Economist (IPC Food Security)

Organizational Setting The Agrifood Economics Division (ESA) conducts economic research and policy analysis to support the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems. ESA provides evidence-based support to national, regional and global policy processes and initiatives related to monitoring and analysing food and agricultural policies, agribusiness and value chain development, rural transformation and poverty, food security and nutrition information and analysis, resilience, bioeconomy, and climate-smart agriculture. The division also leads the production of two FAO flagship publications: The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) and The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI).

The FAO Representation in Kenya is responsible for leading, developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing agreed strategies for addressing food, agriculture and rural development issues at country level. It develops and maintains relations with counterparts at national and county levels towards the achievement of the Country Programme Framework (CPF). It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization and, in collaboration with subregion, regional offices including divisions at headquarters, promotes FAO's strategic response to regional priorities. The Representation supports national policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of partnerships at national/county level, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is a global, multipartner innovative initiative to facilitate decision-making with improved food security analysis, through a set of tools and protocols for classifying the severity and nature of food insecurity and implications for response. IPC incorporates ameta-analysis approach drawing on evidence-based analysis of food security, nutrition and livelihood information through a consensus approach that includes a broad range of stakeholders. This global initiative is governed and strategically guided by an IPC Global Steering Committee (GSC), consisting of 15 major UN agencies, international NGOs and regional intergovernmental body agencies, including: Action Against Hunger, Care International, Comité Permanent Inter-Etats de Lutte contre la Sécheresse dans le Sahel (CILSS), Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Union, Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), FAO, Food Security Cluster, Global Nutrition Cluster, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Oxfam, Southern African Development Community (SADC), Save the Children, Sistemade la Integración Centroamericana (SICA), UNICEF and WFP.

The IPC works: 1) at the global level, through the IPC Global Steering Committee, which is responsible for the strategic vision and oversight of IPC global standards worldwide; the IPC Technical Advisory Group (TAG), which is responsible for IPC technical normative developments; and the IPC Global Support Unit (GSU) hosted within ESA, which is responsible for the coordination of IPC normative developments, IPC global standards on quality and compliance, and the global coordination of capacity building support to IPC activities worldwide). 2) at the regional level, through GSU Certified Training Units and through Regional IPC Steering/Technical Working Groups that are integrated within existing regional platforms. 3) at country level, where the introduction and implementation of IPC is supported by Country IPC Technical Working Groups, which are linked and institutionalized within existing government and partner food security and nutrition platforms. The position is located in the FAO Representation in Nairobi, Kenya.

Reporting Lines The Economist reports to the Senior Programme Coordinator, IPC Global Programme Manager, under the overall guidance of the ESA Director.

Technical Focus Coordinate, manage and implement major selected deliverables of the IPC Global Strategic Programme (GSP). The main outcomes of the IPC GSP are: 1) quality of IPC outputs is improved; 2) IPC tools and procedures are responsive to evolving analytical developments and challenges; 3) at global, regional and country level, IPC is supported by inclusive and sustainable processes and structures; and 4) IPC information is efficiently communicated and accessible to all stakeholders for effective decision support.

Key Results Comprehensive technical, statistical, analytical and/or policy analysis services and the development of specialized tools, methodologies, systems and/or databases to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of the programme of work and related products, projects, publications, and services.

Key Functions

• Plans and leads components of multidisciplinary teams and short term work groups, leads and/or participates in divisional teams, participates in Organization-wide committees, project teams and working groups and provides specialized expertise on international technical networks and or technical policy and standard setting bodies.
• Develops technical, statistical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks and related tools, methodologies, systems and databases, etc. to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of programmes of work, products, projects and services.
• Designs and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative tools and methodologies, flagship publications/technical reports and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical specialist and/or policy advice and expertise.
• Responds to requests and provides technical/policy advice, assistance and solutions to Regional, Subregional, and Country Offices and provides technical backstopping to field projects.
• Promotes international cooperation and collaboration, advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international meetings and conferences.
• Collaborates in capacity development activities involving knowledge sharing, the organization of training workshops, seminars, and meetings as well as the development of related materials and online tools and information kits.
• Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with Corporate Strategy and divisional plans.

Specific Functions

• Manages/coordinates a team of GSU food security experts to support a GSP thematic area or the implementation of all GSP activities in a specific geographical region/area.
• Coordinates the implementation of IPC capacity building activities, including the facilitation of IPC training and analysis events, the promotion of the IPC certification campaign, the establishment of an IPC community of practitioners, and the implementation of the IPC cross-country learning exchange programme.
• Provides technical leadership and oversight to assure the highest quality and compliance of IPC analysis, including by conducting/coordinating IPC real time and retroactive quality reviews, providing follow-up technical support to IPC country technical working groups, and documenting lessons learnt.
• Contributes to and coordinates information sharing to ensure that learning from IPC implementation feeds into IPC technical development, communication and information management.
• Promotes the institutionalization of IPC by supporting the integration of IPC activities into existing structures and systems at country and regional level, as well as by helping countries develop and implement IPC consolidation strategies.
• Promotes and facilitates a multiagency ownership of the IPC among the different partner agencies through regular communication, information sharing and by strengthening the engagement of IPC global partners in the implementation of the IPC GSP at global, regional and country level.
• Leads the development and implementation of global joint and multi-partner initiatives and coordinates the development of global IPC products.
• Contributes to the development and update of the IPC strategy and follows up on strategy implementation and preparation and implementation of strategic meetings.
• Performs other duties as required.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in economics, agriculture, nutrition, social science, political science or a related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in economic and food security and vulnerability analysis and/or food security programme coordination with food security analysis including familiarity with different methodologies and indicators.
• Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and French.

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.
• Extent and relevance of experience in food security and vulnerability analysis and/or food security programme coordination with food security analysis, including familiarity with different methodologies and indicators.
• Extent and relevance of knowledge and experience in IPC analysis and training.
• Extent and relevance in leading training and capacity building initiatives and teaching/training skills in a multidisciplinary context.
• Extent and relevance of experience in coordinating and managing multidisciplinary teams and multiagency partnerships preferably in multisector and multiagency contexts.
• Certification as IPC Analyst and Trainer is considered a strong asset.