Economist (Commodities)

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Organizational Setting

The Markets and Trade Division (EST) monitors and analyses developments and trends in international regional and national agricultural commodity markets and the factors affecting them collecting and disseminating up-to-date and comprehensive market and policy information for the major traded commodities and those important to food security. It also undertakes forward-looking outlook studies. The Division analyses issues that affect global food and agricultural markets and trade including analysis of trade policies and agreements and provides technical support and capacity development to FAO Members in all these areas. Through its Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture (GIEWS) the Division is responsible for FAOs early warnings on food shortfalls and food security problems. EST is also responsible for the production of FAO flagship publication The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO)and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - FAO (OECD-FAO) Agricultural Outlook. The Division houses the secretariats of the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP) and its subsidiary Intergovernmental Groups (IGGs) the G20 Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) and the World Banana Forum (WBF).

The post is located in the Basic Foodstuffs Team Markets and Trade Division (EST) at FAO headquarters in Rome Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Economist (Commodities) reports to the responsible Senior Economist (Commodity Markets)/Team Leader under the overall guidance of the Director EST.

Technical Focus

The Economist (Commodities) will contribute to the Divisions work on food commodities including data collection and validation market monitoring and assessment short- and medium-term market outlook and price and policy analysis.

Key Results

Research and analysis of information data and statistics and the maintenance and updating of related tools methodologies and/or databases to support the delivery of programme products projects publications and services.

Key Functions

• Researches and analyses (agricultural economic trade market social environmental nutrition/food composition and/or gender related) data statistics and information to provide technical statistical and/or policy related information and analysis to support the delivery of economic and social development programmes work products projects publications and services.

• Produces a variety of technical reports and input for technical documents divisional publications and/or web pages.

• Provides technical statistical and/or analytical services on various studies projects and/or assessments and provides technical backstopping to field projects.

• Participates in the development of improved/updated technical statistical and/or analytical tools methodologies systems databases and/or key social/ economic/ environmental/ nutritional and/or early warning indicators etc.

• Participates in multi-disciplinary teams collaborates with other Divisions/Offices/Centres on work groups and committees and promotes best practices.

• Collaborates in capacity development activities involving the planning and organizing of training workshops seminars and major meetings and the preparation of related information materials on-line tools and information kits.

• Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences and influences partners in stakeholder consultations.

• Participates in resource mobilization activities.

Specific Functions

• Leads the collection and validation of national production trade consumption stocks and price statistics for food commodities in selected countries/regions and manages the system of country balance sheets used to generate supply demand and trade estimates and forecasts.

• Monitors and analyses the global markets for food commodities; and prepares market assessments for the Food Outlook report price commentaries for the monthly FAO Food Price Index and market intelligence papers notes and briefs.

• Conducts analytical studies on commodity markets and related policies and on cross-commodity issues including linkages with animal protein markets.

• Monitors policies and industry measures affecting the markets and related sectors; contributes to the divisional commodity policies database; and prepares notes and briefs on key policy developments and emerging issues.

• Participates in the generation of medium-term projections for commodities and contributes to the preparation of the annual OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)-FAO Agricultural Outlook report.

• Prepares papers technical notes and policy briefs on various economic aspects related to the commodities under coverage.

• Provides strategic advice and insights on the commodities under coverage.

• Develops and contributes to the development of project proposals for raising external voluntary contributions.

• Performs other tasks and duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent) in economics agricultural economics or a related field.

• Five years of relevant experience in economics agricultural economics qualitative and quantitative economic analysis of agricultural markets trade and related policies.

• 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

• Teamwork

• Communication

• Building Effective Relationships

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work particularly in field positions is desirable.

• Extent and relevance of experience in commodity market monitoring and assessment outlook studies and projections.

• Extent of knowledge of global food commodity markets.

• Experience in analysing meat or dairy markets an asset.

• Proven ability to conduct analysis of production consumption stocks trade and prices of agricultural commodities and prepare analytical reports and studies.

• Extent of knowledge of relevant analytical tools and software packages including in handling large datasets and conducting price and policy analysis.

• Experience in providing policy support to countries.

• Experience in organizing international meetings seminars and workshops.

• Relevance of experience in working in multidisciplinary teams.

• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills.