Statistician , IFAD

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an International Financial Institution and a Specialized United Nations Agency whose mission is to enable poor rural people to overcome poverty. IFAD's headquarters is in Rome, Italy, and is present in more than 90 countries to develop and finance programmes and projects aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and incomes.




Division Context

The mission of the Office of the Strategy Knowledge Management (SKM), led by the Chief Development Strategist, is to enhance IFAD's analytical and leadership capacity in the global dialogue on rural and smallholder development and ensure that IFAD's development work is guided by state of the art thinking on rural on agricultural and rural development issues. Towards this end, SKM produces periodic and regular analyses on subject matters relevant to IFAD's mission and strategic objectives. In addition to producing periodic papers and analysis, the Office is also responsible for producing the flagship publication of the Fund the IFAD Rural Poverty Report. SKM is also responsible for producing key high-level policy papers such as IFAD's Strategic Framework which provides overall guidance to IFAD's work in its developing member counties. To carry out its mandate, SKM works closely with other Divisions of the Fund and is also responsible for establishing strategic partnerships with research and academic institutions and development agencies in both developing and developed member states.




Duties and Responsibilities

Working under the direct Supervision of the Chief Development Strategist, the the Statistician will be expected to:

- Develop and manage the statistical unit of SKM. This will include designing and implementing strategies for accessing and collecting data from other institutions that collect primary data, validating such data, and making such data and associated statistical analyses available to SKM and IFAD in a timely manner.


- Manage and lead (as required) the preparation of statistical/analytical work for IFAD flagship publications such as the Rural Poverty Report;


- Collaborate on the research and analytical work of SKM staff by assisting in the determination of data needs and assisting in the assembling and anlysis of the required data;

- Working with other SKM colleagues develop and implement a proposal for the creation of an IFAD Rural Poverty Index and manage the process to produce the Index on a regular basis;


- Coordinate collaboration with other IFAD departments on matters relating to food security and rural livelihoods statistics for the preparation of IFAD publications.


- Establish effective working relations with other institutions such as FAO, the World Bank, WFP and IFPRI that collect primary data to enable easy access for IFAD to such data;


- Represent IFAD in international meetings on development statistics and methodologies, including preparation of papers on IFAD¿s approach.


- Advise and consult with other divisions of the Fund to ensure consistency of the data and information circulating in-house, including data on IFAD operations.


- Any other duties as requested.




Education and Experience

- Masters Degree in Statistics with preferably a minor in social sciences;


- Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible experience in the realm of development, international cooperation, or in relevant research institutions, with particular focus on statistical work, research, writing, research coordination, communication, and/or advisory functions




Technical/Functional Competencies

Technical requirements:

- Proven statistical skills for development work and thorough knowledge and understanding of socio-economic indicators, and good knowledge of development issues.


- Analytic skills and ability to relate analysis to the requirements of effective non-technical communication.


- Good overview and familiarity with databases and statistical publications of the major UN agencies, IFIs and research centres dealing with relevant subjects.

Core competencies:

- Excellent analytical skills


- Good coordination and management skills


- Excellent time management skills and ability to deliver under tight deadlines


- Ability to work effectively in a multicultural and interdisciplinary team




Communication

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; including the ability to set out a coherent argument in presentations and group interactions


- Working knowledge of Arabic, French and/or Spanish is an asset.




Other Information

*This is a re-advertisement of the Vacancy Announcement 1013 Statistician Grade P-4. Applicants who have already applied to 1013 do not need to apply again.

Applicants should note that IFAD staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the President of IFAD, and they may be assigned by him/her to any of the activities of IFAD, including field assignments and/or rotation within IFAD.

IFAD reserves the right to appoint a candidate at the appropriate grade commensurate with experience and knowledge.

Interested candidates are requested to apply by completing IFAD¿s Personal History Form (PHF) in English. A separate CV may be attached if you so desire, only as a supplement and not a substitute to the PHF. The application should be made through the online system only.

In the interest of making most cost effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview. Candidates who do not receive any feedback within three months should consider their application unsuccessful.

Candidates may be required to take a written test and to deliver a presentation as well as participate in interviews.


Statistician* P-4 - Development Studies and Statistics Unit Division - deadline: 24 February 2012