REG. FAF/26/005. Economist. (ASAP)

Under the Director of the Capacity Development and Implementation (CDI) Bureau, the Field Operations Section (FOS) is responsible for the development, implementation, monitoring, and closing of Implementation Support projects. It develops agreements and assists in developing country specific as well as regional projects and programmes by identifying priority areas, developing objectives, activities, and deliverables, setting time frames, and specifying budgetary requirements. 

The purpose of this project is to remove the use of fluorinated firefighting foams at selected airports. These foams contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are listed in either Annex A or B of the Stockholm Convention as well as precursors that transform in the environment into listed chemicals. ICAO will execute the project Fortifying Infrastructure for Responsible Extinguishments (FIRE; GEF ID 11110), implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with funds from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project will be executed in five African countries (Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa). 

The economist is expected to lead the development of cost benefit analysis in Fortifying Infrastructure for Responsible Extinguishments project within beneficiary states in Africa. 

Technical Inputs:

1. Develop a standardized Cost–Benefit Analysis (CBA) template from transitioning to fluorine-free foam at aerodromes in Africa. The template will include: 

•  Current Status Assessment of Cost Benefit Analysis:
• Identify current stocks, storage conditions, and disposal needs.
• Document existing firefighting systems, equipment compatibility, and operational procedures.
• Estimate baseline environmental and health risks associated with PFAS use.

2. Market Analysis: 

• Estimate operational expenditures (OPEX):
• Training
• Maintenance
• Additional testing
• Estimate PFAS disposal and remediation costs.

3. Environmental Economic Analysis: 

• Quantify avoided PFAS contamination and long‑term environmental benefits.
• Conduct cost‑benefit comparison of “F3 transition” vs. “business as usual”.

4. Final Reporting:

• Prepare a comprehensive CBA report.
• Provide an executive summary tailored for decision‑makers.
• Submit all models, datasets, and tools in transparent, editable formats.

5. Develop CBA for airports in each participating country (Kenya, Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria and Ethiopia) on transitioning to fluorine-free foam (F3).

6. Consult with airport staff and relevant stakeholders including foam suppliers to ensure accuracy of inputs and assumptions.

7. Utilize transparent and clear models relevant and useful to airport staff in the target countries. 

8. Consult with any relevant stakeholder’s inclusions are relevant to and interpretable by policy makers.

9. Develop practical guide and tool to adopt the fluorine free alternatives by the airports based on the CBA report.

Performs other related duties, as required by Project Document.

Cost effective analyses are developed for F3 transition at target airports. 

The incumbent will work in coordination with UNEP, ICAO HQ, Country Governments and other key project stakeholders.

Core Competencies:

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style, and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients ” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks "outside the box"; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Commitment to Continuous Learning: Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession; actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally; contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates; shows willingness to learn from others; seeks feedback to learn and improve.

Managerial Competencies:

Vision: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities, and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities.

Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow; empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands.

Empowering Others: Delegates responsibility, clarifies expectations, and gives staff autonomy in important areas of their work; encourages others to set challenging goals; holds others accountable for achieving results related to their area of responsibility; genuinely values all staff members' input and expertise; shows appreciation and rewards achievement and effort; involves others when making decisions that affect them.

Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

Building Trust: Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; manages in a deliberate and predictable way; operates with transparency; has no hidden agenda; places confidence in colleagues, staff members and clients; gives proper credit to others; follows through on agreed upon actions; treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately.

Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Advanced University Degree in Economics or environmental economics.

Essential

• Experience conducting cost benefit analyses (>10 years). 
• Experience working in LMIC context.
• Familiarity with airport firefighting operations. 
• Experience working in GEF projects. 

Desirable

Essential 

English

Desirable 

Proficiency of other UN languages preferred.

Special Service Agreement (SSA) monthly fee of 11,000 USD.