Statistician

Job Title: Statistician (Survey Statistician) 

Organization: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Closure Date: 22/Aug/2023, 12:59:00 AM

Organizational Unit: Statistics Division (ESS)

Job Type: Staff position

Type of Requisition: Professional Project

Grade Level: P-3

Primary Location: Italy-Rome

Duration: Fixed-term: 1 year with possibility of extension

Post Number: 2009687

CCOG Code: 1M02

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization. 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO 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. 

Organizational Setting

The Statistics Division (ESS) develops, and advocates for the implementation of methodologies and standards for data collection, validation, processing and analysis of food and agriculture statistics. In these statistical domains, it also plays a vital role in the compilation, processing and dissemination of internationally comparable data, and provides essential capacity development support to member countries. In addition, the Division disseminates many publications, working papers and statistical yearbooks, that cover agricultural and food security relevant statistics (including prices, investments, production, trade and agri-environmental statistical data).

Within the Statistics Division, the Survey Team is responsible for implementing the data production component of the 50x2030 Initiative to Close the Agricultural Data Gap. The 50x2030 Initiative is a global project that supports countries to produce timely and quality agricultural survey data in order to foster evidence-based decision-making of National Governments and their ability to monitor development indicators at national, regional and global level. The Initiative strives to broaden its scope and inform global development issues related to food security, nutrition and climate change. In this context, the Survey Team supports statistical agencies of 50 countries in establishing (or improving) large scale agricultural surveys with the objective to generate and disseminate official statistics on the agricultural sector.

The incumbent will be part of the Survey Team and will contribute to the implementation of the 50x2030 Initiative. In particular, s/he will work collaboration with FAO colleagues and national counterparts to support statistical agencies in measuring women's empowerment and nutrition (dietary diversity) through their agricultural survey programmes.

For this measurement, statistical agencies will be proposed the adoption of a survey instrument - hereafter called Women's Empowerment and Nutrition (WEN) - that is based on tested and validated methodologies like the Women's Empowerment Metric for National Statistical Systems (WEMNS) developed by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and partners and the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) developed by FAO and partners.

The post is located in ESS in Rome, Italy. 

Reporting Lines

The Statistician reports to the project's Senior Coordinator.

Technical Focus

Support statistical agencies of partner countries in measuring women's empowerment and women's dietary diversity through national agricultural surveys.

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 and agencies 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, online tools and information kits;

•   Participates in 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 FAO Corporate Strategy 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

•   In collaboration with team members, FAO/ES, IFPRI and the World Bank's Development Data Group, i) develops the reference Women's Empowerment and Nutrition (WEN) survey questionnaire of the 50x2030 Initiative and the enumerator manual; ii) reflects the adoption of the WEN questionnaire in the methodology (i.e., manuals) of the 50x2030 Initiative;

•   Contributes towards the dissemination of reference documents and the development of communication material for country engagement, internal updates and global outreach;

•   Contributes to the country engagement process, develops and updates country workplans and adapts the reference questionnaire to national contexts;

•   In collaboration with team members, FAO/ES and IFPRI, provides trainings and technical assistance to partner countries on the adoption of the WEN questionnaire in their national agricultural surveys, including survey design, questionnaire customization, data collection protocols, data processing, analysis and report writing;

•   Supports partner countries in disseminating survey findings on women's empowerment and nutrition;

•   Conducts research studies, as relevant and required;

•   Provides technical expertise for international meetings and conferences.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements.

•    Advanced university degree in statistics, economics, development economics, quantitative social research, women's studies, food and nutritional science, public health nutrition, or in a related field.

•    Five years of relevant experience in the design, implementation, processing, analysis or dissemination of large-scale surveys, with a focus on gender statistics or on food and nutrition (dietary diversity) statistics.

•   Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – 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.

•   Extent and relevance of knowledge and experience in designing, planning and implementing large-scale surveys in developing countries, in particular on women's empowerment or women's nutrition or gender inequalities.

•   Extent of knowledge and experience in household and agricultural survey methodologies, including individual level data, sex-disaggregated data, nutrition and gender statistics, survey design, sampling, questionnaire design, data collection methods, and dissemination.

•   Extent of proficiency and experience in CAPI survey tools and in using software tools such as SPSS, Stata, R for validating, processing and analyzing microdata from large-scale surveys.

•   Extent and relevance of knowledge and experience in project design/formulation and in delivering capacity development programmes and technical assistance in developing countries.

•   Ability to draft quickly, clearly and concisely and to communicate effectively.

•   Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of French is considered an asset.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

GENERAL INFORMATION 

• FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment

• Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds

• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. 

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/salary.htm 
Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:
• Dependency allowances
• Rental subsidy
• Education grant for children
• Home leave travel
• 30 working days of annual leave per year
• Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund
• International health insurance; optional life insurance
• Disability protection 

FAO encourages a positive workplace culture to increase inclusivity and diversity within its workforce. FAO applies measures in which all staff members contribute equally and in full to the work and development of the Organization. This includes:
• elements of family-friendly policies
• flexible working arrangements
• standards of conduct

HOW TO APPLY 

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications and language skills;
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile;
• Once your profile is completed, please apply and submit your application;
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided on your online profile;
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications;
• Incomplete applications will not be considered;
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered;
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org

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