Economist

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall direction of the Director, EST and as member of one or more task teams, will analyse and monitor food security related policies and trends. In particular will:

• undertake economic analyses of the macroeconomic situation, agricultural food and trade policies, market trends, and food security and vulnerability-related trends, both at the national and household levels;

• monitor the crop and food security situation in some assigned developing countries analysing all relevant types of information bearing on food production, trade, stocks, demand and prices;

• Undertake economic research on the main factors affecting markets; analyse price, marketing and trade arrangements;

• develop special alerts/reports for issuance to the international community on specific and imminent food security issues that may require international assistance;

• participate in Crop and Food Security Assessment Missions to affected or vulnerable countries to assess the food supply, national basic food balance and food security situation, as well as localized deficits or surpluses which may require international assistance;

• interact at working level with government liaison officers for FAO’s Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS);

• prepare, assist, advise, and participate as required, in the formulation and implementation of technical assistance and development projects supporting national food security strategies and provide technical backstopping;

• brief FAO Representatives and their staff on methods of monitoring food security at the national level, and collaborate closely with them in improving the flow of information to the GIEWS;

• contribute to GIEWS’ regular reports: “Country Briefs”, “Crop Prospects and Food Situation”, “Food Outlook” and to ad hoc “Special Alerts/Reports”;

• perform other related duties as required.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Candidates should meet the following:

• Advanced university degree in economics, agricultural economics, or directly related area

• Five years of relevant experience in quantitative economic analysis related to agricultural development, trade policy, or food policy and food security (Ph.D. or equivalent degree may substitute for two years of required experience)

• Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two