Organizational Setting

FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO’s goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.

The Agrifood Economics and Policy Division (ESA) conducts economic research and policy analysis and 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) report and the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report. It also leads the technical work on the Roadmap to Achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 without breaching the 1.5C threshold.  It hosts the Technical Network on Poverty Analysis (THINK-PA) poverty analytical network.

The post of Senior Economist is located in the Policy Unit of the Agrifood Economics and Policy Division (ESA) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines
The Senior Economist reports to the Director, ESA.

Technical Focus
This position will lead a programme of work on policy monitoring, design and evaluation relevant to sustainability of agrifood systems with a focus on food security, nutrition and environmental issues. The work will utilize quantitative economic analysis to provide evidence-based support for sustainable agrifood policies and programmes including policy assistance at the country level. The programme of work is predicated on strategic partnerships with development agencies, donors and national governments.

Key Results
Leadership and conceptual thinking 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
•    Manages or leads highly specialized or multidisciplinary teams and provides technical leadership in high-level policy analysis missions or projects, policy networks and/or international policy setting bodies.
•    Leads the work carried out by technical or policy officers in the Regional Offices in collaboration with colleagues from Subregional Offices and headquarters in relation to policy and governance work under the FAO Strategic Framework.
•    Advocates strategic partnerships, best practices and policy dialogue in support of enhanced policies and governance for food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture and food systems.
•    Interacts with UN Regional and Country Teams to improve cross-sectoral policies and strategies concerning agriculture, food security, nutrition and sustainable development.
•    Engages with development partners, including international financial institutions, to advocate and strengthen the linkages between knowledge and policy work with investments in food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture and food systems.
•    Analyses regional and country-level issues to provide input into the identification of country and regional priorities and requirements.
•    Designs, implements and monitors regional and subregional policy work programmes and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies.
•    Plans, organizes and participates in capacity development activities involving the provision of technical advice and assistance and oversees the development of related materials, on-line tools and information kits.
•    Represents the Organization at international/inter-governmental meetings and conferences.

Specific Functions
•    Leads and contributes to the preparation of studies, reports, briefs, statements and other knowledge products on policy measurement, monitoring and impacts.
•    Designs and implements analytical frameworks to assess the impact of policies (ex-ante or ex-post) on food security, nutrition and environmental outcomes.
•    Designs and implements analytical frameworks to assess the impact of policies (ex-ante or ex-post) on consumers and producers’ incentives, choices and behaviors, with a focus on adoption practices.
•    Develops innovative approaches to link micro and macro analysis in order to capture the structural changes of policies.
•    Mentors staff members on the use and design of state-of-the-art microeconomic techniques.
•    Interacts with UN Regional and Country Teams to improve cross-sectoral policies and strategies concerning agriculture, food security, nutrition and sustainable development.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
•    Advanced university degree in economics, agricultural economics or a related field.
•    Ten years of relevant experience in quantitative economic analysis of policies, at the macroeconomic and/or microeconomic level.
•    Working knowledge ( proficiency – level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies
•    Results Focus
•    Leading, Engaging and Empowering
•    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.
•    Understanding of complex strategy and policy processes.
•    Extent and relevance of experience and knowledge of food security policies and institutions.
•   Extent and relevance of experience in policy analysis and advising relating to food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture and rural development and the adoption of new technologies or practices.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in planning and implementation of research programs in low- and middle-income countries.
•    Extent and relevance of knowledge and experience in working with inter-governmental bodies and multidisciplinary teams.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements