Statistician

1M021M02

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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.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the 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 Statistics Division (ESS) develops, and advocates for the implementation of methodologies and standards for data collection, validation, processing and analysis of food and agriculture statistics. In these statistical domains, it also plays a vital role in the compilation, processing and dissemination of internationally comparable data, and provides essential capacity building support to Members. In addition, the Division disseminates many publications, working papers and statistical yearbooks, that cover agricultural and food security relevant statistics (including prices, investments, production, trade and agri-environmental statistical data).
The incumbent will support the final transition of the IFPRI Agricultural Science - Technology Indicators (ASTI) program to FAO and contribute to the development of the Agrifood Systems Technologies and Innovations Outlook (ATIO). S/he will be leading the implementation of the statistical component of project and oversee capacity development activities with a global network of collaborators that supply data to the ASTI dataset.
The post is located in the Statistics Division (ESS) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines
The Statistician reports to the Deputy Director, ESS.

Technical Focus
Leadership and conceptual thinking on the implementation of the statistical component of project, ensuring the technical improvement of the ASTI dataset and its institutionalization in the Statistics Division (ESS), in collaboration with the Office of Innovation (OIN) and the ATIO.

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 multidisciplinary teams and short-term work groups, leads and/or participates on Divisional teams, participates on Organization-wide committees, project teams, and working groups and provides specialized expertise on international technical networks and or technical policy and standard setting bodies.
• Coordinates the collection, review, processing and/or analysis of key social/economic/environmental/indicators, based on either traditional statistical methods/sources or on unstructured sources and data science methods to support the delivery of economic and social development programmes of work whether focused on products, projects, publications or services.
• Designs and develops improved/updated technical, statistical and/or analytical tools, systems and databases.
• Designs and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting in support of the development of
technical standards, international instruments, innovative tools and methodologies to be used within the Organization or by external stakeholders.
• Coordinates the production of a variety of technical reports and provides input in flagship publications, technical documents, Divisional publications and/or web pages.
• Coordinates and provides response to requests and provides technical and/or policy advice, assistance and solutions to Regional, Sub-regional, and Country Offices including technical backstopping of field projects.
• Coordinates and provides capacity development services, including the planning and organization of training workshops and seminars and the preparation of related information, materials, on-line tools and information kits.
• Coordinates the organization, conduct and follow-up of meetings, consultations and conferences, the development/production of required materials and the provision of information and assistance to partners.
• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with FAO Corporate Strategy and Divisional plans.
• Promotes international cooperation and collaboration, advocates best practices, knowledge sharing, increased policy dialogue, and provides technical expertise at international meetings and conferences.

Specific Functions
• In close coordination with the Office of Innovation (OIN), coordinates the statistical component of the project, with focus on the enhancement and the transition of the ASTI dataset to FAO with subsequent publication in FAOSTAT.
• Takes responsibility for driving the implementation of the statistical components of the project, monitoring the execution of the budget and ensure appropriate reporting.
• Ensures close coordination and synergies with other activities on the project, notably those carried out by OIN, and contributes to the aim of integrating ASTI into ATIO.
• Maintains and enhance the current ASTI network of collaborators, while improving its technical profile, and ability to deliver sound data for the ASTI.
• Contributes to the aim of integrating ASTI into ATIO.
• Coordinates and manages non-staff resources of the project.
• Takes stock of the status of the existing ASTI dataset and assess its features with a view to identifying areas of improvement.
• Leads the development, testing and validation of a renewed, standardized ASTI questionnaire.
• Assesses the list of ASTI counterparts at the national and regional level, with a view to revising and streamlining them while increasing the involvement of further official statistical institutions.
• Leads the preparation of capacity development materials and oversees capacity development activities, including seminars, workshops and tailored technical assistance in close collaboration with relevant national and regional ASTI counterparts with a view to establishing a standard FAO data collection mechanism.
• Ensures the quality and effectiveness of the capacity development activities.
• Implements the collection of ASTI data from the renewed collaboration with national and regional counterparts.
• Prepares an enhanced, improved and updated version of the global ASTI dataset using the FAO Statistical Working System and coordinates the publication of the ASTI dataset in FAOSTAT, ensuring data validation as well as the preparation of metadata and other materials required by the FAO ESS data dissemination policy.
• Performs other relevant duties as required.
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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in statistics, mathematics, economics, agricultural economics or a related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in the compilation and analysis of food and agricultural statistics in national or international organizations and in the coordination of high-level statistical publications and management of statistical dissemination platform.
• 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.
• Strong command of statistical methods including: data presentation, analysis and descriptive statistics; main continuous and discrete random variables (binomial, normal, standard normal, log-normal) and their properties; probability distributions; conditional probability, probabilities of intersections of events, Bayes' theorem; correlation and rank correlation; sampling and sample size: simple, stratified, and multistage random sampling; Inference, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing and significance; linear regression (single and multiple) comparison of population means and variances, ANOVA; Chi-square and goodness of fit tests; nonlinear models: maximum likelihood estimation; elements of survey and questionnaire design.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the compilation, validation and analysis of statistics.
• Extent and relevance of knowledge and experience in survey methodology.
• Extent and relevance of knowledge of the main data sources used for the compilation of food and agricultural statistics.
• Extent and relevance of knowledge and experience in software used for processing and analysing data.
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects and to deliver on a complex program of work, involving wide partnership.