Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind. FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.
FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country  level. The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources. Specifically, FAO Country Offices: 
•     advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
•     provide technical assistance and deliver core services; 
•     assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation; 
•     position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and 
•     ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.  

The position is located in the FAO Country Office in Baghdad, Iraq. FAO Iraq, in close collaboration with the Government of Iraq, initiated a project to support the preparatory phase of the Agricultural Census, in line with the World Programme for the Census of Agriculture (WCA). The WCA promotes a standardized and globally comparable approach for countries to conduct national agricultural censuses every ten years. This project represents the first of several critical preparatory steps in organizing the census. It aims to strengthen the capacity of the national statistical authority to effectively plan and implement the census by defining the census methodology and instruments, establishing the required administrative and operational arrangements, and developing a comprehensive project document, budget, and workplan. These outputs will support the mobilization of the resources required for the full implementation of the Agricultural Census in Iraq.

 

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAOR Iraq and the administrative supervision of FAO Iraq M&E Officer, with the general technical guidance of RNE Statistician, as well as guidance of International Consultant Statistician and International Consultant Data Processing Expert.

Technical Focus

Under the overall operational supervision of the FAOR Iraq, with the general technical guidance of the LTO and the administrative supervision of FAO Iraq, the National Consultant Statistician shall provide technical services for implementation of the project in liaison with the International Consultant Statistician.

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Contribute to the assessment of the capacities of the Core Census Team and preparation of the syllabus and materials for the different training programmes anticipated under the project. 
•     Support the CSGIS to ensure the adoption of legislative and/or statutory texts on the census.
•     Contribute to the development of a cost-effective census methodology and instruments (questionnaire, training materials and field manuals), in line with the WCA 2030 while providing training to the Core Census Team.
•     Support the organisation of Training of Trainers (ToT) and hands-on capacity-building on the WCA 2030 methodology, questionnaire development, enumeration and field operations for Core Census Team.  
•     Support the organisation of a user-producers workshop to present the first draft of the questionnaire and to discuss the census content along with the census methodology in line with WCA 2030 recommendations.
•     Participate in the field-testing of the census questionnaire.  
•     Undertake the compilation of an initial listing frame based on available data sources.
•     Assist the census office in any other necessary technical activity for the success of the project.
•     Ensure effective transfer of knowledge and proficiency to the national staff, tools developed in the project for the sustainability of the achievements.
•     Prepare End of Mission reports in line with the FAO format for the clearance of the LTO.
•     Assist in the preparation and finalization the main census of agriculture project document.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements   

•     Advanced university degree in data processing with specialization in agricultural statistics. 
•     At least 5 years’ experience in agricultural census and surveys and their organization in middle-income countries. 
•     Working knowledge of English and working knowledge of Arabic
•     National of Iraq or resident of the country with a valid work permit

FAO Core Competencies

•     Results Focus
•     Teamwork
•     Communication
•     Building Effective Relationships
•     Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Selection Criteria

•     An excellent management capability, ability to work in a team and to make professional quality reports are needed.