Food Security Statistician

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• 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 member nations, 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 our values. FAO has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and FAO, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination
• All selected candidates, therefore, will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization

Organizational Setting

The Statistics Division (ESS) develops and advocates for the use of sound methodologies and standards for data collection, processing, validation, and analysis of food and agriculture statistics. ESS also plays a vital role in the compilation, processing and dissemination of internationally comparable statistics and indicators, and enhances the capacity of member countries through national and regional workshops. In addition, the ESS disseminates many publications, working papers and statistical yearbooks, which cover agricultural and food security relevant statistics and indicators (including prices, production, trade and agri-environment). The Statistics Division is also involved in the management of several large-scale projects, aiming at improving statistical methodologies and establishing best practices for the collection, processing, dissemination and use of data relevant to food security, dietary supply, food and nutrient consumption, resilient food systems and agriculture.

Reporting Lines

The consultant or PSA subscriber in ESS will work under the immediate supervision of one or more Team Leaders of the Statistics Division, and the general oversight of the Director and the Deputy Director of the Division. He/she may be called upon to collaborate with other FAO Divisions and teams.

Technical Focus

Statistical methods for assessing, measuring and monitoring food security, including food and nutrient consumption.

Tasks and responsibilities

In one or more of the above-mentioned areas, the Consultant or PSA subscriber will contribute to and/or take responsibility for the following tasks:

o Support data collection activities related to food security;
o Process, analyse, interpret and report food security survey data with a specific focus on experience-based food security scales and Household Consumption and Expenditure Survey (HCES) data;
o Prepare survey specific nutrient conversion tables, based on Food Composition Tables/Databases, used to convert food quantities into nutrient equivalent;
o Provide technical assistance to countries and international institutions;
o Produce documentation and communication material on the methods used to estimate food security and food and nutrient consumption statistics and indicators, such as metadata, capacity development material, presentations, country briefs;
o Report writing on data analysis and results;
o Support data management activities, such as data preparation for publication on the Sustainable Development Goals portal or FAOSTAT;
o Support ESS in the production of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World publication;
o Liaise with counterparts involved in food security and nutrition monitoring; and
o Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements:

o University degree in statistics, mathematics, economics, nutrition or related technical field
o 3 years’ experience in the field of food security, and/or food and nutrient consumption analysis.
o Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish). In the case of PSA.SBS the working knowledge of English might be sufficient.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

o Relevant experience in performing the above-mentioned tasks and responsibilities in the domain of food security and/or food and nutrient consumption statistics assessment;
o Ability to communicate effectively, clearly and concisely in writing and speaking in English
o Ability to work independently, with minimum supervision
o Proficiency and flexibility in using statistical software. Knowledge of R and/or Stata is considered a strong asset.
o Knowledge on food matching and food composition is considered a strong asset.
o Working knowledge of French and/or Spanish is considered a strong asset.
o Work experience in more than one location or area of work is desirable.

Selection Criteria

o Relevance of the experience in performing the above-mentioned tasks and responsibilities
o Programming skills
o Communication skills

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency