Commodity Market Analyst

Overview

Analyze commodity markets and produce forecasts for agricultural products.

You have:

• University degree in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Agronomy, or a related field.
• Three years of relevant experience in qualitative and quantitative economic analysis of agricultural markets, trade and related policies.
• Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO’s Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

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 FAO’s early warnings on food shortfalls and food security problems. 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 position is located in Basic Foodstuffs (BF) Team.

The call for expression of interest aims at identifying highly qualified and motivated candidates for our divisional roster to support the team responsible for commodity market monitoring and assessment. Please visit https://www.fao.org/markets-and-trade/corporate/en/ for more information.

The position is located in the Markets and Trade Division (EST) at FAO headquarters in Rome.

Reporting Lines

The Commodity Market Analyst reports directly to the Team Leader of the Basic Foodstuffs Team and works under the overall guidance of the EST Director.

Technical Focus

The Basic Foodstuffs (BF) team closely monitors national supply and demand situations of the basic food commodities, including cereals (wheat, coarse grains and rice), oilseeds and their derived products (vegetable oils, and fats and meals), meat, and dairy products in order to derive regional/global estimates/forecasts of production, utilization, stocks and trade. Based on these estimates/forecasts, combined with other market analyses, the BF team publishes comprehensive market intelligence reports and short-term forecasts on a regular basis. In addition, the team also prepares and publishes the FAO Food Price Index (FFPI), a measure of the monthly changes in international prices of a basket of food commodities, namely cereals, vegetable oils, meat, dairy products and sugar. The BF team also undertakes analyses and prepares research reports and technical papers on global food markets and their underlying factors to enhance market transparency and contribute to food security.

Tasks and responsibilities

The consultant is expected to contribute to monitoring national supply and demand situations of basic food commodities mentioned above, focusing on a selected commodity depending on the requirements of the division. In particular, the consultant will perform the following duties:

• Closely monitor the national supply and demand situation of selected basic food commodities (cereals, oilseeds and their derived products, meat and dairy products) in order to derive regional/global estimates/forecasts of production, utilization, stocks and trade for those commodities; • Identify, collect and validate relevant data to be used for constructing and updating the commodity databases; • Review the data prior to processing for computer storage or analysis; cross-check data in a database to identify and redress any inconsistencies; • Assist with the production of tabulations for publications and/or presentation in reports; • Draft supply and demand situation and outlook reports and updates on policy developments; • Conduct commodity markets analysis and prepare technical papers and reports; • Assist with research and regularly update relevant information available on the Organization’s website; • Use statistical software to assist with analyses and programme edits, such as to identify or forecast patterns and causal relationships; • Recommend improvements to operating procedures and systems used; • Perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Agronomy, or a related field. • Three years of relevant experience in qualitative and quantitative economic analysis of agricultural markets, trade and related policies. • Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish). For PSA, working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/ Functional Skills

• Desirable: experience and strong quantitative skills, especially capacity for handling large data sets; • Desirable: experience in commodity market monitoring and analysis, ideally in an international context; • Excellent command of English, especially as regards the quality and speed of drafting reports and other outputs intended for publication; • Strong communication and liaison skills, including expert knowledge in drafting and presenting technical materials.

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: fao.org