Markets and Trade Analyst

FEWS NET food security analysis, early warning, and decision support for emergency food assistance relies on the monitoring and analysis of markets and prices associated with staple foods, cash crops, livestock, labor, and more. 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 analyzing international, regional, and national food, fuel, and fertilizer commodity market trends, preparing technical reports on market trends, contributing to the technical oversight of the project’s analytical approaches, supporting the review and maintenance of a database of price and other economic indicators in collaboration with the data team, and providing technical M&T support to FEWS NET DS home, regional, and country offices and technical partners. The M&T analyst is part of a team of technicians based in Washington, D.C.

The M&T 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 maintenance, review, population and expansion of FEWS NET’s data sets used for markets and trade
• analysis, with a focus on domains including prices, exchange rates, consumer price indices, cross-border trade,
• production, and balance sheet data.
• Analyze primary and secondary market data as inputs to FEWS NET EWT integrated food security analysis.
• Follow and analyze commodity trade flow data and forecasts.
• 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 markets and trade 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.

Responsibilities

The main responsibilities of the M&T analyst in their assigned geographic and/or thematic portfolio include, but are not limited to:

Provide M&T related analysis to support the food security early warning in a portfolio of countries across FEWS NET’s over 42 presence countries and, as needed, up to 125 non-regular countries covered under the FEWS NET DS Expanded Global Early Warning (EGEW). This analysis may be through formal monthly reporting, standardized mechanisms that support the timely monthly reporting of other technical sectors, or ad hoc requests. This will include, but is not limited to:

• Liaising 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 the FEWS NET EWT monitors including the Price Watch and Annex.
• Providing technical oversight for the production of the FEWS NET EWT’ staple food supply and market
• outlook reports.
• Providing technical assistance and guidance to home, regional, and country 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.
• Participating in regular reviews of the consistency and accuracy of price projections and other M&T-related forecasting in FEWS NET EWT analyses and assist in incorporating associated learning into sector methods, processes, and products.
• Conducting 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.
• Liaising with relevant research institutions to support market-related research relevant to food insecurity early warning analysis in FEWS NET reporting and Market Watch countries.

Under the supervision of the M&T advisor, the M&T analyst will closely collaborate with other FEWS NET mechanisms, namely IFPRI, to ensure the integration of available markets and trade related analyses into the EWT’s regular and ad hoc decision support.

Support the M&T advisor in meeting USAID’s expectations on timely delivery of decision support products, which includes, but is not limited to: responding to urgent questions within one day; providing briefings within one week of request; and contributing markets and trade analysis to requests for acute food insecurity analysis in EGEW countries that will be delivered within one week of request.

Under the direction of the M&T advisor, the M&T analyst will support the collection, organization, and storage of primary and secondary data and information for submission to the FEWS NET Hub and USAID. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Liaising with FEWS NET EWT project staff and partners to facilitate timely data flows. o Contributing to the regular collection, organization, and storage of data as set out by the FEWS NET Senior Management Team in collaboration with the FEWS NET Data, Knowledge, and Learning Hub.
• Providing support to field teams, the FEWS NET EWT Data sector, the broader M&T team, and Mobile Data Transmission System subcontractors to improve data quality and integrity.
• Liaising with other technical sectors of FEWS NET, including the Quality Assurance and Methods sector and Data sector, as well as 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.

Liaising 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.

Assisting the M&T advisor, as needed, in implementing other M&T activities as laid out in the annual work plan or as developed on an as needed basis.

As needed, the M&T analyst will be expected to contribute to the FEWS NET EWT’s decision support efforts to identify as early as possible potential or emerging markets and trade crises. The M&T analyst will be expected to demonstrate the ability to respond quickly to sudden increases and decreases in analysis needs globally by, under the direction of the markets and trade advisor, re-orienting work plans and initiating new lines of monitoring and reporting outside of traditional areas of coverage.

Under the guidance of the M&T advisor, collaborate with partner and the wider FEWS NET mechanisms including IFPRI and SPADe.

• Minimum five years of relevant experience, including 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.
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent work experience) in a discipline relevant to the work of FEWS NET, such as economics, agricultural economics, agronomy, nutrition, climatology, anthropology, or social geography is required.
• Fluency in English required; French, Spanish, and/or Arabic language skills are 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, using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods is desirable.
• Experience in market analysis, including reviewing and analyzing large amounts of complex data is required; this could include data on trade, commodity prices, production, and more.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well with field-based, local staff via telephone and e-mail is required.
• Experience carrying out or supporting market assessments for emergency response, or food supply chain mapping is highly preferred.
• Excellent computer skills including Microsoft office suite is required.
• Database management skills and experience using Adobe Creative Suite is desirable.
• Familiarity with ESRI ArcGIS mapping and statistical software is desirable.
• Previous experience working on USAID-funded activities is desirable
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship

Action Against Hunger-USA provides all staff with an attractive salary & benefits package. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees & qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Action Against Hunger-USA complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

This position is not eligible for employment sponsorship. Candidates must have authorization to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship now or in the future.