Senior Economist (Vulnerability Analysis & Mapping Officer) - P5, Rome, Italy 1

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WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

Are you an experienced Senior Economist interested in further developing your professional career while contributing to ending global hunger? Are you passionate about helping those in need? Would you like to join a global organization investing in its people?

If so, an exciting & fulfilling career awaits you! Join our diverse and passionate team that works on varied and international projects directly contributing to saving & changing millions of lives around the globe.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Applications must be submitted by Sunday, October 16, 2022 (10:59 PM CET)

WHO WE ARE

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), a highly prestigious, reputable & world’s largest humanitarian organization, operating in more than 120 countries and territories, bringing life-saving assistance in emergencies, building pathways to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change and supporting sustainable and resilient livelihoods for a world with zero hunger.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: UN World Food Programme (WFP) and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

WHY JOIN US?

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment
• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities
• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe
• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Economic and Market Analysis Unit of the Research, Assessment and Monitoring (RAM) Division is seeking to fill a Senior Economist position, who will be based at the United Nations World Food Programme Headquarters in Rome, Italy.

The RAM Division in leads WFP’s food security analysis, supporting a large network of analysts in Regional Bureaus and Country Offices. Food security analysis is a cornerstone of the organization’s work as it provides WFP, governments, and partners with the essential information to identify populations in need and target the most appropriate type and scale of interventions, as well as the necessary knowledge to inform policy decisions and advocacy efforts. Food security analyses include emergency and in-depth household and market assessments, spatial analysis, early warning information, food security and price monitoring, and economic and market trend analyses.

The Economic and Market Analysis Unit (RAMAE) is primarily responsible for global and local economic analysis, market studies, and price monitoring. The Unit supports WFP Country Offices worldwide, develops and implements new analytical tools, prepares guidelines, manages data visualization, conducts applied research, and contributes to advocacy campaigns. In particular, RAMAE main areas of work are as follows: a) developing novel methodologies to support market assessments and inform WFP operations by also maintaining a global market assessment database; b) maintaining a global food price database to undertake price analysis and publish global market monitor briefs; c) supporting analysis of essential needs and the development of minimum expenditure baskets to inform programme design; d) developing modelling techniques to predict the impact of various types of shocks on food security and how assistance can counteract these effects; e) monitoring global economic trends: and f) undertaking a range of on-demand research work such as the impact of COVID-19 on global food security.

JOB PURPOSE

The Senior Economist (VAM Officer - P5) will provide strategic leadership and expert advice to senior management and peers on vision and direction in relation to food security analysis to enable the generation of the VAM evidence base that supports food security and nutrition policies and programmes (e.g. needs assessment and situation analyses, programme design, targeting, cost effectiveness, and operational efficiency).

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

The candidate will lead the RAMAE Unit and provide both managerial oversight and general strategic direction for the Unit.

Specific tasks include:

• Give guidance and direction on the Unit’s research including identification of key areas of interest in the intersection of food security and economic research
• Liaise with key external stakeholder and manage strategic partnerships with entities such as IMF or the World Bank
• Identify and set up partnerships with academic entities.
• Oversee and lead economic analysis for WFP at the global and regional level, guiding the WFP Country Offices to predict and manage foreseeable risks relevant to food security.
• Enhance WFP’s leadership role in economic and global market analysis by representing WFP in meetings with strategic partners, contributing to high-level technical discussions, exchanging knowledge and experience with other institutions and identifying areas of comparative advantage in both emergency and non-emergency settings.
• Lead the development of systems and approaches for market assessments and price monitoring in line with innovative methodologies and best practice.
• Keep up to date with and advise on global and regional economic and market developments and issues and the potential impact upon WFP activity to build effective programme capabilities.
• Provide strategic advice and leadership to COs to strengthen the capacity in development of a sound knowledge base and understanding of food security, nutrition, markets, and resilience issues, contributing to the development of country strategy, policies and programmes.
• Forge and nurture strategic and operational partnerships, including inter-agency collaboration, to ensure a solid food security analysis in both emergency and non-emergency settings.

QUALIFICATIONS AND KEY REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

• Advanced University degree in Economics, Applied Economics, Agricultural Economics, Development Economics, Econometrics or Statistics with additional relevant experience and training. A PhD is desirable.

EXPERIENCE:

• At least 11 years of relevant progressively responsible experience in economic analysis and food security, econometric analysis of time series and/or panel data or related field.
• Knowledge in creating and cultivating a broad range of relationships with key stakeholders including NGOs, national authorities, UN agencies, donors and academia.

LANGUAGE:

• Fluency (level C) in the English language.
• Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or Portuguese (A WFP’s working language)

MORE ABOUT YOU

You have:

• Proven experience in managing technical teams and overseeing research
• Proven record in conducting economic research
• Strong background in economic analysis and food security, experience with econometric analysis of time series and/or panel data is strong plus.
• Ability to oversee multiple analytical and strategic priorities at the same time

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

These are the common standards of behaviour that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Leads by Example with Integrity Drives Results and Delivers on Commitments Fosters Inclusive and Collaborative Teamwork Applies Strategic Thinking Builds and Maintains Sustainable Partnerships Lives the WFP values and shows humanity and integrity by role modelling care for others

Delivers on commitments and adapts readily to change

Is inclusive and collaborative, and contributes to a culture of learning and personal growth

Demonstrates commitment to gather perspectives, analyse options and risks, and propose new ways of doing things

Builds and nurtures external partnerships and collaborates with partners to deliver common objectives

Different expectations of behaviour are defined depending on your grade and role/responsibilities within WFP.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Capability Name Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level Food Security Analysis Leverages in-depth understanding of the food security challenges at household and community level to help implement holistic solutions ranging from preventive to resilience building interventions. Provides strategic direction for problem identification and analysis that underlies programme response. Food Security Monitoring Establishes strategic direction for the design and implementation of food security monitoring systems employing latest concepts and technologies; Promotes FSMS for timely understanding and effective response to food security challenges. Technical Specialized Knowledge (e.g. Economics, Statistics, Public Health, Remote Sensing, GIS, etc.) Demonstrates holistic understanding of inter-disciplinary linkages underlying food security concepts and their application. Provides leadership and guidance for building food security information systems that track changes at the global, regional, national and community level, linking results to key decisions and internal and external actors. Food Security Assessment Manages independent, multi-agency and multi-sector assessments to ensure appropriate coverage of food security topics. Ensures analytical rigor, relevance of the findings and timeliness of the report. Strategic Operational Understanding Leverages expert food security knowledge to provide technical, policy and programmatic advice to stakeholders including national authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, donors, academia and civil society. Provides credible analysis to shape WFP’s corporate policies on food security. Defends WFP positions based on well researched facts and solid analysis.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• This is an International Professional position and is open to all nationalities.
• Mobility is and continues to be, a core contractual requirement in WFP. The selected candidate will be employed on a fixed term as well as a rotational contract with a probationary period of one year.​
• WFP offers an attractive compensation and benefits package in line with ICSC standards (http://icsc.un.org) including basic salary, post adjustment, relocation entitlement, visa, travel and shipment allowances, 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, a pension plan, and medical insurance.
• The selected candidate will be required to relocate to Rome, Italy to take up this assignment.

REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time
• Please contact us at [email protected] in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

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All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.