Technical Specialist (SCOPE)

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that focuses on 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.

FAO is actively engaging in UN country level repositioning for SDG achievement, participating in the negotiation and formulation, as well as in the annual updates, of Common Country Assessments (CCA) and United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCF). In this context, the Organization, under the technical leadership of the Economic and Social Development stream and in close coordination with other headquarters technical units and regional offices, is implementing a mechanism for scaling up the needed human resource analytical and technical expertise in support of the CCA/UNSDCF process at country level. The mechanism will leverage ongoing processes and initiatives already identified within the Organization and draw upon the most sophisticated tools available, including advanced geo-spatial modeling and analytics. The effort will draw upon FAO’s specialized tools and analytical methodologies, including sectoral, to propose specific solutions tailored to the country needs and potentials, to ensure a robust UNSDCF Theory of Change.

As part of the SCOPE, technical assistance is required to improve data and conduct economic scenario analyses. These analyses aim to support proposals for implementing appropriate policy instruments, defining their optimal mix of and develop investment recommendations tailored to specific contexts. The quantitative assessment will ultimately support countries in selecting the most appropriate pathways to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Reporting Lines

The technical specialist reports to the Director of Technical Units at FAO Headquarters, under the overall guidance of the relevant Regional Programme Leaders (RPL).

Technical Focus

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the HQ Director, the global senior coordinator of the initiative and the relevant Regional Program Leader (RPL), he/she will support the FAO regional office and the country offices by coordinating technical support on macroeconomic modelling and forecasting as part of the CCA/UNSDCF analytical support mechanism. In particular, FAO is looking for experts in one or several of the following areas of expertise:

•     Proven experience in agrifood systems policy analysis and advocacy at national and regional levels.
•     Expertise in modeling and quantitative foresight analyses of agrifood systems’ multidimensional sustainability.
•     Strong background in applied statistics, econometrics, data science, and use of big and geospatial data for policy support.
•     Proficient in numerical computing and modeling tools, including Python, Stata, R, and GAMS.
•     Experience with qualitative data research using AI-assisted tools.
•     Demonstrated ability to prepare clear, evidence-based technical and analytical documentation.

Tasks and responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of FAO technical divisions, the Senior Global Coordinator of SCOPE, and Regional Offices, the candidate will contribute to strengthening FAO’s analytical capacity to support agrifood systems transformation within the UN programming framework. The following tasks will be performed:

•     Contribute to the preparation of country situation analyses and analytical deep-dives that inform FAO’s inputs to the Common Country Analysis (CCA) and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), as well as National Action Plans and Pathways on Agrifood System Transformation, providing advisory support to country offices on strategic and policy implications. 
•     Identify support needs and capacity gaps of country offices related to analytical work on CCA and UNSDCF, proposing coordinated solutions and guidance in collaboration with regional teams.
•     Analyse structural and emerging challenges affecting agrifood systems — including economic, social, and environmental dimensions — in the context of the 2030 Agenda and FAO’s Four Betters framework (Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment, Better Life), providing consultative recommendations for policy and programmatic decisions.
•     Conduct analytical work leveraging quantitative, qualitative and geospatial data, FAO tools, and methodologies to assess the state, dynamics, and policy context of agrifood systems at national and regional levels, contributing to integrated diagnostics and policy analyses that identify entry points for transformative change, evaluate trade-offs and synergies across objectives and sectors, and propose evidence-based options for policy dialogue, investment prioritization and FAO’s strategic engagement with governments and UN partners.
•     Identify and retrieve relevant data sources at national level (macro, meso, or micro), ensuring quality control, validation, and harmonization across domains; contribute to the State of Agrifood Systems Data Platform and to the development of metadata, data visualizations, and statistical summaries to support CCA and UNSDCF analyses and FAO’s broader data agenda, advising teams on analytical methodologies and innovations.
•     Support the use, adaptation, and further development of modelling, forecasting, or data-driven analytical tools to assess macroeconomic, sectoral, and micro-level implications of agrifood systems transformation, including impacts on income, employment, inequality, and sustainability providing specialized technical expertise.
•     Provide technical backstopping to FAO Country Offices in organizing, analysing, and interpreting data and evidence for their CCA contributions, strengthening their capacity to integrate agrifood systems perspectives into national-level strategies.
•     Work in a team with FAO’s policy, data, economic and nutrition experts (micro- and macroeconomists, statisticians, policy analysts) to develop integrated analytical approaches and ensure coherence across levels and disciplines, liaising extensively across divisions to ensure harmonized approaches.
•     Perform other related duties as required, including temporary, high-priority assignments where FAO requires specialized advisory or technical input, in line with the objectives of the Analytical Support Mechanism.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     Advanced university degree (MS or equivalent, PhD is desirable) in economics, agricultural economics, international trade, environmental sciences, public policy, data sciences or related fields 
•     Relevant experience in policy and economic analysis of food and agricultural issues using economy-wide modelling, in particular computable general equilibrium (CGE): 
Category B - at least 5 years of relevant experience
Category A - at least 10 years of relevant experience
•     Working knowledge (level C) of English

FAO Core Competencies

•     Results Focus
•     Teamwork
•     Communication
•     Building Effective Relationships
•     Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

The candidate will be assessed against one or several of the below skills:

•     Work experience in more than one location or area of work
•     Policy expertise and leadership on agrifood system transformation: Well-acquainted with FAO’s work as an Organization; strong record in communication, facilitation, senior management, and policy advocacy; demonstrated ability to translate analytical work into actionable policy advice and engage effectively with governments, UN counterparts, and other stakeholders.
•     Macroeconomic, microeconometric, and modeling skills: Extensive experience in undertaking macro- and micro-level analyses of agrifood systems using benchmarked quantitative and modeling approaches, including FAO’s specialized tools and socioeconomic methodologies in partial and general equilibrium; proficiency in scenario analysis, forecasting, and the use of AI and machine learning for data-driven assessments.
•     Statistical and data competencies: Strong command of statistical methods, including descriptive and inferential statistics, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, ANOVA, chi-square tests, and maximum likelihood estimation; practical experience in survey design, sampling, and data validation; proficient in R, Python, GAMS, STATA, SPSS, and related software.
•     Geospatial and data management skills: Proven ability to integrate geospatial analysis and data visualization into agrifood systems assessments; experience in managing, compiling, validating, analysing, and disseminating statistical and geospatial data through digital platforms and metadata systems.
•     Substantive knowledge of agrifood systems: Broad understanding of the social, economic, and political dimensions of agrifood systems, sustainable agriculture, rural development, and food security in the region; sound technical and political judgment, and ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary and decentralized teams.
•     Analytical and communication capacity: Excellent analytical and writing skills, with demonstrated experience drafting high-quality technical reports and publications in English; proficiency in an additional UN language is a strong asset.