Economist (Price Monitoring and Analysis)

Organizational Setting

The Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture (GIEWS), based in the Markets and Trade Division (EST), continuously monitors the food supply and demand and other key indicators for assessing the overall food security situation in all countries of the world. It issues regular analytical and objective reports on the prevailing conditions and provides early warnings of impending food crises at country or regional level. At the request of national authorities, GIEWS supports countries in gathering evidence to inform policy decisions and planning by development partners, through its Crop and Food Security Assessment Missions (CFSAMs), fielded jointly with WFP. In country-level application of tools for earth observation and price monitoring, GIEWS also supports countries in building and strengthening national capacities in managing food security related information.

Reporting Lines

The Consultant/PSA will report to the Senior Economist/Team Leader of the Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture (GIEWS).

Technical Focus

Under the overall guidance of the Senior Economist/Team Leader of the GIEWS and the day-to-day supervision of the GIEWS Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Coordinator, the Consultant/PSA will contribute to GIEWS/ FPMA activities, which include: the collection of relevant country-level price data; the preparation of regular analytical appraisals of food price trends at the international, regional, national and sub-national level, and technical support to countries to strengthen national capacities in food price monitoring and analysis. The incumbent will be expected to work with a high degree of initiative and, when required, to liaise with FAO representatives, FAO regional offices, international partner agencies and other relevant stakeholders.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Review the status of FPMA database to identify price data gaps in terms of country, market, commodity coverage and timeliness.
• For countries already included in the FPMA database, research, identify and advise on the possibilities to expand the geographic coverage sub-nationally with additional representative markets and/or to enrich the commodity coverage to include non-staple foods items that constitute nutritious foods.
• Research and identify alternative sources of domestic food price data to expand country/commodity/market coverage in the FPMA database, in liaison with FAO country offices, government agencies, partner international agencies or any other relevant potential data sources.
• For newly identified data sources: select relevant markets and commodities to collect for the FPMA database, build historical datasets and ensure a process for subsequent regular updating is set up.
• Compile updated list of FPMA data sources, including details of data format and process for data acquisition.
• Contribute to FPMA country capacity building activities, including supporting implementation of the FPMA Tool in countries and providing training on administration and use of the tool.
• Perform other related duties, as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• For Consultants: University Degree in Economics, Agricultural Economics or related field.
  For PSAs: University Degree in Economics, Agricultural Economics or related field.
• For Consultants/PSA level C: at least one year of relevant professional experience in economic analysis and food security monitoring in developing countries.
• For Consultants/PSA, level B: at least five years of relevant professional experience in economic analysis and food security monitoring in developing countries.
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the other languages of the Organization (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese or Russian) for Consultants. Working knowledge of English for PSA.