FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization

Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Chiffre Nr. 2024-1-14

1.         General Information

Job Title: JPO, Junior Professional Officer (Commodity Market)

Agency: FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization

Unit: Markets and Trade Division (EST)

Country and Duty Station:    Rome, Italy

Duration of assignment: 2 years with possibility of extension for another year. The extension of appointment is subject to yearly review concerning priorities, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance.

Please note that for participants of the FAO JPO-Programme at least three years of work experience are mandatory! Relevant work experience can be counted. In order to assess the eligibility of the candidates, we review the relevant experience acquired after obtaining the first university degree (usually bachelor’s degree).

• 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.        

2.         Organizational Setting

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.

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 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 the AMIS Secretariat in EST at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Junior Professional Officer (Commodity Markets) reports to the Project Manager (AMIS), under the overall guidance of the Director, EST.

Technical Focus

AMIS monitors and assesses the market situation and produces short-term outlook for global food markets, particularly focusing on wheat, maize, rice and soybeans. The initiative was created by the G20 in 2011 with two principal objectives: (i) enhance transparency in global food markets by providing regular, accurate and timely information; and (ii) promote policy coordination among the main producing and consuming countries of the covered crops, especially in times of market uncertainty.

The Junior Professional Officer (Commodity Markets) supports strengthening and expanding AMIS analyses and outputs and provide general support to the AMIS Secretariat.

Key Results

Collection, analysis and review of information, data and statistics, and project/meeting services to support programme products, projects, publications, and services.

3.         Key Functions

• Collects, reviews/cross checks and/or analyses relevant agricultural, economic, trade, market, social, environmental, nutrition/food composition and/or gender related data, statistics and information to support delivery of programme projects, products, publications and services.
• Undertakes analysis, provides technical input for plans and reports and edits/ revises technical documents and/or publications.
• Participates in the development of improved tools and methodologies.
• Updates databases and web pages.
• Participates in multi-disciplinary projects/ work teams.
• Participates in the development of training materials and the organization of workshops/ seminars etc..
• Participates in 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.

4.         Specific Functions

• Supports AMIS activities and outputs, especially as regards the collection of supply and utilization balances from AMIS participating countries.
• Identifies relevant information sources and collects, organizes, validates and analyses the collected data and information.
• Contributes to the development of suitable indicators to assess the global food market situation and outlook.
• Prepares and contributes to analytical outputs and reports, for use in the AMIS Market Monitor reports, AMIS website and social media channels, and actively participates in meetings with AMIS members and stakeholders.
• Monitors policy developments for the food commodities covered by AMIS and assesses their likely implications for global food markets and prices.
• 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 on-line tools and information kits.
• Supports other AMIS-related activities as required.

5.         General requirements

Candidates will be assessed against the following:

Minimum Requirements:

• Master’s degree in economics, agricultural economics or a related field.
• Three years of relevant experience in qualitative and quantitative economic analysis of agricultural markets, trade or 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).

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 collecting, validating and analysing market data and information.
• Extent and relevance of knowledge and experience in supporting quantitative economic analysis, developing market indicators, interpreting results and drafting market reports.
• Extent and relevance of experience in supporting analytical studies for agricultural commodity markets.
• Knowledge and solid experience in handling large data sets are an asset.

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

Bitte senden Sie Ihre JPO-Bewerbung direkt an das Büro Führungskräfte zu Internationalen Organisationen (BFIO) unter Angabe der Chiffre Nr. 2024-1-14 auf dem Bewerbungsbogen

Alle Informationen finden Sie unter www.bfio.de