Economic Analyst, Food Security recruitment
Role Overview
The Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) consists of a team of around 40 economists and analysts. It contributes to the operational, policy and strategy work of the Bank and provides intellectual leadership on the economic aspects of transition in the region. OCE works with the Banking Department in structuring, appraising and monitoring investment projects that advance the transition to a market economy. OCE also initiates and participates in Bank policy initiatives, contributes to the development of country and sector strategies, and supports the Bank's operations by monitoring macroeconomic developments and risks.
Since the global food crises in 2008 and the recent food price hikes in 2010 OCE together with Agribusiness Banking team has launched a "Private Sector for Food Security Initiative". This includes playing a constructive role in leveraging the EBRD's investor position to engage in policy dialogue inducing regulatory and institutional change to tackle supply side bottlenecks in food production as well as constraints to food trade. The initiative specifically focuses on international coordination with other international and local institutions in areas such as collateralisation of soft commodities, improving commodity trading, risk management and quality standards and innovative agribusiness climate change financing mechanisms.
The EBRD has been asked by its shareholders to extend its activities to the MENA region (in particular Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and Tunisia) following the 'Arab Spring'. Food security is both an economic as well as policy priority for this new region of the EBRD. In this context, the Office of the Chief Economist together with the Agribusiness banking team is seeking a Economic Analyst for Food Security, reporting to the Senior Economist, Lead Private Sector for Food Security Initiative, Office of the Chief Economist.
The Office of the Chief Economist is seeking an analysts to contribute to the Food Security in the MENA region, through:
• Sector analysis on economics of food security and commodity price volatility;• Coordination with other International Organisations (i.e. other Multilateral Development Banks, UN-Organizations;
• Monitoring and economic analysis of the key food commodity chains in the MENA region;
• Design and Analysis of the impact of Bank projects and operations relevant to food security in the MENA region;
• Economic research relevant to the problems of food security in the MENA region.
Key Responsibilities Deliverables
Responsibilities and deliverables may include:
• Compilation and maintenance of relevant datasets related to food security issues with a specific focus on the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean Region (in particular Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Jordan)
• Research assistance and econometric or statistical analysis underlying EBRD research products mainly related to food security issues• Support to the coordination and outreach efforts of food security in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (in particular support to the new MedAgri platform)• Management and coordination of external consultants• Assisting with procurement and donor relations
• Assistance in the preparation of regular publications, reports, and ad-hoc economic briefings, including drafting of specific sections and preparation of charts and tables.· Active coordination between different teams in the EBRD· Assistance in management and coordination of external consultants.· Preparation of power-point preparations.· Organisation and management of conferences and seminars, and contribution to general outreach (online and print)· Ad hoc assignments as requested.
Essential Skills, Experience Qualifications
Required qualifications and skills include:
• A Master's degree in economics or a related field from a leading university;
• Strong analytical skills.
• Strong quantitative skills, including knowledge of spreadsheet and econometric or statistical software, such as Eviews or Stata;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• in-depth knowledge of the Middle East North African region, (in particular Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and Tunisia) particularly work or study experience in the region.
• knowledge of food security issues and knowledge of one or more languages of the region would be an advantage.
• knowledge of other international organisations in particular other multilateral development banks and their efforts in food security
Competencies Personal Attributes
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in teams. - Ability to plan and organise work unsupervised.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.- Ability to operate sensitively in multi-cultural environments and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues.