About the opportunity
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) leads international efforts to defeat hunger and transform agrifood systems. The FAO Statistics Division (ESS), in coordination with the Office of the Chief Statistician (OCS) and the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (RLC) in Santiago, Chile, is hiring a Specialist Statistics consultant. The selected candidate will provide technical assistance and support related to compiling, processing, validating, analyzing, and disseminating data, microdata, and metadata for food security and nutrition statistics in the region to improve national agricultural statistical systems following FAO-endorsed methods.
Salary and benefits
- Consultancy contract with a duration of 11 months
- Professional experience within a specialized agency of the United Nations
- Opportunity to collaborate on regional statistical programmes and support national statistical offices
Who can apply?
- Advanced University degree or University degree in statistics, economics, data science, mathematics, agricultural economics, social sciences, or a closely related field recognized by IAU/UNESCO
- At least 2 years of relevant experience in survey data analysis, food security and nutrition statistics, and/or technical assistance to national statistical systems for Junior Level / Level C Consultant (internships, research assistantships, and academic projects evaluated)
- Consultants with a bachelor's degree require two additional years of relevant professional experience
- Working knowledge of English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, or Russian (C1)
Required documents
- Complete online profile including employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
- Letter of motivation
When to apply
- Job posting date: 03 November 2026
- Application deadline: 30 November 2026, 10:59 PM
How to apply
- Visit the FAO recruitment website and complete your online profile
- Attach a letter of motivation to your online profile
- Submit your application through the FAO recruitment portal before the deadline
Additional information
- FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process
- Academic credentials must be recognized in the IAU/UNESCO WHED list
- Appointment is subject to medical fitness certification, visa or residency requirements, and security clearances
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Strong background in statistics, data science, economics, or agricultural economics with hands-on experience in survey data analysis.
- Familiarity with food security and nutrition metrics such as FIES, PoU, dietary diversity indicators, or sustainable development goals monitoring.
- Proficiency in statistical software packages such as R, Stata, SPSS, or SAS, with additional programming skills considered an advantage.
- Desire to contribute to international development and agricultural policy enhancement within a major UN agency.
What should you think carefully about?
- The position is offered as an 11-month consultancy rather than a permanent staff appointment.
- Applicants must meet strict educational recognition standards via the IAU/UNESCO WHED database.
- Fluency or working knowledge of required languages is mandatory for daily technical tasks and stakeholder coordination.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This 11-month consultancy provides an excellent platform for professionals seeking to build practical expertise in international agricultural statistics, data dissemination, and policy support within the United Nations system. It is well-suited for statisticians and data analysts looking to apply their quantitative skills to global food security challenges.
Our take
Candidates with a solid foundation in statistics, data analysis software proficiency, and a commitment to sustainable agrifood systems should seriously consider applying. Those seeking permanent staff contracts or lacking the required technical background may find this fixed-term consultancy less suitable.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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