Regional Technical Senior Specialist – Markets and Trade - FEWS NET

Chemonics seeks a Regional Technical Senior Specialist – Markets and Trade (RTSS-M&T) to be based in Amman, Jordan for the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) 8 Decision Support (DS) project. The RTSS–M&T will work with the Regional Technical Lead (RTL), the rest of the technical specialists in the regional team, the country teams in the region, the M&T team in Washington, D.C., other mechanisms across the FEWS NET 8 project, and network partners to design, execute, and coordinate regional activities in the M&T technical area. These activities will include but are not limited to M&T data collection and quality assurance, providing sectoral technical assistance and guidance to country teams, preparing regional decision-support products, and strengthening capacity to conduct relevant market analyses both inside and outside FEWS NET. The RTSS–M&T will contribute to providing high-quality and effective early warning of threats to food security and support efforts to mitigate food insecurity and prevent food crises through the provision of actionable food security analysis. The RTSS-M&T works under the technical supervision of the M&T advisor, with administrative management provided by the RTL.  Interested applicants must currently, and in the future, have legal authorization to work in Jordan. 

While the preference is for candidates to be based in Jordan, highly qualified candidates who have legal work authorization and are based in other select countries in which FEWS NET 8 operates in may be considered. Countries are as follows:   

Middle East, North Africa, and Europe Region: Lebanon and Yemen 

We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.   

FEWS NET is an integrated set of activities funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is intended to provide timely, accurate, evidence-based, and transparent food security early warning information and analysis. The eighth phase of FEWS NET includes the Decision Support (DS) project which is charged with providing integrated monitoring and analyses of current and forecast acute food insecurity in countries worldwide to support the USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) policy and programmatic decisions. Based on an in-depth understanding of local livelihoods, the FEWS NET DS Team members monitor information and data on factors that affect food security, such as conflict, weather conditions and climate, crops, pasture, markets and trade, and nutrition. The work of the FEWS NET DS Team relies on close collaboration with international, regional, and national partners on food security data and information gathering and analysis. Major activities include joint monitoring and assessments, data sharing and exchanges, collaborative analysis and reporting, and technical capacity strengthening.  

Responsibilities include: 

Contribute to the identification of priority M&T activities in line with the strategic orientation of FEWS NET’s work. Provide regional leadership for the identification, review, and compilation of appropriate market data, including but not limited to, staple food prices, exchange rates, consumer price indices, trade flows (formal and informal), crop production, and commodity balance sheet estimates in both presence and expanded global early warning (EGEW) countries monitored by FEWS NET within the region.   

Under the direction of the M&T advisor, help establish and/or maintain systematic, timely, high-quality, and efficient M&T data collection and management processes among country, regional, and home office staff. Support the collection, organization, and storage of primary and secondary data and information for submission to the FEWS NET Hub and USAID. This includes, but is not limited to:   

Liaise with FEWS NET DS project staff and partners to facilitate timely data flows.  

Work closely with the regional data manager to ensure that M&T data and information collected in the region is obtained, cleaned, organized and uploaded in accordance with guidance provided by the M&T advisor and Data Management Advisor  

Contribute to the regular collection, organization, and storage of data as set out by the FEWS NET Senior Management Team in collaboration with the FEWS NET Data, Knowledge, and Learning Hub (Hub).   

Provides support to field teams, the FEWS NET DS Data sector, the broader M&T team, and Mobile Data Transmission System subcontractors to oversee, maintain, and continually improve M&T data quality and integrity.  

Liaise with other technical sectors of FEWS NET, including the Quality Assurance and Methods sector and Data sector, as well as the Hub, to enhance the functionality of various M&T data domains in the FDW, including but not limited to online and offline M&T analytical tools in the FEWS NET Data Explorer (FDE).  

Monitor and analyze market and policy developments concerning staple food commodities, livestock, cash crops, and other commodities relevant to livelihoods and food security analysis within the region. Identify emerging regional market issues and provide input into the analysis of regional and local food security conditions.  

Collaborate with regional technical specialists to ensure alignment between conflict, livelihoods, agroclimatology and M&T assumptions  

Prepare regional market reports, which may include but are not limited to: Regional Supply and Market Outlook report, monthly Price Watch report, and monthly cross-border trade bulletins.   

Support the M&T advisor in meeting USAID’s expectations on timely delivery of decision support products, which include, but are not limited to: responding to urgent questions within one day; providing briefings within one week of request; and contributing M&T analysis to requests for acute food insecurity analysis in EGEW countries that fall within region of coverage that will be delivered within one week of USAID request.   

Design and execute activities within the region to build and maintain an up-to-date evidence base and market monitoring plan for markets and trade related information relevant to acute food insecurity analysis, including but not limited to: food and cash crop commodities, labor, and livestock markets in the region. Evidence base components may include commodity balance sheets, production and price databases, seasonal monitoring plans, and other products as required. As part of this responsibility, closely collaborate with the FEWS NET Knowledge Base mechanisms to support development of Market Fundamentals reports for countries that fall within the region of coverage.  

Provide consistent technical assistance and guidance to FEWS NET country offices within the region on how to gather and analyze M&T-related information as it pertains to food security analysis, early warning, and food assistance decision support. This may include assistance with the design and implementation of market assessments, market studies, and with the improvement of monitoring methods. The RTS may also be asked to lead or engage in market assessments in the region, including partner assessments.   

Lead capacity building activities to build the skills of colleagues at the home, regional, and country offices on M&T analysis, including processes for the review and use of M&T data. Capacity development initiatives include conducting regular onboarding trainings, as well as refresher trainings.  

Qualifications 

At least 10 years of relevant experience to the work of FEWS NET, such as economics, agricultural economics, agronomy, nutrition, climatology, anthropology, or social geography (with Master’s degree), or 12 years of relevant experience (with Bachelor’s degree) is required. 

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent work experience) in a discipline relevant to the work of FEWS NET, such as economics, agricultural economics, agronomy, nutrition, climatology, anthropology, or social geography is required. An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or higher) in a discipline relevant to the work of FEWS NET, such as economics, agricultural economics, statistics, or social geography is preferred. 

Proficiency in written and spoken English [and secondary language] is required; other local language skills relevant to the region are desirable.  

Significant experience in agricultural market analysis in developing countries and formal instruction in commodity market analysis (including developing projections of economic data) is preferred.  

Previous experience with the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is preferred.  

Demonstrated ability to effectively conduct assessments, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and analyze information from relevant sectors using both qualitative and quantitative methods is required.  

Demonstrated leadership capacities and an ability to work independently, when necessary is required, as are strong organizational skills.   

Demonstrated analytical and report-writing skills are required.  

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are required, including demonstrated ability to coordinate productively with diverse partner stakeholders (e.g., UN, non-governmental organizations, host government entities) and multidisciplinary, multicultural teams, and to work effectively with remote-based colleagues.  

Excellent computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint) are required; ability to effectively use statistical software packages and/or GIS applications is desirable.