AMIS Commodity Market Analyst (vegetable oils)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

• 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 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO’s 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.

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. 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 position is located in the AMIS Secretariat. The call for expression of interest aims at identifying highly qualified and motivated candidates to support a small FAO-based team and the broader AMIS Secretariat consisting of 10 international organizations and entities (for more information on AMIS, please visit www.amis-outlook.org).

The position is located in the AMIS Secretariat, Markets and Trade Division, at FAO headquarters in Rome.

Reporting Lines

Working under the overall guidance of the EST Director, the commodity market analyst reports to the AMIS Secretary and AMIS Project Manager.

Technical Focus

AMIS monitors the market situation and short-term outlook of global food markets, particularly focusing on wheat, maize, rice and soybeans. The initiative was created by the G20 in 2011 with two principal objectives: (i) enhance transparency in global food markets by providing regular, accurate and timely information; and (ii) promote policy coordination among the main producing and consuming countries of the targeted crops, especially in times of market uncertainty.

With a view to strengthening and expanding AMIS analyses and outputs, the analyst will augment FAO and AMIS oilseed analysis through the monitoring and assessment of global vegetable oil markets, with a specific focus on soybean oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed (canola) oil and palm oil. Working in close collaboration with AMIS country focal points and relevant researchers from AMIS Secretariat member organizations, the analyst will build and maintain country balance sheets for each of the oils; prepare short- and medium-term forecasts; conduct policy analyses; and prepare technical reports. In addition, the analyst will track prices of the various vegetable oils in global benchmark markets and provide monthly updates on the vegetable oil market situation and outlook, for inclusion in the AMIS Market Monitor report, and support the AMIS Secretariat with market intelligence in vegetable oils.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Plans and leads components of multi-disciplinary teams and short-term work groups, leads and/or participates in divisional teams, participates in AMIS-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.
• Formulates the work plan of, and provides technical leadership for, AMIS’s work on global vegetable oil markets.
• Oversees the compilation and validation of national production, trade, consumption, stocks and price data for vegetable oils (mainly soybean oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed [canola] oil and palm oil); develops a system of country balance sheets to generate supply, demand and trade forecasts for each of these oils.
• Monitors and analyses global vegetable oil markets; and prepares market assessments for the AMIS Market Monitor reports, market intelligence notes, technical notes and policy briefs.
• Conducts analyses and studies on vegetable oil markets and related policies and on cross-commodity issues.
• Provides vegetable oil market intelligence; generates spreadsheets and other materials required for monthly aggregations; interacting with AMIS country focal points and colleagues in Secretariat member organizations; and provides technical feedback at AMIS webinars and other meetings.
• Monitors policies and industry measures affecting the vegetable oil markets and related sectors; contributes to the AMIS Policy Database; and prepares briefs on key policy developments and emerging issues.
• Provides capacity development support to countries, as required.
• Raises the visibility of AMIS on vegetable oil markets, including through participation in outside meetings and conferences; oversees the development and maintenance of relevant AMIS webpages; and handles requests for information, technical notes, briefs, speeches and presentations.
• 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 in economics, agricultural economics or a related field.
• Five years of relevant experience in qualitative and quantitative economic analysis of agricultural markets, trade and related policies.
• Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish). For PSA, working knowledge of English.

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.
• Extent and relevance of experience in commodity market monitoring and assessments and outlook studies; specific knowledge of vegetable oil markets.
• Proven ability to conduct analysis of production, consumption, stocks, trade and prices of agricultural commodities and prepare analytical market reports and policy studies.
• Extent of knowledge of relevant analytical tools and software packages, including in handling datasets.
• Experience in providing policy support to countries.
• Experience in organizing international meetings, seminars and workshops.
• Relevance of experience in working in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills.

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