Statistician (Food Security And Nutrition)

Job Posting Organization:
The Statistics Division (ESS) is a part of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Established to develop and advocate for methodologies and standards in data collection, validation, processing, and analysis, the ESS plays a crucial role in the food and agriculture statistics domains. The organization is dedicated to compiling, processing, and disseminating internationally comparable data while providing essential capacity building to member countries. The ESS also disseminates various publications, working papers, and statistical yearbooks that cover a wide range of topics related to agriculture and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security statistics, including prices, investments, production, trade, and agri-environmental data. The Director of ESS also serves as the Chief Statistician of FAO, ensuring governance of FAO's data and statistical system, fostering consistency within the Strategic Framework, and promoting statistical excellence through the implementation of standards and quality assurance mechanisms. The ESS is committed to enhancing FAO's presence in global data and statistical discussions.

Job Overview:
The Statistician (Food Security and Nutrition) will be an integral part of the Food Security and Nutrition Statistics team within the Statistics Division. This role involves coordinating the implementation of projects aimed at generating valid and reliable food security and nutrition statistics, which are essential for monitoring frameworks, classification systems, and evaluation assessments. The incumbent will work to address data gaps and provide technical support to national and regional institutions, thereby strengthening their capacity for accurate reporting of food security and nutrition statistics. The position will manage two key initiatives: one focused on producing reliable information to guide policies and interventions aimed at ending hunger and malnutrition, and the other aimed at improving the affordability of healthy diets. The role requires a strong emphasis on evidence-based policies and interventions, particularly in humanitarian response contexts. The Statistician will also provide technical and managerial leadership in food security and nutrition statistics, overseeing the design, implementation, and quality assurance of statistical programs and projects, while contributing to capacity development and global monitoring activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Statistician include planning and leading components of multidisciplinary teams, participating in organization-wide committees, and providing specialized expertise on international technical networks. The incumbent will coordinate the collection, review, processing, and analysis of key social, economic, and environmental indicators, utilizing both traditional statistical methods and data science techniques. The role involves designing and developing improved technical, statistical, and analytical tools, as well as conducting research and data collection to support the development of technical standards and methodologies. The Statistician will also coordinate the production of technical reports and provide input for flagship publications. Additionally, the role includes capacity development services, planning and organizing training workshops, and facilitating collaboration across FAO units and with external partners. The incumbent will support resource mobilization activities and promote international cooperation and knowledge sharing.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in statistics, mathematics, economics, agricultural economics, or a related field. A minimum of seven years of relevant experience in food security and nutrition statistics is required, including experience in the design, implementation, and quality assurance of statistical programs and projects. Candidates should also have experience in methodological development, indicator production, and coordination with national, regional, and international partners. A working knowledge of English (proficiency - level C) and intermediate knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is mandatory.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in a relevant field such as statistics, mathematics, economics, or agricultural economics. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of food security and nutrition statistics and for effectively contributing to the development of methodologies and standards in this area.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of seven years of relevant experience in the field of food security and nutrition statistics. This experience should encompass the design, implementation, and quality assurance of statistical programs and projects, as well as methodological development and capacity building. Experience in coordinating with national, regional, and international partners is also crucial for this role.

Languages:
The position requires a working knowledge of English at proficiency level C and intermediate knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) at level B. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, enhancing communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position is based at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. It is essential for candidates to demonstrate strong competencies in results focus, teamwork, communication, building effective relationships, and knowledge sharing. Technical and functional skills in statistical methods, data analysis, and survey methodology are also critical. The role may involve resource mobilization activities and requires the ability to work effectively in diverse environments and locations.