Overview
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is seeking a National Agricultural Statistics Specialist (50x2030 Initiative) to support the implementation of agricultural survey programmes in Zambia under the global 50x2030 Initiative. The role will focus on strengthening the country’s capacity to generate and use high-quality agricultural data for food security, rural development, and policy planning. Based in Lusaka, the position requires close collaboration with government institutions, including the Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats), Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, as well as FAO technical teams in Rome. The appointment is for 12 months, with potential for extension.

Main Responsibilities
• Coordinate the implementation of the 50x2030 Initiative in Zambia, ensuring alignment with FAO’s country programme and international statistical standards.
• Provide technical and operational support for agricultural surveys including the Integrated Agricultural Survey (IAS 2024), Crop Forecast Survey (CFS 2025), and Post-Harvest Survey (PHS 2025).
• Organize and facilitate technical meetings, expert missions, and stakeholder consultations, including preparation of agendas, notes, and follow-up actions.
• Monitor field data collection, troubleshoot operational challenges, and ensure quality and timely submission of survey data.
• Support harmonization of survey tools and integration of agricultural, environmental, economic, and social data.
• Advise FAO and national counterparts on agricultural statistics, food security data, and technical priorities for future capacity building.
• Represent FAO in technical working groups and coordination platforms at national level.
• Provide technical input to reports, briefs, and other communication materials to support decision-making.

Required Qualifications and Skills
• Advanced degree in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Social Sciences, Statistics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in agricultural statistics, survey design and implementation, or impact evaluation.
• Proven experience working with government agencies, especially in agricultural data collection and analysis.
• Strong coordination and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple stakeholders and deliver under tight deadlines.
• Familiarity with Zambia’s agricultural survey systems, including IAS, CFS, and PHS.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Strong commitment to teamwork, integrity, and knowledge sharing in line with FAO’s core values.
• Must be a Zambian national.