Economist (Markets and Trade)
Organizational Context
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a United Nations agency dedicated to defeating hunger and achieving food security, is implementing a project in Kazakhstan. This initiative, in cooperation with the Government of Kazakhstan, aims to enhance agricultural market analysis, bolster food supply chain resilience, and promote evidence-based decision-making. The project focuses on improving data availability and utilization for agricultural production, storage, logistics, and trade, while strengthening commodity balance analysis methodologies.
Job Purpose
The Economist (Markets and Trade) will provide specialized economic and market expertise to analyze key food products within Kazakhstan. The role involves examining domestic and international market dynamics, price formation, trade flows, and market efficiency, as well as economic factors influencing commodity availability and stability. A key contribution will be developing an integrated analytical framework that connects commodity balances, supply chains, market indicators, and trade dynamics. The incumbent will formulate evidence-based recommendations to enhance market stability, transparency, and resilience, supporting informed policy and strategic decisions.
Responsibilities
Conduct detailed analysis of domestic and international market dynamics for selected food products, focusing on supply-demand interactions and price formation. Analyze historical and current price trends, including seasonal variations and regional disparities, and assess price transmission mechanisms. Evaluate trade flows, including import/export volumes, major partners, trade dependence, and relevant policies affecting market stability. Identify market inefficiencies, structural distortions, and barriers impacting competitiveness and price formation. Support the assessment of supply chain bottlenecks, post-harvest loss risks, and infrastructure gaps. Integrate economic, market, price, and trade indicators into the project's commodity balance analysis framework. Assess the effectiveness of market stabilization instruments and policies, such as strategic reserves and price stabilization mechanisms. Develop evidence-based policy recommendations for strengthening market stability, transparency, and informed decision-making. Undertake a mission to Kazakhstan for stakeholder consultations and data collection, collaborating with the International Consultant on Commodity Balance and Supply Chain. Provide technical input for capacity-building workshops on economic, market, price, and trade analysis. Ensure consistency between market/trade analysis and commodity balance/supply chain assessments. Submit progress updates and contribute to the final project report, including analytical findings and policy recommendations.
Work Experience
At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in agricultural economics, food markets, commodity market analysis, international trade, price analysis, or food security economics. Experience in economic and market analysis, particularly for agricultural commodities and food markets, is essential.
Skills
Strong knowledge of supply-demand analysis, commodity markets, price formation, and transmission mechanisms. Demonstrated experience in analyzing domestic and international trade flows, including imports, exports, trade partners, and trade policy measures. Proficiency in quantitative analysis of market, price, and trade data, and interpreting economic indicators for policy. Ability to identify market inefficiencies, structural constraints, and factors affecting market competitiveness and stability. Experience in developing evidence-based policy recommendations related to food markets, agricultural trade, price stabilization, or food security. Strong analytical, drafting, and report-writing skills. Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams. Knowledge of Russian is an asset.