Economist

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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 person 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

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia Office (REU) is to assist governments in the region to develop policies, programs and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

FAO-REU has developed a Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) aimed at providing support to the most affected countries in the region in getting better prepared to address the consequences of the crisis on national food security stemming from the ongoing war in Ukraine. The TCP project is focused particularly on the Black Sea region, Central Asia, the Caucasus and Western Balkans.

With reference to the above project, FAO is looking for an International Expert – Economist to support the implementation of the TCP project by conducting/coordinating the policy dialogues in the Region and development of Policy Briefs.

Reporting Lines

This position is under the overall supervision of the Project`s Budget Holder (BH) and the direct technical supervision of the Senior Policy Officer in FAO’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU) – Project`s Lead Technical Officer (LTO).

Technical Focus

The International Expert – Economist will support the Lead Technical Officer in the implementation of the Project, in close collaboration with members of the REU Working Group (WG) on Regional Impacts of the Ukraine Crisis, the consultant will support FAO efforts to address the requests made by FAO members at the Thirty-third Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Europe (ERC 33) related to the implications on food security and agriculture arising from the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Contributes to the early implementation (drafting Terms of Reference for consultants, etc.) of a Regional Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) that contributes to responding to the requests made by FAO members at ERC33, regarding the implications of the war in Ukraine on regional food security;
• Provides technical backstopping for the design of methodologies and tools that explore the consequences of the crisis on food security, including those by TCP Service Providers;
• Organizes and facilitates two regional dialogues with stakeholders on policy options to address risks to food security in selected countries;
• Produces two policy briefs on addressing immediate (1) and future risks (1) to food security for the most vulnerable countries in the region.
• Provides technical support to the weekly News Briefs and other information products by the REU-Working Group (WG) on the regional implications of the conflict, when needed;
• Contributes to the review and provides feedback on technical documents produced by third parties (including from FAO HQs) that require revision by the REU-WG;
• Contributes to the identification and formulation of projects at regional and country level related to the consequences of the war in Ukraine on food and agriculture, as needed.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree in economics, agricultural economics, international development studies, or a related field of knowledge;
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience working in the agriculture sector, preferably in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus or Central Asia;
• Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other FAO languages (Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic, or Russian). For PSA, only working knowledge of one FAO language is required. Knowledge of the Russian language is an asset.

FAO Core 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 data analysis and policy formulation in agriculture;
• Ability to plan and organize own work, deliver results and meet deadlines
• Ability to write clear and concise technical documents
• Ability to perform well in cross-disciplinary teams
• Excellent oral and written communication skills

Selection Criteria

• Proven experience data/ information collection and research and analysis;
• Extent and relevance of experience in technical fields related to designing of methodologies and tools for analysis of food security crisis;
• Experience in designing policy recommendations and drafting policy briefs;
• Capacity to write documents and reports in a clear and concise manner;
• Strong writing skills in English language.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency