Statistician (Food Security And Nutrition)

Organizational Context

The Statistics Division (ESS) at FAO develops and advocates for methodologies and standards in food and agriculture statistics, playing a key role in compiling, processing, and disseminating internationally comparable data. It provides capacity building to member countries and disseminates publications on agriculture, food security, and related statistical data. As the FAO Chief Statistician, the Division also ensures strong governance of FAO's data systems, statistical excellence, and global presence in data discussions. The incumbent will join the Food Security and Nutrition Statistics team in Rome, Italy.

Job Purpose

The Statistician will provide technical and managerial leadership for food security and nutrition statistics, overseeing the design, implementation, and quality assurance of statistical programmes and projects. This includes developing methodologies, producing policy-relevant indicators, coordinating teams and partners, and contributing to capacity development and global monitoring. Key results involve delivering comprehensive statistical analysis, developing specialized tools and databases, and supporting the planning and delivery of FAO's work programme. The role requires leading multidisciplinary teams, coordinating data collection and analysis, designing innovative tools, conducting research, and producing technical reports. The incumbent will also provide technical advice, backstopping for field projects, and coordinate capacity development activities, including training workshops and seminars.

Responsibilities

Coordinate the formulation, planning, implementation, monitoring, and quality assurance of multiple projects and statistical programmes on food security and nutrition statistics, ensuring methodological consistency and alignment with international standards and FAO objectives. Prepare, review, and endorse project work plans, budgets, and progress reports, supporting project closure and knowledge management. Provide technical leadership on statistical methodologies and indicators for food security and nutrition, supporting the production of policy-relevant and internationally comparable statistics. Coordinate project-related procurement and contractual processes, including managing Long-Term Agreements and Letters of Agreement. Deliver capacity development activities for national and regional institutions to strengthen their data production, analysis, and reporting capabilities. Coordinate technical teams, consultants, and implementing partners, fostering collaboration and efficient resource use. Facilitate technical collaboration and coherence across FAO units and with external partners, ensuring synergies and alignment with global initiatives. Support the preparation of technical articles, working papers, and training materials, documenting best practices. Act as a Leading Technical Officer or technical focal point for assigned projects, ensuring effective governance and timely delivery. Support resource mobilization for statistical capacity development projects.

Work Experience

Seven years of relevant professional experience are necessary. This experience should encompass food security and nutrition statistics, including the design, implementation, and quality assurance of statistical programmes and projects. It must also cover methodological development, indicator production, capacity development, and coordination with national, regional, and international partners.

Skills

Proficiency in English (Level C) and intermediate knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) are required. Strong command of statistical methods, including data presentation, analysis, descriptive statistics, probability distributions, sampling techniques, inference, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis, is essential. Experience in survey and questionnaire design, compilation, validation, and analysis of statistics, as well as knowledge of survey methodology and main data sources for food and agricultural statistics, is crucial. Familiarity with data processing and analysis software, managing statistical programmes in food security and nutrition, formulating technical assistance projects, and providing capacity development are also key. Demonstrated ability to mobilize resources is required.

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