural and planted forests and respective value chains, taking into consideration the different forest products and ecosystem services.
• Assess the existing financial instruments offered by local finance sector, and potential for further development and identify the most appropriate local intermediaries for international finance,
• Assess the conditions for making business in Suriname, building on internationally agreed methodologies, identifying the opportunities and transaction costs and make recommendations.
• Together with the international finance consultant, develop a finance strategy for Suriname, outlining a portfolio of finance options, including public, private and blended finance, as well as the governance requirements and recommendations.
• Together with the International Finance consultant, organize public consultation of the national forest finance strategy focused on validating the work and attracting investors.
• Any other activities as requested by direct supervision.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum requirements

• University degree in Economics or a related field
• At least 5 years working in the field Economics
• National of Suriname or resident in the country with a regular work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical Competencies

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
• Ability to interact with and work with a diverse array of people

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Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.