The Statistics Division (ESS) develops and advocates for the implementation of methodologies and standards for data collection, validation, processing and analysis, in the food and agriculture statistics domains. In these statistical domains, it also plays a key role in the compilation, processing and dissemination of internationally comparable data, and provides essential capacity building in support of member countries. The Division also disseminates publications, working papers and statistical yearbooks, that cover agriculture and food security statistics, including prices, investments, production, trade and agri-environmental statistical data. Finally, as the ESS Director also plays the role of FAO Chief Statistician, the Division supports the various functions of the Chief Statistician, that is to ensure stronger governance of FAO’s data and statistical system, foster consistency of FAO’s Data and Statistical programme within the Strategic Framework, ensure statistical excellence through the implementation of statistical standards and quality assurance mechanisms, and position FAO’s presence in data and statistical discussions at global level.

The incumbent will work in the Food Security and Nutrition Statistics team within the Statistics Division and will contribute to the implementation of a project aimed at strengthening global and national capacities to monitor the Cost and Affordability of a Healthy Diet (CoAHD). The project seeks to establish national CoAHD monitoring systems in ten targeted countries, enabling national agencies to independently calculate, analyze, and disseminate these indicators on a regular basis.

The post is located in the Statistics Division (ESS) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Statistician reports to the Senior Statistician and team leader of the Food Security and Nutrition Statistics team under the overall guidance of the Director of ESS.

Technical Focus

The Statistician will provide technical guidance and effective contributions in the development and improvement of CoAHD methodologies, supporting data analysis and validation, and coordinating capacity development activities with national counterparts and international partners. The role will contribute directly to the institutionalization of CoAHD monitoring within national statistical systems and to the global production and dissemination of related indicators.

Key Results

Research and analysis of information, data and statistics, statistical methods, statistical and econometric modelling. Development and maintenance of specialized tools, methodologies, systems and/or databases and the technical assistance services to support the implementation/delivery and monitoring of the programme of work and related products, projects, publications and services.

Key Functions

• Collects, reviews, processes and/or analyses key social/economic/environmental/indicators, based on both traditional statistical methods/sources or on unstructured sources and data science methods, to support the delivery of economic and social development programmes of work, which can be focused on products, projects, publications or services.
• Develops improved/updated technical, statistical and/or analytical tools, systems, databases.
• Conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting in support of the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative tools and methodologies to be used within the Organization or by external stakeholders.
• Produces a variety of technical reports and provides input in technical documents, divisional publications and/or web pages.
• Provides response to requests and provides technical and/or policy advice, assistance and solutions to Regional, Subregional and Country Offices, including technical backstopping to field projects.
• Participates in multidisciplinary teams, collaborates with other Divisions/Offices/Centres on work groups and committees and promotes best practices.
• Provides capacity development services, including the planning and organization of training workshops and seminars and preparation of related information, materials, on-line tools and information kits.
• Participates in divisional teams, Organization-wide committees, project teams and working groups and provides specialized expertise on international technical networks and/or technical policy and standard setting bodies.
• Supports the organization, conduct and follow-up of meetings, consultations and conferences, the development/production of required materials and the provision of information and assistance to partners.
• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the Strategic Framework and divisional plans.
• Promotes international cooperation and collaboration, advocates best practices, knowledge sharing, increased policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international meetings and conferences.

Specific Functions

• Provides methodological guidance for the compilation, validation, and analysis of the Cost and Affordability of a Healthy Diet (CoAHD) indicators at global and national levels and effectively contributes with improvements in estimation methods (e.g. affordability measures, price spatial deflators, price indices for healthy diets, non-food costs).
• Coordinates the implementation of CoAHD monitoring systems at national level. Engages with national counterparts and supports the development of country workplans and Letters of Agreements (LoAs).
• Supports partner countries in the implementation of CoAHD monitoring systems by providing analytical strategies, trainings, technical assistance, and quality assurance of data collection and processing.
• Supports partner countries in disseminating results.
• Develops and maintains analytical tools, manuals and reproducible scripts for processing food price, expenditure, and income data, ensuring alignment with FAO statistical standards, and prepares technical materials (e.g. papers, bulletins) for research advancement and global dissemination.
• Contributes to inter-agency collaboration and methodological harmonization with key partners, including the World Bank,
• Tufts University, and other UN entities, to improve global evidence.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with senior officers from national governments, donors and project partner institutions.
• Prepares briefs, papers, and other communication materials for publication on ESS websites and delivers presentations in relevant international fora on subjects related to environmental statistics.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in statistics, mathematics, economics, agricultural economics, data science or a related field.
• Five years of relevant experience in the compilation and analysis of food security, consumer price data and/or socio-economic statistics in national or international organizations.
• 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.
• Experience with capacity development programs and ability to conduct trainings and tailored technical assistance.
• Strong command of statistical methods including: data presentation, analysis and descriptive statistics; main continuous and discrete random variables (binomial, normal, standard normal, log-normal) and their properties; probability distributions; conditional probability, probabilities of intersections of events, Bayes’ theorem; correlation and rank correlation; sampling and sample size: simple, stratified, and multistage random sampling; Inference, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing and significance; linear regression (single and multiple) comparison of population means and variances, ANOVA; Chi-square and goodness of fit tests; nonlinear models: maximum likelihood estimation; elements of survey and questionnaire design.
• Extent and relevance of knowledge and experience in the use of quantitative statistical and econometric methods.
• Extent and relevance of experience and knowledge of the main data sources used for the compilation of food security and/or socio-economic statistics.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the compilation, validation, and analysis of food security and/or socio-economic.
• Demonstrated ability work under minimal supervision, present statistics materials lucidly and effectively and produce high quality papers in English.
• Extent and relevance of experience in software used for processing and analysing data, such as R and Stata.
• Extent and relevance of experience in designing and delivering capacity development programmes at country level.
• Ability to analyse complex statistical-related issues.