Economist Lazio

Economist
Roma
Lazio, Lazio

Job Posting: 07/Oct/2024 Closure Date: 21/Oct/2024, 4:59:00 PM Organizational Unit: ESA - Agrifood Economics and Policy Division Job Type: Non-staff opportunities Type of Requisition: Consultant / PSA (Personal Services Agreement) Grade Level: N/A Primary Location: Italy-Rome Duration: Up to 11 months (renewable) Post Number: N/A IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device - 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 person 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 Organizational Setting The Agrifood Economics and Policy Division (ESA) conducts economic research and policy analysis to support 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.

ESA provides evidence-based support to national, regional and global policy processes and initiatives related to monitoring and analysing food and agricultural policies, agribusiness and value chain development, rural transformation and poverty, food security and nutrition information and analysis, resilience, bioeconomy, and climate-smart agriculture.

The division also leads the production of two FAO flagship publications: The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) and The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI).

The post is located at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, in the sustainable markets, agribusiness and rural transformations (i SMART) team within ESA.

The focus of the i SMART team is on the economic analysis of the actors and their functions in agrifood systems, examining how factors such as market demand and supply, prices, government policies, digital innovations, vulnerability and capacity of actors, and environmental factors affect processes of inclusion, resilience, risk, sustainability, and transformation of Agrifood value chains.

Successful candidates may be placed to similar positions within the organisation.

Reporting Lines The Economist reports to the Senior Economist (i SMART), ESA, under the overall supervision of the Director, ESA.

He/she will also be reporting, through ESA Management, to technical cooperation units as well as donors funding the programme.

Technical Focus The Economist will specialize in integrating risk analysis, econometric modelling, and impact evaluations and the study of agrifood value chains.

This intricate role calls for a robust, comprehensive understanding of the agrifood sector, augmented by strong quantitative and analytical abilities to propel innovative economic research, policy formulation, and strategic planning.

In developing countries, the incumbent will be tasked with complex economic situations, applying state-of-the-art econometric techniques and models, leveraging on different data sources (surveys, remote-sensing, big data, and machine-learning derived) to illuminate trends, risks, and opportunities present within the agrifood sector.

This complex task involves a deep exploration of agrifood value chains, which in developing regions often pose unique challenges due to various economic, social, and environmental factors.

Tasks and responsibilities Using econometrics and modelling tools, the Economist will examine aspects related to risk, resilience, food security, and rural poverty in developing countries' agrifood systems.

This role aims to shape policies enhancing the agrifood system resilience, boosting food security, and alleviating rural and urban poverty.

Economic Research and Analysis: Conduct research and analysis on economic issues, trends, and policies.

Utilize quantitative research methods to gather and interpret data.

Model Development and Data Analysis: Prepare and update the country situation analysis report of FAO member countries by identifying and compiling relevant data and preparing data tables, charts and analysis as essential input to the report.

Create robust economic models to better understand current economic patterns and dynamics.

Utilize statistical software for comprehensive data analysis and interpretation, thereby unveiling significant economic indicators and relationships.

Develop economic models to predict future economic trends.

Use statistical software for data analysis and interpretation.

Policy Analysis and Development: Assess existing agrifood policies and providing valuable contributions towards suggesting enhancements, grounded in sound economic theories and evidence-based research findings.

Advisory: Provide advice and recommendations to policymakers, businesses, and other stakeholders based on research findings.

Risk and Uncertainty Analysis: In the context of the i SMART team, assess the risks and uncertainties faced by agrifood systems in developing countries, such as natural disasters, price and market crises and policy fluctuations.

Conduct statistical and economic analysis to understand the potential impacts and develop strategies to manage and mitigate these risks.

Food Security Analysis: Assess the factors influencing food security in FAO member countries, include access to nutritious and affordable food, agricultural productivity, value chain efficiency, and policy frameworks.

Conduct economic analysis to inform policies and interventions that enhance food security and reduce hunger and malnutrition.

Value Chain Development in Developing Countries: Analyse value chains in developing countries to identify opportunities for upgrading, diversification, and inclusion of smallholder farmers and marginalized actors.

Developing economic models and strategies to enhance value chain efficiency, market access, and income generation for actors along the value chain.

Investment prioritization in selected territories: Employ quantitative analysis to aid in discerning and selecting the most strategic and impactful investment opportunities within specified territories.

These expanded functions emphasize the importance of addressing risks and uncertainties, building resilience, tackling rural poverty, and improving food security within the context of developing countries.

The i SMART team plays a crucial role in conducting economic analysis, providing evidence-based insights, and developing policies and interventions to address these challenges and promote sustainable and inclusive agrifood systems in these regions.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING Minimum Requirements - Advanced university degree in economics, econometrics, agricultural economics, development economics, statistics, mathematics, or a related field.

- At least one year of relevant experience for Category C, five years for Category B and ten years for Category A in economic quantitative analysis of agrifood system, including experience with advanced econometric models, management of large datasets, research on food security and rural poverty, resilience and vulnerability, and practical application in policy formulation and strategic investment prioritization within the agrifood sector, particularly in developing countries.

- Working knowledge (full proficiency, level C) of English.

FAO Core Competencies - Results Focus - Teamwork - Communication - Building Effective Relationships - Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement Technical/Functional Skills - Extent and relevance of experience in applied research in the field of risk and agrifood systems, including experience in preparation of papers and/or reports for publication.

- Extent and relevance of experience in economic and policy analysis of issues in agrifood systems and food security at a national, regional and/or global scale.

- Extent and relevant experience and knowledge of the main data sources for analysing the agrifood systems, and of data compilation, validation, visualisation, and analysis.

- Extent and relevance of experience in conducting quantitative economic analysis, economic modelling, and applying econometric techniques in one or more of the relevant subject areas above.

- Quality of both oral and written communication in English, including the ability to write clearly and concisely for publications.

- Demonstrated ability to manage, analyse, and present quantitative information clearly and effectively.

- Proficiency in using statistical software, especially R, SPSS, STATA or similar software.

- Capacity to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams with minimal supervision and to plan workflows so as to meet tight deadlines.

Selection Criteria - Intermediate proficiency (level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is a plus.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing) - Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list - Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The list can be accessed at http://www.whed. net/ - For more information, visit the FAO employment website - Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

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