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Regional food security specialist - markets and trade South Africa

Chemonics seeks a regional food security specialist - markets and trade for the ongoing USAID-funded FEWS NET project. FEWS NET aims to anticipate future food security outcomes and communicate this information to relevant governmental and nongovernmental entities. It also provides advisory support to regional and country-specific contingency and response planning efforts, as well as in-depth studies related to livelihoods, markets and trade, and nutrition. FEWS NET food security analyses, early warning of threats to food security, and food assistance decision support depend heavily on the monitoring and analysis of food commodity markets. The regional food security specialist - markets and trade will work with the regional technical manager, the country teams in the region, and partners to design, execute, and coordinate regional activities in the markets and trade technical area. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Responsibilities include:


Monitoring, analysis, and reporting
  • Provide technical assistance and guidance to country teams
  • Provide 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
  • Contribute to the production of monthly regional reports and ad hoc regional ​decision-support products
  • Assist the regional technical manager in keeping current the region's page on the FEWS NET website
  • Compile and analyze market data monitored by FEWS NET in the region
  • Monitor and analyze market and policy developments and emerging issues concerning staple food commodities, livestock, cash crops, and other commodities relevant to livelihoods and food security analysis
Technical capacity development and guidance
  • Provide ad hoc technical assistance and guidance to enable national technical managers to deliver high-quality market information and food security analyses
  • Assist with the design and conduct of market assessments and market studies
  • Design and execute activities to build and maintain an up-to-date knowledge base on regional markets for food commodities and livestock.
  • Transfer knowledge and provide short-term training on food commodity markets to country teams
  • Contribute to FEWS NET methods development and testing

Leadership, representation, and liaison
  • Contribute to the identification of priority markets and trade activities
  • Design, execute, and direct technical and operational work
  • Seek collaboration with regional partners to enhance the quality and impact of FEWS NET markets and trade work
  • Liaise with regional partners to exchange of information and promote a dialogue on market and institutional issues pertaining to food security, early warning, and preparedness
  • Contribute to FEWS NET's capacity building and institutional strengthening objectives
  • Facilitate training workshops and the transfer of FEWS NET market monitoring tools and systems to regional and international organizations
Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in a discipline that is directly relevant to markets and trade, food security, economics, or agricultural economics required
  • Minimum five years of relevant regional experience in agricultural economics and/or markets and trade with direct application in food security and early warning
  • Minimum five years of experience working with food security information systems and food security analysis
  • Ability to work and coordinate effectively with regional partners and stakeholders
  • Excellent computer skills
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Excellent analytical and report-writing skills
  • Familiarity with the Household Economy Approach
  • Experience working with USAID
  • GIS and mapping skills
  • Supervisory, management, and donor coordination experience
  • Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
  • English fluency required; proficiency in the local/regional language(s) preferred
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Application Instructions:

This position is only open to individuals eligible to work in South Africa. Send electronic submissions to FEWSNETRegionalRecruit@chemonics.com by September 30, 2012. Please include the name of the position in the subject line. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.
In addition, please download and complete Chemonics’ equal employment opportunity self-identification form and submit it separately to EEOselfidentify@chemonics.com with only "FEWS NET - regional food security specialist" in the subject line. If you prefer not to disclose your sex, race, or ethnicity, you may check “I do not wish to complete the information requested.” Thank you for completing the form and supporting our equal employment opportunity reporting requirements.
Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.​