Senior Food Security Analyst, FEWS NET, East and Southern Africa (ESAF)

Chemonics’ East and Southern Africa Regional Business Unit is seeking a Senior Food Security Analyst. The Senior Food Security Analyst (SFSA) is part of the Food Security Decision Support Group (FS-DSG), a unit within the Washington DC-based FEWS NET DS Team.

The SFSA works closely with other FEWS NET DS Team colleagues in the home, regional, and field offices to accomplish the FS-DSG’s two primary objectives : 1) facilitate development and communication of timely, high-quality, actionable decision support at the country, regional, and global levels and 2) build the capacity of FEWS NET staff and partners in food security analysis and strategic communications.

In addition to contributing to the two primary objectives noted above, SFSAs also take on leadership roles in the FS-DSG, which may include serving as lead analysts for select geographic regions or specified thematic areas, covering more challenging countries within FEWS NET’s portfolio, and / or leading on higher-priority activities.

SFSA positions are full-time and are typically based at the FEWS NET DS home office in Washington, D.C., though remote options may be considered for well qualified candidates.

The SFSA positions work under the direct supervision of the FEWS NET D-FSDSA, or their designee, and work closely with other members of the FS-DSG and home, regional, and field office teams.

The decision support analysts and senior decision support analysts are required to travel domestically and internationally, security permitting.

Responsibilities :

Analyze, integrate, and synthesize conflict, markets and trade, nutrition, livelihoods, and other information affecting food security for the development of regular, high-quality, integrated acute food insecurity early warning information products

• Co-lead on the analysis of acute food insecurity in a subset of FEWS NET’s presence (over 40) countries and / or Expanded Global Early Warning (around 125) countries.
• Technically and editorially contribute to, review, and revise field-authored regular and ad hoc reporting on acute food insecurity in support of effective decision-making by donor governments.

This decision support includes production of Food Security Outlooks, Outlook Updates, Alerts, Regional Seasonal Monitors, the Food Assistance Outlook Brief, Targeted Analyses, regular briefings, and other ad hoc products and briefings, as necessary.

The SFSA will communicate the severity of acute food insecurity in line with the globally recognized Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) scale.

Where IPC compatibility is not possible, the SFSA will communicate needs in globally comparable means, as advised by the senior food security decision support advisor (S-FSDSA), deputy decision support advisor (D-FSDSA), and quality assurance and methods advisor (QAMA).

• Contribute to the development of the estimates of the population in need of humanitarian food assistance for the monthly and annual Food Assistance Outlook Brief and other decision support products for USAID.
• Develop and present technical briefings on acute food insecurity to USG staff and other partners, as requested.
• Lead or otherwise support the development of special technical reports on acute food insecurity.
• Conduct field visits to support food security 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

• Play a lead role in developing analytical and decision-support strategies to effectively develop and communicate pertinent information to decision-makers when potential or ongoing food security crises are identified.
• Support the S-FSDSA and D-FSDSA in meeting USAID’s expectations on timely delivery of decision support products, which includes, but is not limited to : delivery of monthly reporting for all presence countries no later than 7 days after the last day of the month;

responding to urgent questions on acute food insecurity within one day; providing briefings within one week of request; and assessing acute food insecurity in EGEW countries within one week of request.

The SFSA will be expected to demonstrate the ability to respond quickly to sudden increases and decreases in food insecurity globally by actively working with the S-FSDSA and D-FSDSA to re-orient work plans and initiate new lines of monitoring and reporting outside of traditional areas of coverage.

Provide technical assistance on complex subject matter to strengthen data collection, analysis, and information dissemination capacities

• Provide relevant technical and geographic guidance in their areas of expertise (e.g., agricultural economics, livelihoods, nutrition, pastoralism / livestock).
• Contribute to the development and implementation of guidance materials in the areas of early warning, decision support, and reporting.
• Support activities to enhance project representatives’ and partners’ understanding of food security early warning and decision support processes, including but not limited to the Integrated Phase Classification / Cadre Harmonisé workshop fora.
• Collaborate with the FEWS NET DS team’s humanitarian assistance specialists and humanitarian assistance analysts to gather and share all available data on humanitarian aid plans and distributions for ingestion into a Humanitarian Assistance Decision Support Tool.

Take on a leadership role and act as either a regional lead within a geographic region or as a thematic lead within the FS-DSG

The SFSA will also take on leadership roles in the FS-DSG, which may include serving as lead analysts for select geographic regions or specified thematic areas, covering more challenging countries within FEWS NET’s portfolio, and / or leading on higher-priority activities.

As a regional lead, the SFSA will carry out the following illustrative tasks related to their region of focus :

• Regular collaboration with regional technical managers and regional specialists for coordination of regional activities
• T aking the lead in developing regional reports and presentations
• Coordinating cross-border analyses
• Serving as a focal point for special and ad hoc requests

As a thematic lead, the SFSA will carry out the following illustrative tasks related to their sector of focus :

• Serving as a thematic focal point within the FS-DSG
• Assisting with the development and implementation of guidance and training
• Collaborating with sector specialists on joint activities

Alternatively, the SFSA could be asked to :

• Cover a portfolio of highly challenging countries;
• Lead on key activities within the FEWS NET DS workplan
• Lead on high-profile briefings and ad hoc analyses
• Liaising directly with external partners on select topics of relevance to the integrated analysis of, and early warning for, acute food insecurity

In addition to items listed, incumbents are expected to follow organization policies, adhere to organization processes and programs and perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements :

• Minimum five years of relevant experience, including working on food security information systems, food security analysis, early warning, or other directly related fields.
• At least two years of work experience that is directly relevant to supporting acute food insecurity or other humanitarian assessment, integrated analysis, and associated decision support across multiple geographies is required.
• Bachelor’s degree in economics, agricultural economics, agronomy, nutrition, climatology, anthropology, or social geography or similar is required;

advanced university degree (Master’s degree or higher) is strongly preferred.

Fluency in English is required; French, Spanish, and / or Arabic language proficiency is required for positions covering select regions;

otherwise, French, Spanish, and / or Arabic language skills are desirable.

• Experience working with UN agencies and / or NGOs is desirable.
• Previous experience living and working in a region or country in which FEWS NET project staff work is desirable.
• Experience using large datasets to analyze trends through a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods is desirable.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well with field-based, local staff via telephone, e-mail, and other remote means is required.
• Excellent writing, editing, and presentation skills are required.
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft office suite, are required; Adobe Creative suite and database management skills are desirable.
• Familiarity with ESRI ArcGIS mapping and statistical software is desirable.
• Previous experience supervising staff is desirable.
• Experience using large datasets to analyze trends through a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods is required.
• Previous experience working on donor-funded activities, preferably USAID-funded, is desirable.
• Substantive knowledge of the humanitarian landscape and policy trends as they relate to food security information systems, food security analysis, early warning and / or other areas relevant to the work of the DS Team is required.
• Familiarity with the IPC and / or CH protocols, analytical tools, and processes is required.
• Household-level food security analysis skills is strongly preferred.

Experience with the Household Economy Approach is strongly preferred