Economist

Reporting Lines The selected candidate will report directly to the Economist and work under the overall supervision of the Senior Economist and team leader of the SERA team in the ESP Division.Technical Focus The position supports the implementation of the strategic research and policy support agenda of the SERA team, which is embedded within the broader strategic framework of FAO.The research agenda is structured around key thematic areas of economic inclusion, climate change, and gender equality, which are fundamental elements of inclusive rural transformation processes.Underlying these thematic areas, the SERA team focuses on four primary policy domains: social protection, rural labour markets, land administration, and rural institutions.In this context, the position provides intellectual leadership and methodological guidance to identify and implement effective policies and programmes to support inclusive rural transformation based on rigorous evidence and analysis.The ideal candidate will have demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following methodological approaches: applied econometric analysis of survey data, experimental and quasi-experimental impact evaluation methods, value chain analysis, geospatial analysis, microsimulation modelling and/or artificial intelligence and machine learning.Tasks and responsibilities The assigned tasks and responsibilities related to this area of work may include one or more of the following: • Support the design and implementation of experimental and quasi-experimental impact evaluations of projects and programs, including sample and questionnaire design, enumerator training, supervision of data collection, data quality checks during fieldwork, and post-survey data cleaning, curation, and preparation for analysis.• Assist with the preparation and analysis of secondary survey data, such as Living Standards Measurement Study (LSMS) household surveys, World Bank Enterprise Surveys (WBES), and other similar datasets.• Support the processes of extracting and summarizing geospatial data to link with georeferenced survey data from both primary and secondary sources.• Conduct quantitative analyses, including econometric and spatial approaches, and other relevant methods, with a focus on smallholder farmers in developing countries.• Contribute to policy analysis on social inclusion, climate change, sustainable agricultural growth, and rural development.• Contribute to research outputs, including reports, working papers, and articles for peer-reviewed journals.CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING Minimum Requirements • Relevant technical degree or certificate (for Subscribers) or advanced university degree from an institution recognized on the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO list (for Consultants) in economics, development economics, agricultural economics, resource economics, geography, or related fields.• At least one year's relevant experience (Category C), at least five years' relevant experience (Category B) and at least ten years' relevant experience (Category A) in empirical analysis.• Working knowledge (level C) of English.Knowledge of a second FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is considered an asset.FAO Core Competencies • Results Focus • Teamwork • Communication • Building Effective Relationships • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement Technical/Functional Skills • Experience in quantitative data analysis using statistical tools (i.e. STATA, R, etc.) • Work experience in developing country settings • Experience in social inclusion and rural development policies • Experience in economic analysis of climate change adaptation • Experience in the management of large datasets • Knowledge of geospatial analysis • Track record of published quantitative research papers Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing) Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list 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 For more information, visit the FAO employment website Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.