Food security analysts Washington, D.C

Chemonics seeks food security analysts with expertise in agricultural economics, livelihoods, nutrition, pastoralism/livestock, and related areas to support the USAID-funded Famine Early Warning System​s Network (FEWS NET) III. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world. ​

FEWS NET III is the world's premier provider of high-quality food security analysis and early warning. Created in response to the 1984 famines in East and West Africa, this $200 million, five-year activity (2012-2016) aims to collaborate with international, regional, and national partners to provide timely and rigorous early warning and analysis of potential, emerging, and evolving food security issues to inform appropriate humanitarian response. The project covers 31 countries, with plans to expand over the coming four years. 

Within the context of local livelihoods, FEWS NET professionals in Africa, Central America, Haiti, Central Asia, and the United States monitor relevant data sources (e.g., remote sensing imagery, price and trade data, nutrition information), which inform a scenario-building process used to project future food security outcomes. FEWS NET then uses decision support products to communicate this analysis to U.S. government, United Nations, national government, and NGO decision makers. These products include regular briefings to senior USAID staff, quarterly food security projections, and food security alerts. FEWS NET staff also provide advisory support to regional and country-specific contingency and response planning efforts and in-depth studies related to livelihoods, markets and trade, and nutrition.​

Position Description:

The DSG has two primary objectives: facilitate development and communication of timely, high-quality, actionable decision support at the country, regional, and global levels and build FEWS NET staff and partners' food security analysis and strategic communications capacity. The food security analysts will collaborate frequently with other home office and field-based team members on technical guidance and decision support products. While their exact duties will be based on their background and expertise, their primary role is to serve as the technical team's regional focal points for food security analysis, decision support, and information requests for one or two geographic regions. Within these broad objectives, the analysts will perform three primary tasks:

Synthesize market and trade, nutrition, livelihoods, and other food security analysis for development of regular, high-quality early warning information products. Illustrative tasks include reviewing field-authored food security reporting, contributing to the monthly Food Assistance Outlook Brief for senior Food for Peace staff, develop and present technical briefings to U.S. government staff and other partners, and make 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. When potential or ongoing food security crises are identified, the analysts will lead development of analytical and decision support strategies to develop and communicate information on the crises, their causes, and potential response options to decision makers.

Provide technical assistance to strengthen data collection, analysis, and information dissemination capacity among host-country, NGO, and donor partners and field staff. The analysts will provide relevant technical and geographic guidance in their areas of expertise and contribute to development of guidance materials in early warning, decision support, and reporting. They will also support activities to enhance field representatives' and partners' understanding of food security early warning and decision support processes.

Location and Reporting:

The food security analysts will be based in the FEWS NET home office in Washington, D.C., and will travel as required (up to 25 percent of the time) to provide in-country support to FEWS NET field staff and partners. The analysts will report to the FEWS NET decision support advisor and will work closely with other members of the DSG, technical team, and field staff. 

Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in a field related to food security or other relevant area required
• Minimum three years of professional experience related to food security, livelihoods, nutrition, economic development, or related programming
• Minimum two years of experience working in developing countries
• Strong household-level food security analysis skills
• Excellent writing, editing, and presentation skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well with field-based, local staff via​ telephone and e-mail
• Experience with the Household Economy Approach preferred
• Experience working with USAID preferred
• GIS skills preferred
• English fluency and strong French skills required
• Authorization to work in the United States required

Application Instructions:

Send electronic submissions to fews3dsg@chemonics.com by February 28, 2013. 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 III"  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.​