The Agrifood Economics Division (ESA) conducts economic research and policy analysis to support the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind. ESA provides evidence-based support to national, regional and global policy processes and initiatives related to monitoring and analysing food and agricultural policies, agribusiness and value chain development, rural transformation and poverty, food security and nutrition information and analysis, resilience, bioeconomy, and climate-smart agriculture. The division also leads the production of two FAO flagship publications: The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) and The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI).
Tasks and responsibilities:
The Incumbent will primarily carry out tasks related to policy monitoring activities. In particular, the Analyst t will undertake the following tasks:
Collect the most recent data on prices (farm gate, wholesale, border and retail) for rice, maize, yam, groundnuts, palm oil, soybeans, poultry and tomato from the official government sources to update the price incentives analysis.
Draft specific sections of the MAFAP Policy Monitoring Review for Ghana:
Overview of the country context, of the Ghanaian food and agricultural sector, and of the main sectoral policies and strategies in the introductory chapter;
Value chain context for 5-8 selected commodities (rice, maize, yam, groundnuts, palm oil + soybeans, poultry and tomato) in the chapter focusing on the analysis of Price Incentives.
Assessing coherence of current policies (both commodity-specific and those covering the sector as a whole) with stated policy objectives in the chapter focusing on policy coherence analysis.
Main recommendations issued from the analysis of public expenditures and price incentives in the concluding chapter.
Assist to produce a policy brief associated with the Policy Monitoring Review for Ghana.
Assist in the organization of stakeholders validation of the results of policy monitoring indicators.
Perform any other duties as may be required.
Candidates Will Be Assessed Against The Following: Minimum Requirements:
Master’s degree in economics, agricultural economics, development economics, applied economics, political sciences or related fields;
5 years of relevant experience in agricultural policies or in economic and agricultural research; and at least 1 year of experience of working with governments, research institutions or development organizations in Ghana or in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Working knowledge (Level C) of English.
National of Ghana.
Technical/Functional Skills:
Extent and relevance of work experience with government, research institutions or development organizations in Ghana or in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Extent and relevance of experience in conducting quantitative economic analysis of agricultural and food policies, including analysis of agricultural policy distortions and public expenditure for the food and agricultural sector.
Familiarity with providing policy advice to governments in Ghana.
Knowledge of current political economic conditions in Ghana, and ability to analyse the policy context at country level building on political economy tools.
Capacity to interact with government officials on key policy issues affecting agriculture and food security.
Experience in communicating with government officials and ability to present the key results in concise and effective manner.
Extent and relevance of knowledge of the Ghanaian food and agricultural sector.
