Food Security Analyst
General Summary
The food security analyst (FSA) position is part of the Decision Support Group (DSG), a unit within the Washing DC-based Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET) Early Warning Team (EWT). The FSAs work closely with other FEWS NET EWT colleagues in the home, regional, and field offices to accomplish the DSG’s two primary objectives: 1) facilitate development and communication of timely, high-quality, actionable decision support at the country, regional, and global levels and 2) build FEWS NET staff and partners' food security analysis and strategic communications capacity. This position is based in Washington, DC and fluency in French is required.
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (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. Created in 1985 in response to famines in East and West Africa, FEWS NET provides global coverage through a mix of presence and remote monitoring. Chemonics houses FEWS NET’s Early Warning Team (EWT), a team charged with integrated emergency food insecurity analysis through a Washington-based technical office and more than 20 field offices.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions)
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Integrate market and trade, nutrition, livelihoods, and other food-security analysis for the development of regular, high-quality, integrated early warning information products
- Technically and editorially review field-authored regular and ad hoc food security reporting
- Contribute to the development of the monthly Food Assistance Outlook Brief for USAID/Washington staff
- Develop and present technical briefings to USG staff and other partners, as requested
- Lead or otherwise support the development of special technical reports
- Conduct field visits to support assessments and technical analysis
- Respond to ad hoc requests for food security and response planning analysis and other support for response and contingency planning processes
- Play a lead role in developing analytical and decision-support strategies to effectively develop and communicate pertinent information to decision-makers when potential or ongoing food security crises are identified
- Provide technical assistance on complex subject matter to strengthen data collection, analysis, and information dissemination capacities
- Provide relevant technical and geographic guidance in their areas of expertise (e.g., agricultural economics, livelihoods, nutrition, pastoralism/ livestock)
- Lead/contribute to the development and implementation of guidance materials in the areas of early warning, decision support, and reporting
- Support activities to enhance project representatives’ and partners’ understanding of food security early warning and decision support processes
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The qualifications listed below are representative of the required knowledge, skills, and/or abilities needed to perform the principal duties.
- Bachelor's degree in a discipline relevant to the work of FEWS NET, such as economics, agricultural economics, agronomy, nutrition, climatology, anthropology, or social geography is required
- At least two years of relevant experience (with PhD), four years of relevant experience (with Master’s degree), or six years of relevant experience (with Bachelor’s degree) is required. Relevant experience includes working on food security information systems, food security analysis, early warning, or other related fields; experience working with UN agencies and/or NGOs is desirable
- Previous experience living and working in a region or country in which FEWS NET project staff work is desirable
- Experience using large datasets to analyze trends through a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods is desirable
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well with field-based, local staff via telephone, e-mail, and other remote means is required
- Excellent writing, editing, and presentation skills are required
- Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft office suite, are required; Adobe Creative suite and database management skills are desirable
- Familiarity with ESRI ArcGIS mapping and statistical software is desirable
- Familiarity with the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) and/or Cadre Harmonisé (CH) is desirable
- Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
- Fluency in English and French is required; Spanish language skills are desirable
The Food Security Analyst position will remain open for applications through 11:59 p.m. EST on August 26th. A full scope of work for this position and application information can be found at www.fews.net/vacancies.
All application materials, including responses to the general information form, CVs, and cover letters, should be provided in English. No telephone inquiries. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
For applicants located in the EU, please see Chemonics Data Privacy Notice linked here: https://chemonics.com/eu-recruiting-data-privacy-notice/