Food Security Analyst | Washington, D.C. | 2022

Chemonics seeks a full-time food security analyst based in Washington, D.C.. The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) Early Warning Team (EWT) 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. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Chemonics is seeking prospective candidates for a proposal effort, this is not an open position. Once a proposal is awarded and a position becomes available, all applicants must apply to be considered for the role.

The FSAs work closely with other FEWS NET EWT colleagues in the home, regional, and field offices to accomplish the DSG’s two primary objectives: 1) facilitate development and communication of timely, high-quality, actionable decision support at the country, regional, and global levels and 2) build FEWS NET staff and partners’ food security analysis and strategic communications capacity.

Responsibilities:

Synthesis of market and trade, nutrition, livelihoods, and other food-security analysis for the development of regular, high-quality early warning information products:

• Review field-authored food security reporting
• Contribute to the monthly Food Assistance Outlook Brief for senior Food for Peace staff
• Develop and present technical briefings to USG staff and other partners
• Write special reports
• Conduct field visits to support assessments and technical analysis

Responding to ad hoc requests for food security and response planning analysis and other support for response and contingency planning processes:

• Play a lead role in developing analytical and decision-support strategies to effectively develop and communicate pertinent information when potential or ongoing food security crises are identified, their causes, and potential response options to decision makers

Provide technical assistance to strengthen data collection, analysis, and information dissemination capacity among host-country, NGO, and donor partners and field staff:

• Provide relevant technical and geographic guidance in their areas of expertise (e.g. agricultural economics, livelihoods, nutrition, pastoralism/ livestock, etc.)
• Lead/contribute to the development of guidance materials in the areas of early warning, decision support, and reporting
• Support activities to enhance field representatives’ and partners’ understanding of food security early warning and decision support processes

Qualifications:

• Authorization to work in the United States required
• English fluency required; French and/or Spanish language skills highly preferred
• Advanced degree in a field related to food security or other relevant area; directly related professional experience in providing acute food security analysis and analysis support can substitute for education experience
• Minimum two years of experience working in developing countries; a combination of directly related professional experience in providing acute food security analysis and analysis support combined with experience living abroad can substitute for work experience in developing countries
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well with field-based, local staff via telephone and e-mail
• Excellent writing, editing, and presentation skills
• Excellent computer skills including Microsoft office suite, Adobe Creative Suite, and database management
• Familiarity with ESRI ArcGIS mapping software preferred
• Household-level food security analysis skills preferred
• Experience with the Household Economy Approach preferred
• Experience working on USAID-funded activities preferred
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity