Deadline For Application:13 March 2019
POSITION TITLE: Senior Economist (Food and Agricultural Policies)
GRADE LEVEL: P-5 DUTY STATION: Rome, Italy
ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT: Agricultural Development Economics Division, ESA
Economic and Social Development Department ES,
DURATION *: Fixed-term: 2 years with possibility of extension
POST NUMBER: 0782670
CCOG CODE: 1L09
The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments
• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender and nationality
• People with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization
Organizational Setting:
The Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA) conducts economic research and policy analysis related to all five of the Organization’s strategic objectives (food security, sustainable agriculture, poverty reduction, inclusive food systems and resilient livelihoods).ESA provides evidence-based analytical support to national, regional and global policy processes and initiatives related to food security and sustainable agriculture; and leads the production of three FAO flagship publications: The State of Food and Agriculture, The State of Food Insecurity in the World, and World Agriculture Towards 2030/50. ESA also leads large programmes at country level on the right to food, agricultural policy monitoring, climate smart agriculture, social protection, and food security information and analysis in support of national policies.
The post is located in the policy intelligence and support coordination unit in the Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA).
Reporting Lines
The Senior Economist reports to the Director, ESA.
Technical Focus
Through the provision of policy support, the Senior Economist will assist FAORs, governments and other national stakeholders in articulating agricultural policy reform options through rigorous analysis that incorporates country-specific political economic considerations, in order to support governments, among other actors, to assess, approve and implement informed policy choices. The Senior Economist will work in cooperation with other teams in the ES Department and in response to governmental requests.
Key Results
Leadership and conceptual design for the development and implementation of comprehensive technical, statistical and/or analytical frameworks to support the programme of work and related products, projects and services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework
Key Functions
Plans, manages, or leads highly specialized or multi-disciplinary teams, leads, coordinates, and/or participates on Organization-wide, cross-Departmental committees, project teams, and working groups, and/or provides technical leadership/secretariat services on technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies.
Implements and monitors work programmes involving the conception and development of comprehensive statistical and/or analytical frameworks including early warning, medium and long-term plans and strategies, leading edge tools, methods, systems and databases, critical indicators, and/or policy models, etc.
Oversees and reviews data collection, validation, analysis and reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovation, FAO flagship publications/yearbooks, and/or on-going programme development as well as technical and/or policy advisory services.
Responds to requests and provides technical/policy advice, assistance and solutions to Regional, Sub-Regional, 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
Plans, organizes and participates in capacity development activities involving the provision of advice, technical assistance projects, training workshops, seminars, and meetings as well as oversees the development of related materials, on-line toolkits etc.
Represents the Organization at international/inter-governmental meetings and conferences, advocates strategic partnerships, best practices, and increased policy dialogue and develops and negotiates effective working relationships/consensus and agreements with international and national partners.
Leads and/or participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the Corporate strategy.
Performs other duties as required.
Specific Functions
Provides technical and policy advice to selected countries in developing regions for the development and implementation of their programmes of work related to agricultural and food policy reforms options (ex ante and ex post analysis);
Leads the development of technical products, focusing on agricultural economic analysis and produces related evidencebased policy guidance and support in policies, food security, climate change, nutrition and trade
Collaborates with governmental officers in the preparation of agricultural policy reforms, agricultural strategies, rural policies and other relevant topics;
Oversees the formulation and implementation of policy engagement strategies to promote the uptake of technical policy analyses in national policy processes and dialogues;
Prepares recommendations for agricultural and food policy interventions based on economic analysis for the countries or regions of assignment;
Maintains close collaboration with other FAO units, FAO Representations as well as relevant national and international institutions;
Coordinates partnerships with non-government stakeholders, in particular with civil society organizations, donors, farmers’ organizations and the private sector, around specific policy issues;
Participates in the development of agricultural and food policy analysis methodologies;
Leads high-level policy meetings, roundtables or other events related to food and agricultural policy reform in developing countries.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
Advanced university degree in agricultural economics, economics, and policies or a related field with exposure to economic development, climate change, agricultural and food policy and markets
Ten years of relevant experience supporting developing countries on agricultural and food policies with focus on agricultural economics, food security, agrarian economy and rural development or related areas
Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian
Competencies
Results Focus
Leading, Engaging and Empowering Others
Communication
Partnering and Advocating
Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Strategic Thinking
Technical/Functional Skills
Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is essential
Extent and relevance of experience in agricultural and food policy analysis, sustainability, policy measurement, including quantitative and qualitative skills
Extent and relevance of experience in leading food and agricultural policy support projects at country level
Ability to draft in-depth analyses of sustainable agricultural and food policies in developing countries
Extent and relevance of experience in providing policy advice or leading advocacy activities in countries/regions including Africa, Latin America and Caribbean, Asia, Balkans and other developing countries
Extent and relevance of experience in making links with policies on climate change, poverty, trade and agricultural/food systems
Extent and relevance of experience in planning and conducting policy analysis related to productivity, poverty, food production, consumption, stocks, trade, policies and prices
Extent and relevance of experience in liaising and establishing collaborative arrangements with high-level local authorities and international organizations in relation to agricultural and food policies
Extent and relevance of experience in leading and/or participating in resource mobilization activities
Demonstrated experience in capacity development and training-related activities
Demonstrated capacity to coordinate country level activities in developing countries involving several partner institutions
Extent and relevance of experience in organizing international meetings, seminars and training courses
GENERAL INFORMATION
All candidates should possess computer/word processing skills
Candidates endorsed in the selection process for this vacancy announcement will be considered for the FAO Professional Employment Roster for a period of two years. The Roster is used to fill other similar positions at the same or lower grade, and in the same or another duty station
FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description.
CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/salary.htm
Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:
Dependency allowances
Rental subsidy
Education grant for children
Home leave travel
30 working days of annual leave
Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund
International health insurance; optional life insurance
Disability protection FAO encourages inclusive organizational culture and enabling environment. FAO applies measures in which all staff members contribute equally and in full to the work and development of the Organization. This includes:
elements of family-friendly policies flexible working arrangements standards of conduct
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, visit the recruitment website at https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=1900399 and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications and language skills.
Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile;
Once your profile is completed, please apply and submit your application;
Your application will be screened based on the information provided on your online profile;
Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list;
Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments;
Incomplete applications will not be considered;
Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered;
Vacancies will be removed from the recruitment portal at 23:59 Central European Time (CET) on the deadline for applications date;
We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date;
If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org
