Director, Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA)

• provide strategic vision, guidance and quality assurance for the Organization’s analytical, normative and policy advisory work on economic analysis of food security, rural development and sustainable resource management in the context of sustainable economic and rural transformation;

• establish the divisional mechanisms to assure coordination of ESA teams to provide policy support at country and regional level;

• lead and guide the work of the Organization on issues of the economic analysis of agricultural, food security, natural resource and rural policies  as well as on the linkages between agriculture and overall economic development; 

• monitor trends, events and emerging issues relevant to food and agricultural policy and food security and propose innovative approaches to analyse new areas of policy work relevant to the regions and countries within the Organization’s mandate;

• direct the preparation of analytical products on specific themes about food and agricultural policy as well as flagship publications on the ‘State of food and agriculture’ and on the ‘State of food insecurity’;

• ensure the inclusion of  economic analysis of issues related to agriculture food security and food systems policies in the Organization’s Programmes and Strategic Framework;

• prioritize and manage the planning, implementation, monitoring and quality control of divisional work plans and be accountable for the delivery of agreed products and services in support of FAO’s Strategic Framework;

• support and advise the ADG-ES and, as necessary, other Divisions/Offices at headquarters and the decentralized offices on areas related to the Division’s primary competence on policy analysis and support of policy processes;

• promote and develop analysis, in coordination with other ES technical units, of emerging issues to feed needs of FAO Director-General and high level authorities;

• lead and coordinate the provision of policy assistance and capacity development support to FAO member countries on issues of relevance to the Division’s work;

• maintain a motivated and effective work force and a results-oriented work environment;

• develop partnerships for collaborative work on areas relevant to the Division’s work;

• represent the Organization at high-level meetings and other events dealing with issues relevant to the Division’s mandate and areas of work;

• perform other duties and functions as required.

General Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Masters or PhD) in Economics, Social Sciences, Agricultural Economics or closely related fields;

• Demonstrated intellectual, managerial and technical leadership of a high order in the relevant subject areas;

• Extensive professional experience in the economic and socioeconomic analysis of agricultural, rural development or related policies in a developing country context;

• Relevant publications record in recognised journals and outlets;

• Extensive experience in providing support to policy processes at global and country level;

• Managerial experience, interpersonal and communication skills as demonstrated in leading and working effectively with large teams of people of different national and cultural backgrounds in an international environment;

• Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese or Russian.