Markets and Trade Analyst At Chemonics

Chemonics seeks a markets and trade analyst for the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) – Early Warning Team (EWT). Food security analysis, early warning, and decision support for emergency food assistance rely on the monitoring and analysis of markets and prices associated with staple foods, cash crops, livestock, and labor. The markets and trade analyst supports the Washington, D.C. and project office operations for the markets and trade (M&T) sector. Key duties include preparing technical reports on market trends, contributing to the technical oversight of the project’s analytical approaches, and providing technical M&T support to FEWS NET EWT home, regional and field offices, and technical partners. The markets and trade analyst is part of a close-knit team of food security-focused technicians based in Washington, D.C. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

The Markets and Trade Analyst is assigned a specific portfolio, including both geographic and thematic areas of focus. The markets and trade analyst works within an assigned geographic and/or thematic portfolio and in close collaboration with members of home, regional, and field office technical teams to:

• Prepare and/or provide technical oversight to M&T-focused reports and decision-support products.
• Contribute to population and expansion of FEWS NET’s data sets used for markets and trade analysis, with a focus on domains including prices, cross-border trade, production, and balance sheet data
• Analyze primary and secondary market data as inputs to FEWS NET EWT integrated food security analysis
• Contribute to the development of sector-relevant analytical tools and train technical staff on the use of those tools
• With oversight from the M&T advisor, the M&T analyst will work with the rest of the M&T team to support quality control for the M&T deliverables of the project and will help ensure that M&T-related activities and products are delivered in a timely manner.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Liaise with M&T staff and other FEWS NET EWT members to assure the timely publication of the monthly deliverables reporting on trends in staple food markets in countries FEWS NET EWT monitors Including the Monthly Price Bulletins (national and regional) and Price Watch and Annex
• Provide technical oversight for the production of the FEWS NET EWT staple food supply and market outlook reports
• Liaise with FEWS NET EWT project staff and partners to facilitate timely data flows.
• Liaise with country and regional office staff to plan monthly M&T work planning and coordination meetings that take place approximately one week prior to the Regional Office coordination call with the Home Office. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring calendar invitations are sent, agendas are circulated in advance of the meetings, and comprehensive notes and action items are documented and circulated
• Provide support to field teams, the FEWS NET EWT Database Manager, the broader M&T team, and Mobile Data Transmission System subcontractors to improve data quality and integrity
• Liaise with the FEWS NET M&T team and data team, and the FEWS NET Data, Knowledge, and Learning Hub to enhance the functionality of various data domains, including but not limited to online and offline analytical tools.
• Provide technical assistance and guidance to home, regional, and field office teams on market and policy analysis relevant to food insecurity early warning and associated decision support. Technical assistance to the field may be done remotely or may require domestic and/or international travel, as security and public health considerations allow
• Participate in regular reviews of the consistency and accuracy of price projections and other M&T-related forecasting in the FEWS NET EWT analyses and assist in incorporating associated learning into sector methods, processes, and products
• Conducte literature reviews, analyzing data, and drafting reports on market trends and policies in support of the early warning work and in close collaboration with other members of home, regional, and field office technical teams.
• Liaise with relevant research institutions to support market-related research relevant to food insecurity early warning analysis in FEWS NET reporting and Market Watch countries
• Contribute sector-relevant content to monthly and ad hoc decision support products
• Assisting the markets and trade advisor, as needed, in implementing other M&T activities

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a discipline relevant to the work of FEWS NET, such as economics, agricultural economics, agronomy, nutrition, climatology, anthropology, or social geography is required
• At least two years of relevant experience (with PhD), four years of relevant experience (with Master’s degree), or six years of relevant experience (with Bachelor’s degree) is required. Relevant experience includes working on food security information systems, food security analysis, early warning, or other related fields; experience working with UN agencies and/or NGOs is desirable
• Previous experience working on donor-funded activities, preferably USAID-funded activities, is desirable
• Previous experience living and working in a region or country in which FEWS NET project staff work is desirable
• Experience building and using large databases to analyze market trends through a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods is required.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well with field-based, local staff via telephone, email, 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
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
• Fluency in English is required; French, and/or Spanish language skills are desirable