Financial Modelling Specialist at Human Sciences Research Council (HRSC)

Job Advert Summary

The Developmental, Capable, and Ethical State (DCES) is a research division within the HSRC and employs a multi-disciplinary group of social scientists who conduct numerous empirical and policy-related studies. The DCES Division was recently awarded a project on the Identification of Smart Urban Agriculture/Agro-processing solutions and assessing the feasibility to address food security challenges in the City of Johannesburg (CoJ).

The DCES division is looking to appoint a suitably qualified professional to take on the position of a Financial Modelling Specialist on a Freelance Contract.

The overall objective of the CoJ study is to identify smart urban agriculture/agro-processing solutions, conduct a feasibility study on investing in innovative and smart urban agriculture technologies, and recommend options and selection criteria for prioritising these options to improve food security in the City of Johannesburg. In line with the 4th Industrial Revolution, the study will establish a range of initiatives including but not limited to the development of a commercially viable and productive agricultural sector, employing innovative technologies such as rooftop gardens, vertical gardens, and aquaponics systems to address food insecurity in the city of Johannesburg. Lack of investment has been identified as the major underlying reason why the City of Johannesburg is a net food-importing region. The proposed study will identify new technologies that will improve infrastructure, increase productivity and affect domestic investments in production.

The proposed research design for the study is exploratory research design while the conceptual framework will adopt the principles of the Value Chain Analysis and Mapping; Measurement of Food and Nutrition Security Indicators; and Economic Analysis, Affordability Assessment and Value for Money Analysis.

Financial Modelling Specialist - 1 Position

Ref: DCES – FMS/PaSS

Six (06) Months Deliverables based Contract

Office Base: PRETORIA

Minimum Requirements

Requirements:

• A Masters (PhD preferable) in Economics, Agriculture Economics or Finance;
• 3 to 5 years research and management experience, preferably in a research or academic institution;
• At least 5 peer reviewed publications* (books, books chapters, journal articles), most of which should be sole or first authored;
• Strong statistical and quantitative research skills for data analysis and management;
• Excellent writing skills for drafting briefing papers, technical reports, academic publications and for wider public dissemination of research findings

Research project management experience

• Intellectual and personal integrity, imagination and drive;
• Enthusiasm to manage, mentor and train junior researchers; and
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team
• Understanding of agricultural value chains will be an added advantage
• Shortlisted applicants may be required to undertake a written competency exercise for this position.

Duties & Responsibilities

The Financial Modelling Specialist will be required to provide:

• High-level financial modelling and analysis of all viable options to enhance food insecurity (using innovative technologies) within the seven regions of the City of Johannesburg.
• The study will explore possible avenues within the field of urban agriculture where the City could invest in order to enhance food security through smart innovative technologies. The analysis will consider the socioeconomic and environmental contexts of each region
• An economic analysis, affordability assessment, value for money analysis, information availability, PPP suitability and project charter, will consist of, but not limited to, the following deliverables:
• Economic analysis (including project affordability analysis, value for money analysis, analysis of the socioeconomic environment, and an assessment of the socioeconomic contributions of the proposed interventions).
• Investment decision to assess the welfare change attributable to implementing the investment. The purpose of CBA is to facilitate a more efficient allocation of resources, demonstrating the convenience for society of a particular intervention rather than possible alternatives (European Commission, 2014). Thus, CBA can provide a powerful tool for communicating the economic value of urban agriculture to policymakers, funders, and other decision-makers. CBA incorporates financial and economic appraisals.
• High level financial modelling – consider financing options as provided by policy (e.g. MAFISA).
• Economic evaluations draw from economic costs and benefits, discounted to produce a net present a comparative analysis for determining what to invest in; financial evaluations help to demonstrate affordability, and estimate resource requirements for scale-up and sustainability. Collectively, economic, and financial evaluations may be conceptualized as part of a larger appraisal process. What is critical is the perspective that determines the scope of analysis and interpretations. Appraisals encompass a broad framework of activities, which generate evidence necessary for decision-taking and reviews on the worth of an intervention

Key Deliverables:

Submit Monthly Progress Reports for applicable milestones

• Submit Draft Research Report that will include a detailed description of possible projects categorised according to their suitability for the seven regions of the city, the elements of the interventions and their financial analysis
• Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation at a Stakeholder Validation Workshop. A one-day workshop will be arranged with programme stakeholder representatives, the Policy Unit and the Project Steering Committee to discuss the findings of the Draft report and obtain comments and inputs.
• Submit the Final Report based on feedback from the funder

Key competencies:

• Proven track-record of designing, managing and conducting high quality financial and economic analyses research that has both strategic and policy relevance;
• Design and undertake research focusing on affordability assessments for defined research projects, including value for money analyses;
• Participate in medium-to-large scale research projects with tight deliverables;
• Attention to detail to deliver high-quality results and technical reports according to budget and deadlines;
• Engage targeted stakeholders and develop communities of practice to ensure uptake of evidence to transform economic participation outcomes;
• Ensure research impact through government engagement, policy briefs and research reviews;
• Produce high quality knowledge outputs through publishing in accredited refereed journals, books, and book chapters;
• Communicate research findings across media platforms and at academic conferences and forums; and
• Develop research skills and competences through formal and informal training for self and others.