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 member countries. The Division is responsible for the permanent improvement, methodological development and implementation of its statistical processes in the corporate Statistical Working System (SWS).ย
Within Statistics Division, the Methodological Innovation Team is responsible for the development of methods, standards, tools, norms, and classifications used mainly within the organization with the objective to improve the efficiency of FAOโs statistical system and the quality of its output. The Statistical Working System (SWS) is an essential tool for the improvement and harmonization of FAO statistical processes that is strategic to the delivery of the corporate statistics work programme.ย
Reporting Lines
Consultants and PSA subscribers will work under the immediate supervision of one or more Team Leaders, and the general oversight of the Director and the Deputy Director of ESS. They may be called upon to collaborate with other FAO Divisions and teams.
Technical Focusย
Consultants and PSA subscribers will work on establishing methods and standards to improve the efficiency of corporate statistical processes and the quality of statistical outputs in one or more of the following statistical domains:
โข ย ย Food balance sheets and Supply Utilization Accounts (agricultural production, trade, stocks, and other utilization statistics)
โข ย ย Crops, livestock, forestry or fishery statistics;ย
โข ย ย Food security and nutrition statistics;
โข ย ย Prices, costs of production, investment and public expenditure statistics;
โข ย ย Agro-environmental statistics including Fertilizers, Pesticides and Land Use;
โข ย ย Climate change relevant statistics and indicators, including GHG emissions;
โข ย ย Land cover/land use statistics and crop mapping/area estimates;
Tasks and responsibilities
In one or more of the above-mentioned statistical domains, Consultants and PSA subscribers will contribute to and/or take responsibility for one or more of the following tasks:
โข ย ย Support the methodological development of FAO statistical processes to improve data processing, data analysis, disaggregation methods, imputation of missing data, data validation, testing methodologies and quality control. The statistical processes will be used in the corporate Statistical Working System (SWS) to underpin FAOโs statistical data production.
โข ย ย Proficiently use statistical software languages (particularly R) on a sufficient level to program the statistical methods and processes,ย
โข ย ย Carry out tests, data analysis and validation.
โข ย ย Support metadata improvements.ย
โข ย ย Archive, communicate and disseminate statistical products
They will perform other related duties as required.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
โข ย ย University degree in statistics, data science, economics, social sciences, environmental sciences, or a related and relevant field.
โข ย ย At least 1 year of relevant experience for PSA subscribers and at least 3 years of relevant experience for COF consultants in the compilation, analysis and methodological development of food and agricultural statistics in national or international organizationsย
โข ย ย Working knowledge of English (level C).
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
Technical/Functional Skillsย
โข ย ย Extent and length of knowledge and experience in performing the above-mentioned tasks and responsibilities in relevant statistical fields
โข ย ย 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 designย
โข ย ย Highly advanced statistical skills and R-programming skills and as well as the ability to quickly master and apply new methodsย
โข ย ย Ability to make recommendations and advise decision-makers on highly technical issues
โข ย ย General understanding of databases and complex technological systems
โข ย ย Ability to understand statistical producer requirementsย
โข ย ย Ability to design a module architecture
โข ย ย Effective collaborator, in particular familiar with Git
โข ย ย Ability to draft quickly, clearly and concisely and to communicate effectively in English
โข ย ย Limited knowledge of a second UN language would be an asset
โข ย ย Ability to work independently, with minimum supervision, assume initiative and to multi-task
โข ย ย Previous working experience with FAO and its partners in the above-mentioned statistical domains and tasks
โข ย ย Experience in the provision of technical assistance to countries and/or professional experience in national statistical services
โข ย ย Focus on delivery and on meeting tight deadlines.