Economist/Data Analyst

World Food Programme; Roma; In loco; EUR 39.000 - 58.000; Part-time

Descrizione del lavoro

World Food Programme seeks an Economist/Data Analyst (Consultant) based at its Rome, Italy HQ to support the Market Functionality Index (MFI) and related market analysis. The role focuses on data management, pipeline improvements, and analytical briefs to inform policy decisions and advocacy efforts.

Requirements include an advanced economics degree, strong analytical skills, and experience with time-series data; proficiency in MS Office and STATA is essential, with knowledge of R/GAMS/XML a

Competenze

• Advanced university degree in economics, development economics, food security, statistics, or similar relevant discipline.
• Coursework in econometrics, evaluation methods, applied economics, development economics, household economics or other relevant topics is an advantage.
• Experience in economic and/or food security analysis, including quantitative analysis; price/time-series analysis; field assessments is an asset.

Mansioni

• Support development and scale-up of the Market Functionality Index (MFI).
• Maintain the MFI database and backstop data collection via DataBridges.
• Improve the MFI end-to-end data pipeline and perform data analysis.
• Prepare economic briefs, price and market analyses, and support field missions as required.

Conoscenze

Analytical skills

MS Office

STATA

Econometrics

Data analysis

R

GAMS

XML coding

Formazione

Advanced university degree in economics or related field

Econometrics coursework (advantage)

Strumenti

MS Office

STATA

GAMS

R

XML

Descrizione del lavoro

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

23 September 2026-23:59-GMT+01:00 Central European Time (Rome)

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

To learn more about WFP, visit our website: https://www.wfp.org and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.

WHY JOIN WFP?

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

JOB TITLE : Economist/Data Analyst
TYPE OF CONTRACT : Consultant
UNIT/DIVISION : Economic and Markets Unit (PRGFE) / Programme Division (PRG)
DUTY STATION (City, Country): Rome, Italy
DURATION : 2.5 months, until 31 Dec 2026

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The Economic and Markets Unit (PRGFE) of the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Service (PRGF) of the Programme Division (PRG) of the World Food Programme (WFP) seeks to fill an economist/data analyst position, which will be based at the Headquarters of the United Nations World Food Programme in Rome, Italy. The PRGF Service in WFP Headquarters leads WFP’s food security analysis, supporting a large network of analysts in Regional Offices (ROs) and Country Offices (COs). Food security analysis is a cornerstone of the organization’s work. It provides WFP, governments and partners with the essential information to identify populations in need and target the most appropriate type and scale of interventions as well as with the necessary knowledge to inform policy decisions and advocacy efforts. Analyses span emergency assessments, in-depth household surveys, food security monitoring, early warning and forecasting, spatial analysis and economic and market analysis. PRGFE leverages economic analysis to support operational decision-making and evidence-driven advocacy. The unit provides tools, guidance and support to WFP COs to enhance their capacity to monitor food prices, assess markets, analyze essential needs and adjust programmes in contexts of economic volatility, ensuring that interventions are both timely and effective. PRGFE further monitors economic trends and risks, analyzes food security implications of global economic shocks and runs scenario simulations, based on cutting-edge economic research.
PRGFE is recruiting an economist/data analyst who will be the focal point to support WFP COs with market assessments conducted with the Market Functionality Index (MFI), will maintain WFP’s global market assessment database, which hosts data for 74 countries and more than 5,000 markets, and contribute to the development of the MFI for nutritious products. The incumbent will also contribute to the work of the unit in general, supporting economic briefs, price and exchange rate analysis and other tasks as relevant.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the supervision of the PRGFE Economist leading the unit’s workstream on market assessments and in close collaboration with the PRGFE Head of Unit, the Economist/Data Analyst will have the following responsibilities:

1. Support the development and scale-up of the Market Functionality Index (MFI):
   a. Be the focal point for support requests from WFP COs and ROs.
   b. Manage the MFI database and backstop and guide data collection and uploading through DataBridges to the corporate market assessment database.
   c. Improve the MFI end-to-end data pipeline.
   d. Perform data analysis to improve the performance and interpretation of the MFI results.
   e. Finalize a validation study and test if the MFI can be used as a predictor for food security.
   f. Lead the content creation and roll-out of the MFI for nutritious products.
   g. Support the hand-over of the MFI system to external users including governments.
2. Support content creation for capacity development products for the Unit.
3. Support COs and ROs with economic briefs, price and market analyses, and field missions as required.
4. Any other assigned task.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

1. Up-to-date MFI database.
2. MFI for nutritious products.
3. Final version of the MFI validation study.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education :
Advanced university degree in economics, development economics, food security, statistics, or similar relevant discipline.
Coursework/trainings in econometrics, evaluation methods, applied economics, development economics, household economics or other relevant topics is an advantage.
Experience :
Previous post-graduate, progressively responsible, experience in economic and/or food security analysis, including:
Quantitative analysis;
Working with price and time-series analysis, economic and household survey data;
Participation in (household and/or market) field assessments is an asset.

Knowledge & Skills:
Excellent analytical and conceptual skills.
Excellent command of MS Office and STATA.
Knowledge of GAMS, R, visual basic and XML coding skills is an advantage.
Strong econometric skills are highly desirable.
Strong writing skills with a demonstrated ability to research and draft clear, concise analysis briefs.
Attention to detail.
Problem-solving attitude and creativity.
Ability to work both with minimal supervision and as part of a team.
Ability to establish effective working relations with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds.
Willingness to participate to field mission.
Languages :
Fluent written and spoken English (level C).
Working knowledge (level B) of French, Arabic or Spanish is an advantage.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

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Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact: [e-mail]

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All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.