Consultant for Livestock Economic Modelling

Job Posting Organization:
The Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is dedicated to assisting its member countries in developing sustainable livestock systems. Established to address global security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security and agricultural sustainability, the division plays a crucial role in hosting intergovernmental bodies, multi-stakeholder initiatives, and knowledge networks. It provides vital information and technical support to development efforts, including emergency preparedness and response. The division boasts expertise in various areas, including animal health, animal production and genetics, and livestock sector analysis and policy. The assignment is specifically within the Livestock Information, Sector Analysis and Policy Branch (NSAL), which focuses on delivering information services and conducting analyses to support technical and policy interventions aimed at achieving sustainable livestock systems while considering social, economic, and environmental goals. The incumbent will work within the Livestock Policy Lab (LPL) in NSAL, which provides evidence-based analytical support to national, regional, and global policy processes related to sustainable livestock practices.

Job Overview:
The position involves contributing to the design and implementation of an integrated modelling framework specifically aimed at assessing methane mitigation strategies within the dairy sector. A significant focus of this role is on Agent-Based Modelling (ABM), which simulates the behavior of various agents, including farmers, input suppliers, and regulators. The incumbent will evaluate how these agents' interactions influence the adoption and effectiveness of low-carbon technologies under different policy and economic scenarios. The model developed will generate insights into adoption dynamics, identify structural and behavioral barriers, and assess the system-wide impacts of various mitigation strategies. This role is critical in informing decision-making processes related to sustainable livestock transformation, ensuring that the insights derived from the modelling efforts are effectively communicated to stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will be responsible for a range of tasks, including:

• Designing and implementing an Agent-Based Model (ABM) to simulate the adoption and diffusion of methane mitigation technologies in the dairy sector.
• Developing behavioral rules for different types of agents, taking into account economic, social, and institutional drivers that influence their decisions.
• Integrating farm-level technical and economic data into the ABM framework, utilizing inputs from existing models where applicable.
• Conducting scenario analyses to evaluate the system-wide effects of policy interventions on technology uptake and emission outcomes.
• Contributing to the drafting of technical reports and policy briefs based on the results obtained from the ABM, aimed at informing decision-making processes regarding sustainable livestock transformation.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates will be assessed against several minimum requirements, which may vary depending on their profile and orientation. These include:

• An advanced university degree in economics, environmental economics, agricultural economics, bioeconomy, or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level degree with two additional years of relevant experience in the aforementioned fields.
• At least one year of relevant experience in livestock economic modelling for COF positions, or at least one year of experience in livestock economic modelling for PSA positions, with a first-level university degree.
• A working knowledge of English is essential for effective communication and collaboration within the organization.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in fields such as economics, environmental economics, agricultural economics, bioeconomy, or a related discipline. Candidates with a first-level degree must possess two additional years of relevant experience in the same fields to qualify. This educational foundation is crucial for understanding the complexities of livestock economic modelling and the broader implications for sustainable agricultural practices.

Experience:
The level of experience required for this position includes at least one year of relevant experience in livestock economic modelling. For candidates applying for COF positions, this experience should be directly related to the design and application of Agent-Based Models in the context of agriculture or livestock. For PSA candidates, a similar level of experience is expected, but with a first-level university degree. This experience is vital for ensuring that the incumbent can effectively contribute to the modelling efforts and provide valuable insights into the adoption of methane mitigation technologies.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English is mandatory for this position, as it is essential for communication within the FAO and with external stakeholders. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly if they are relevant to the regions where the FAO operates or where the modelling efforts will be applied. This multilingual capability can enhance collaboration and the dissemination of findings across diverse audiences.

Additional Notes:
The position is likely to be a consultancy role, with specific details regarding contract duration, seniority level, and whether it is full-time or part-time not explicitly mentioned in the job description. Candidates should be aware that the FAO may recruit internationally or nationally, depending on the specific needs of the organization and the qualifications of the applicants. Compensation and benefits details are typically provided during the interview process or upon selection.