Senior Economist

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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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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

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 Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) is responsible for leading FAO's response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the region. It oversees the network of Country Offices and the Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP). It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region, and, in collaboration with Divisions, Offices and Centres at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities and the implementation of the Organization's strategies through programmes and projects across the region. The Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific leads the preparation of the Regional Conferences and the Statutory Bodies in the region.

The Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific supports the formulation and implementation of the Country Programmes and Projects, including Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs), and their contribution to the FAO Strategic Framework and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) at the country level, advising Decentralized Offices on corporate priorities such as the Strategic Framework and on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization's Programme of Work and Budget.

The Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions, including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs), and participates in the United Nations Regional Architecture, such as UN Regional Forums on Sustainable Development and UN Regional Collaborative Platforms and related mechanisms.

The position is located in the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) in Bangkok, Thailand.

Reporting Lines

The Senior Economist reports to the Deputy Regional Representative (DRR) under the overall guidance and supervision of the Assistant Director-General/Regional Representative (ADG/RR).

Technical Focus

Provide leadership, foresight, strategic advice and operational support for results-based policy assistance and governance, based on sound analysis of global and regional economic trends, especially on the food and agriculture sector, and works on regional and subregional issues; and provide guidance to the technical and policy work at regional and country level in relation to their work on food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture development.

Key Results

Leadership and conceptual thinking for the development and implementation of comprehensive technical, statistical and/or analytical frameworks to support the programme of work and related products, projects and services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Manages or leads highly specialized or multidisciplinary teams and provides technical leadership in high-level policy analysis missions or projects, policy networks and/or international policy setting bodies.

• Leads the work carried out by technical or policy officers in the Regional Office in collaboration with colleagues from Subregional Offices and headquarters in relation to policy and governance work under the FAO Strategic Framework.

• Advocates strategic partnerships, best practices and policy dialogue in support of enhanced policies and governance for food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture and food systems.

• Interacts with UN Regional and Country Teams to improve cross-sectoral policies and strategies concerning agriculture, food security, nutrition and sustainable development.

• Engages with development partners, including international financial institutions, to advocate and strengthen the linkages between knowledge and policy work with investments in food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture and food systems.

• Analyses regional and country-level issues to provide input into the identification of country and regional priorities and requirements.

• Designs, implements and monitors regional and subregional policy work programmes and supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies.

• Plans, organizes and participates in capacity development activities involving the provision of technical advice and assistance, and oversees the development of related materials, on-line tools and information kits.

• Represents the Organization at international/inter-governmental meetings and conferences.

Specific Functions

• Analyses global, regional and country trends in agrifood systems for the provision of policy advice for strategy,planning and decision-making to FAO's member countries in the region.

• Identifies gaps, additional issues for consideration and proposes follow-up actions.

• Provides foresight and strategic analysis for FAO's work in the region based on recent and past developments, prospects, scenarios and projections from evidence-based reports, data, statistics and institutional sources.

• Plans and leads preparation of regional flagship publications such as the Asia-Pacific Regional Overview of State of Food Security and Nutrition, technical papers and regional strategy documents with relevant teams.

• Ensures high technical quality, of data, its analysis and the provision of evidence to build the case for policies and interventions to advance FAO's Priority Programme Areas (PPAs).

• Coordinates contributions to UN flagship and other reports and technical collaboration with regional UN and development agencies.

• Supports the development of programmes with a strong investment orientation and focus on acceleration towards achieving the SDGs.

• Acts as the technical focal person for Asia and Pacific Regional Conference (APRC) and other FAO Governing Bodies.

• Provides technical advice to the ADG/RR and DRR on multidisciplinary approaches, objectives and goals of the regional work programme including corporate flagship initiatives.
  
  

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics, development studies, political sciences, agricultural economics, or a related field relevant to the work and/or programme of the Organization.

• Ten years of relevant experience inpolicy advice and economic analysis relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes.

• 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

• Leading, Engaging and Empowering

• Communication

• Partnering and Advocating

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

• Strategic Thinking

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is essential.

• Good understanding of complex policy formulation processes.

• Extent and relevance of experience in food policy analysis and demonstrated experience in provision of policy, economic and strategic advice to senior management related to food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture and rural development.

• Extent and relevance of experience in planning, developing and implementation of field programmes/projects.

• Extent and relevance of experience in leading the plan and organization of international meetings, seminars and trainings.

• Experience in STATA, R, Python, General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS), or similar software.

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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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