Organizational Setting
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.
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. EST is also responsible for the production of FAO flagship publication The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO) and the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook. 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).ย
The Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture (GIEWS) continuously monitors the food supply and demand and other key indicators for assessing the overall food security situation in all countries of the world. It issues regular analytical and objective reports on the prevailing food production and food security conditions and provides early warnings of impending food crises at country and regional levels. GIEWS supports countries in building and strengthening national capacities in managing food security related information, including through the application of tools for earth observation and price monitoring.
Reporting Lines
The incumbent reports to the Senior Economist and Team Leader of the Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture (GIEWS).
Technical Focusย
Under the overall guidance of the Senior Economist and Team Leader of the GIEWS and in close collaboration with GIEWS officers, the incumbent will monitor and prepare analytical appraisals of the current and prospective food security situation in the assigned countries. The Economist will work on improving the collection and regular flow of basic data and information at country level and liaise with relevant national and international institutions and stakeholders dealing with food security information.
Tasks and responsibilities
โข ย ย Analyse the food supply/demand situation in the countries of assignment, monitor available information and collect data on crop prospects, food production and consumption, trade, stocks, prices and policies.
โข ย ย Maintain the Cereal Country Balance Sheets (CCBS) for assigned countries and regularly update other food security indicators.
โข ย ย Regularly update the GIEWS Country Briefs for the assigned countries.
โข ย ย Contribute to GIEWS main periodical publications (Crop Prospects and Food Situation report, Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) monthly bulletin), providing analyses for the region of the countries of assignment.
โข ย ย Prepare special GIEWS alerts/updates on specific imminent food crises in countries that may require international assistance.
โข ย ย For the countries of assignment, provide inputs to the GIEWS periodical reports carried out in collaboration with other organizations, such as the Food Security Information Network (FSIN) Global Report on Food Crises, the FAO-WFP Hunger Hotspot report and the Group on Earth Observations Global Agricultural Monitoring (GEOGLAM) Crop Monitor for Early Warning.
โข ย ย Participate in Crop and Food Security Assessment Missions (CFSAMs) and other types of missions to countries facing impending food crises to assess agricultural production and food supply/security situation.
โข ย ย Perform other related duties, as required.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
โข ย ย University degree in economics, agricultural economics or a related field.
โข ย ย At least three years of relevant experience in agriculture and food security analysis in developing countries.
โข ย ย Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
FAO Core Competencies
โข ย ย Results Focus
โข ย ย Teamwork
โข ย ย Communication
โข ย ย Building Effective Relationships
โข ย ย Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Selection Criteria
โข ย ย Extent and relevance of experience in food security monitoring and early warning systems in developing countries.
โข ย ย Extent and relevance of experience in economic analysis related to food security issues in developing countries.
โข ย ย Depth of familiarity with relevant information systems on food and agriculture and methods of monitoring food security.
โข ย ย Ability to use/interpret satellite-based data for monitoring crop production is desirable.
โข ย ย Work experience in an international environment, especially at field level in developing countries, is desirable.
โข ย ย Demonstrated ability to write clearly and concisely and to work under strict deadlines.