Economist

1L091L09

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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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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 Agrifood Economics Division (ESA) conducts economic research and policy analysis and provides evidence-based support to national, regional and global policy processes and initiatives related to monitoring and analysing food and agricultural policies, agribusiness and value chain development, rural transformation and poverty, food security and nutrition information and analysis, resilience, bioeconomy, and climate-smart agriculture. The Division also leads the production of two FAO flagship publications: The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) and The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI).
The post is located at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, in the ESA team that coordinates and contributes to The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) report.
Reporting Lines
The Economist reports to the Senior Economist (Editor of The State of Food and Agriculture)
Technical Focus
The Economist will conduct economic analysis on a broad range of issues pertaining to the functioning of agrifood systems, including their sustainability and resilience, as well as their role in rural development and food security and nutrition. The analysis will provide evidence-based support to and feed into the preparation of the annual FAO flagship publication The State of Food and Agriculture. The Economist will work in close collaboration and coordination with other FAO technical units.
Key Results
Comprehensive technical, statistical, analytical and/or policy analysis services and the development of specialized tools, methodologies, systems and/or databases to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of the programme of work and related products, projects, publications and services.

Key Functions
• Plans and leads components of multi-disciplinary teams and short term work groups, leads and/or participates in Divisional teams, participates in Organization-wide committees, project teams and working groups and provides specialized expertise on international technical networks and or technical policy and standard setting bodies.
• Develops technical, statistical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks, and related tools, methodologies, systems and databases etc. to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of the programmes of work, products, projects and services.
• Designs and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative tools and methodologies, flagship publications/technical reports and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical specialist and/or policy advice and expertise.
• Responds to requests and provides technical/policy advice, assistance and solutions to Regional, Subregional and Country Offices and provides technical backstopping to field projects.
• Promotes international cooperation and collaboration, advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue, and provides technical expertise at international meetings and conferences.
• Collaborates in capacity development activities involving knowledge sharing, the organization of training workshops, seminars and meetings, as well as the development of related materials and on-line tools and information kits.
• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with Corporate Strategy and Divisional plans.

Specific Functions
• Supports the SOFA team leader in planning and managing the preparation of The State of Food and Agriculture, including drafting and then revising the report based on expert inputs.
• Contributes to the development of the evidence base that supports the preparation of the SOFA report.
• Prepares briefs relating to the themes addressed in the SOFA report and other issues pertaining to any aspect of relevance to agrifood systems, agricultural and rural development, and food security and nutrition.
• Prepares journal articles and other written materials based on the SOFA report and underlying analysis and presents at professional conferences and in other relevant fora
• Supports the SOFA team leader in disseminating through social media the evidence generated by the SOFA team.
• Liaises with other FAO teams and external partners as necessary for the preparation of the SOFA.
• Supervises junior staff, consultants and interns as required.
• Performs other duties as required.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in economics, agricultural economics or a related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in economic and quantitative analysis of food and agricultural issues, natural resources use, agricultural and rural development or related areas.
• Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - 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.
• Extent and relevance of experience and knowledge of applied research on major issues relating to food, agriculture, and rural development.
• Extent and relevance of written publication record, including high-profile consensus reports, working papers, journal articles and short publication for generalist audiences.
• Extent and relevance of experience in economic and policy analysis of relevance to agrifood systems, agricultural and rural development, and food security and nutrition, at a national or global scale, and related issues.
• Extent and relevance of experience in conducting quantitative economic analysis, economic modeling, and applying econometric techniques in one or more of the relevant subject areas above.
• Demonstrated ability to manage, analyze, and present quantitative information clearly and effectively.
• Familiarity with econometric packages, such as Stata or R, as well as with geographic information systems (GIS) is desirable.