Chemonics is hiring: Regional Food Security Specialist for Southern Africa (2023)
Closing date: 31 May 2023
Chemonics seeks a Southern Africa regional food security specialist for the ongoing USAID Famine Early Warning Systems Network Project in Harare, Zimbabwe. FEWS NET is an integrated set of activities funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is intended to provide timely, accurate, evidence-based, and transparent food security early warning information and analysis. Chemonics International (Chemonics) implements the FEWS NET EWT, a team charged with integrated emergency food security analysis through a Washington-based technical office and more than 20 field offices.
The RFSS assists the RR in providing quality control of project deliverables from the regional and national offices and helps to ensure that activities and products for their region are delivered in a timely manner.
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Responsibilities include:
- Supporting the RR in completing and/or providing quality control of project deliverables, including drafting and/or reviewing Food Security Outlooks (FSOs) and FSO Updates, monthly key messages, remote monitoring reports, and other FEWS NET EWT information products required regionally and by the Washington‐based technical team.
- Supporting field offices in the region in maintaining an evidence base composed of, at a minimum, livelihood zone profiles, commodity trade flow maps, sub‐national seasonal monitoring calendars, and technical databases covering commodity prices, rainfall, agricultural production, population, historical assistance flows, and nutrition/health.
- In collaboration with the RR, providing high quality and effective early warning of acute food insecurity and supporting efforts to mitigate acute food insecurity and prevent food crises through the effective communication of actionable food security analysis.
- Participating in strategic planning and executing technical activities in their areas of expertise, including cross‐border markets and trade monitoring, regional scenario development, livelihoods analyses, nutrition, and other areas as requested by the RR.
- Contributing to remote monitoring of non‐presence countries in the region, including directly carrying out remote monitoring activities.
- Collaborating with regional and international partners in acute food insecurity monitoring and analysis, including through the implementation of the IPC.
- Coordinating with the RR to develop and maintain strong collaborative relations, both formal and informal, with USAID missions/representatives, US Embassy technical contacts, United Nations agency representatives, government ministries, and key international non‐governmental organizations to facilitate technical exchanges, promote consensus‐building, and resolve any potential conflicts.
- Supporting national offices in collecting, archiving, analyzing and sharing food security data and information.
- Providing regular briefings to the US Government and other partners.
- Contributing to FEWS NET EWT methods development and testing.
Qualifications:
- Proficiency in written and spoken English is required; operational level in French and other local language skills relevant to the region are desirable.
- 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; advanced university degree (master’s degree or higher) is desirable.
- 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.
- Knowledge of nutrition is highly desirable.
- Previous experience with the IPC or CH is desirable.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively conduct assessments, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and analyze information from relevant sectors using both qualitative and quantitative methods is required.
- Demonstrated leadership capacities and an ability to work independently, when necessary is required, as are strong organizational skills.
- Demonstrated analytical and report‐writing skills are required.
Application instructions:
All application materials, including responses to the general information form, CVs, and cover letters, should be provided in English. No telephone inquiries. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
