Economist (Commodities)

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The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.

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• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
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• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO Strategic Framework by supporting 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.

Organizational Setting

The Markets and Trade Division (EST) monitors and analyses developments and trends in international, regional and national agricultural commodity markets and the factors affecting them, collecting and disseminating up-to-date and comprehensive market and policy information for the major traded commodities and those important to food security. It also undertakes forward-looking outlook studies. The Division analyses issues that affect global food and agricultural markets and trade, including analysis of trade policies and agreements, and provides technical support and capacity development to FAO Members in all these areas. Through its Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture (GIEWS), the Division is responsible for FAO's early warnings on food shortfalls and food security problems. EST is also responsible for the production of FAO flagship publication The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - FAO (OECD-FAO) Agricultural Outlook. The Division houses the secretariats of the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP) and its subsidiary Intergovernmental Groups (IGGs), the G20 Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) and the World Banana Forum (WBF).

The post is located in the Basic Foodstuffs Team, Markets and Trade Division (EST) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Economist (Commodities) reports to the responsible Senior Economist (Commodity Markets)/Team Leader under the overall guidance of the Director, EST.

Technical Focus

The Economist (Commodities) will contribute to the Division's work on food commodities, including data collection and validation, market monitoring and assessment, short- and medium-term market outlook, and price and policy analysis.

Key Results

Research and analysis of information, data and statistics, and the maintenance and updating of related tools, methodologies, and/or databases to support the delivery of programme products, projects, publications, and services.

Key Functions

• Researches and analyses (agricultural, economic, trade, market, social, environmental, nutrition/food composition and/or gender related) data, statistics and information to provide technical, statistical and/or policy related information and analysis to support the delivery of economic and social development programmes work, products, projects, publications and services.

• Produces a variety of technical reports and input for technical documents, divisional publications and/or web pages.

• Provides technical, statistical and/or analytical services on various studies, projects and/or assessments and provides technical backstopping to field projects.

• Participates in the development of improved/updated technical, statistical and/or analytical tools, methodologies, systems, databases and/or key social/ economic/ environmental/ nutritional and/or early warning indicators, etc.

• Participates in multi-disciplinary teams, collaborates with other Divisions/Offices/Centres on work groups and committees and promotes best practices.

• Collaborates in capacity development activities involving the planning and organizing of training workshops, seminars, and major meetings and the preparation of related information, materials, on-line tools and information kits.

• Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences and influences partners in stakeholder consultations.

• Participates in resource mobilization activities.

Specific Functions

• Leads the collection and validation of national production, trade, consumption, stocks and price statistics for food commodities in selected countries/regions and manages the system of country balance sheets used to generate supply, demand and trade estimates and forecasts.

• Monitors and analyses the global markets for food commodities; and prepares market assessments for the Food Outlook report, price commentaries for the monthly FAO Food Price Index, and market intelligence papers, notes and briefs.

• Conducts analytical studies on commodity markets and related policies and on cross-commodity issues, including linkages with animal protein markets.

• Monitors policies and industry measures affecting the markets and related sectors; contributes to the divisional commodity policies database; and prepares notes and briefs on key policy developments and emerging issues.

• Participates in the generation of medium-term projections for commodities and contributes to the preparation of the annual OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)-FAO Agricultural Outlook report.

• Prepares papers, technical notes and policy briefs on various economic aspects related to the commodities under coverage.

• Provides strategic advice and insights on the commodities under coverage.

• Develops and contributes to the development of project proposals for raising external voluntary contributions.

• Performs other tasks and duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) ineconomics, agricultural economics or a related field.

• Five years of relevant experience ineconomics, agricultural economics, qualitative and quantitative economic analysis of agricultural markets, trade and related policies.

• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

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, particularly in field positions is desirable.

• Extent and relevance of experience in commodity market monitoring and assessment, outlook studies and projections.

• Extent of knowledge of global food commodity markets.

• Experience in analysing meat or dairy markets an asset.

• Proven ability to conduct analysis of production, consumption, stocks, trade and prices of agricultural commodities and prepare analytical reports and studies.

• Extent of knowledge of relevant analytical tools and software packages, including in handling large datasets and conducting price and policy analysis.

• Experience in providing policy support to countries.

• Experience in organizing international meetings, seminars and workshops.

• Relevance of experience in working in multidisciplinary teams.

• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills.

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FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

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• Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds
• FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http\://www.whed.net/. These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings.
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

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