Food Security and Nutrition Senior Statistician, AU, P3, Tunis, NORCAP

NORCAP’s mission is to improve aid to protect and empower people affected by crises and climate change. With expertise in the humanitarian, development and peace building sectors, we collaborate with local, national and international partners on finding solutions that meet the needs of people at risk.

We do this by:

• Supporting humanitarian, development and peace building initiatives that protect and empower people
• Improving impact at the global and local level through joint projects with partners and stakeholders
• Providing expertise and developing capacity that enable partners to meet the needs of people in fragile situations and crises
• Strengthening the global system that we are part of through support for leadership, coordination and policy development
• Building bridges between the humanitarian, development and peace building sectors

We are seeking a Food Security and Nutrition Senior Statistician to STATAFRIC for a 2-year term, with a 3-month probation period, based in Tunis, Tunisia. 

Background Information

STATAFRIC, the African Union (AU) Institute for Statistics, was created in January 2013 by the AU Summit of Heads of States and Government. It is headquartered in Tunis, Tunisia. With a strategic vision to serve as the Centre of Reference for the production of quality statistics on Africa, STATAFRIC‘s mission is to provide timely, comparable and reliable statistics. These statistics support the African integration program enabling evidence-based decision-making to advance the AU's vision. STATAFRIC is responsible for coordinating and regulating the African Statistical System, ensuring a unified voice through a common statistical language. This involves harmonization of statistical concepts, methods, structures, and norms across the continent. Food security is a key area focus within both the AU and STATAFRIC, reflecting its growing importance in regional integration and development efforts.

Food security and nutrition have been recognized as critical components of sustainable development in Africa. The African Union (AU) has established several frameworks and initiatives to enhance food security and nutrition across the continent. Among these, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) stands out as a flagship initiative aimed at improving agricultural productivity and food systems resilience. CAADP underscores the AU’s commitment to eliminating hunger and reducing malnutrition through policy harmonization, investment in agricultural innovation, and enhanced data-driven decision-making.

It is within this context that NORCAP, in collaboration with Statistics Norway and STATAFRIC, has initiated the secondment of a Food Security and Nutrition Senior Statistician to support efforts in improving food security data systems in Africa. This initiative aligns with Norway’s commitment to strengthening global food security and promoting sustainable development through enhanced statistical capacity and evidence-based policy making.

Job purpose

In 2020, Statistics Norway (SSB) and the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) partnered on a Food Security Statistics project aimed at achieving two primary goals. The first goal is to enhance the capacity of National Statistical Offices (NSOs) to integrate food security statistics derived from Household Consumption and Expenditure Surveys (HCESs) into their regular statistical production. While HCESs are traditionally used for statistics such as poverty measurement and the Consumer Price Index (CPI), their potential for producing robust food security statistics has been under utilised. The second goal is to promote the use of these statistics in national and regional planning, to inform policies and implementation of concrete projects to improve food security for the population. It is of great importance to create a demand for these statistics among stakeholders, so that a broader audience can make practical use of the statistics. 

Since its inception, eight (8) countries have participated in the project: Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. New countries to be included in the project in 2025 are Burundi, Comoros, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana and Madagascar. Through capacity-building efforts, National Statistical Offices (NSOs) are now able to generate new statistics using already collected data. This approach is both cost-effective and enables a wide range of valuable analyses related to food security.

The primary responsibility of the Senior Statistician will be to provide training and build capacity on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN) statistics for AU Member States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs). This role will include offering technical support to NSOs on processing food consumption data from HCESs and conducting analyses as well as engaging stakeholders. The Senior Statistician will collaborate with experts from Statistics Norway, COMESA and other relevant partners to deliver capacity-building initiatives for AU Member States. 

It is important to note that the expert’s position, covering the entire African continent, will also involve promoting experiences and initiatives for the statistical production of information on nutrition and food security in AU Member States. This includes initiatives such as the Nutrition Information Platforms (PNIN), the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, and strengthening partnerships with the FAO.

The Senior Statistician will be required to coordinate with NSOs on how to increase the use of FSN statistics from HCESs by providing advice and support. AU Member States will receive in-depth support on data processing and analysis throughout the SSB/COMESA project period. NSOs in AU Member States interested in enhancing their knowledge on how to process food consumption data from HCESs, improve their skills or need help to review or assess surveys, will be able to request support from STATAFRIC. 

The Senior Statistician will be based at STATAFRIC’s office in Tunis, but some travel is expected. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Statistics Norway seeks the services of a senior statistician to work on the project that will be seconded to STATAFRIC based on the following terms of reference:

Capacity building and networking

• Undertake capacity building in AU Member States on how to process food consumption data and prepare food security analysis from HCESs.
  • Prepare administrative and logistical tasks related to the workshops 
  • Prepare technical content of workshops in collaboration with Statistics Norway and COMESA
  • Conduct data processing and analysis workshops with NSOs in collaboration with Statistics Norway and COMESA
• Communicate and coordinate with NSOs on needs and requests for support.
• Coordinate with others conducting FSN capacity building activities within the NSOs.
• Establish a network on FSN statistics with technical people from NSOs and RECs and develop a strategy for sustainability of the network
• Provide expertise in national nutrition information platforms and food security analysis through experience gained from leading national-level nutrition platforms.
• Assist in developing food and recipe databases and food composition matrices to enhance the quality of food security and nutrition statistics.
• Support NSOs in conducting surveys and statistical studies related to food security, nutrition, and vulnerability assessment.
• Provide guidance on best practices in statistical programming, data management, and methodological approaches for food security and nutrition surveys.

Increased use of the statistics

• Increase the demand on food security statistics from HCESs produced by the NSOs e.g., through reporting and engagement with national and international stakeholders.
• Anchoring and making use of FSN statistics within the AU. 
• Participate and present the project in relevant FSN activities in Africa.
• Contribute to national and international food security and nutrition reports through data analysis and policy briefs.
• Develop strategies to enhance the accessibility and usability of food security and nutrition data for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders for NSOs.
• Support the integration of FSN statistics into national statistical systems and policy frameworks.
• Ensure the quality and standardization of FSN data by developing guidelines for data collection, processing, and analysis.

Other activities

• Contribute to other activities within the SSB/COMESA project.
• Perform other duties within the field of FSN statistics as may be required.
• Provide technical assistance in designing, implementing, and evaluating FSN-related projects and policies.
• Collaborate with national and international organizations on FSN-related initiatives and capacity-building programs.
• Develop and review FSN statistical reports, publications, and methodological documents to ensure accuracy and relevance.

You are encouraged to read the full Terms of Reference before applying.

Qualifications and Experiences Required

• Minimum of a Master's Degree is required in Statistics, Economics, Data science, Social Sciences, Nutrition or related field. 
• Minimum 10 years of experience in a National Statistical Office including working with household surveys and food security data.
• Proven track record in the use of Household Consumption and Expenditure surveys (HCESs) and how to process such data. 
• Experience working on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN) statistics and policy-related research. 
• Extensive experience in quantitative data analysis for food consumption and nutrition surveys, including 24-hour recall and FRAT/R24H surveys.
• Expertise in developing food security and nutrition databases, recipe reconstitution, and macro/micronutrient calculations.
• Experience in using the statistical software STATA, SPSS, and CsPro, with working knowledge of open source software such as R and/or Python.
• Experience in conducting large-scale field surveys, data validation, and statistical capacity-building initiatives. Proven experience in developing national nutrition information systems, policy briefs, and strategic analysis frameworks.
• Extensive experience in organizing and facilitating FSN workshops and training sessions at the national and international levels.
• Good knowledge of the African Statistical System (AfSS) d experience in working with regional and international FSN stakeholders.
• Experience in drafting, reviewing, and editing technical reports and statistical publications related to FSN. Extensive experience in the field of statistics may replace post graduate qualifications and other requirements. Extensive experience in project management, coordination, and policy advisory roles within national and international statistical environments.

Skills and Competencies Required

• A strong drive for results with a proven ability to deliver high-quality statistical outputs.
• Flexible and solution-oriented with the ability to adapt to changing project demands.
• Good communication and interpersonal and leadership skills with the ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to develop training materials and conduct capacity-building workshops for statisticians and policymakers.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with experience in FSN data interpretation and policy recommendations.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, including experience in multi-stakeholder coordination.
• Ability to work under pressure, meet tight deadlines, and manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality technical reports, policy briefs, and academic publications.
• Fluent English and French (written and spoken) is a requirement
• Knowledge of other official AU languages is an advantage.
• Strong IT skills, including proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and publishing software.

Language Requirement

Proficiency in the mission language English and work proficiency in French. 

Tenure of Appointment

The appointment shall be for an initial period of two (2) years, the first three (3) months of which shall be on probation. It shall be renewable subject to performance and availability of funds.

Remuneration

The salary is a lump sum inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff and refers to the AU salary scale P3 Step 5 for the duty station. The actual amount paid may vary depending on the fluctuations in exchange rates. 

The applications must be made through the NORCAP E-recruitment Website 

The main competencies of a NORCAP Expert: 

• Building working relationships 
• Planning and organising 
• Adaptability 
• Resilience 

What we offer 

• Rewarding work for a renowned global organisation 
• Access to a network of humanitarian, peace, and development professionals  
• A dedicated Staff Care Unit  

How to apply 

• When submitting your application, kindly register in English your full employment history and education. Please include your full name as written in your passport. Uploaded CVs alone will not be reviewed.   
• NORCAP values diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates.  
• NORCAP reserves the right to conduct a full background check on shortlisted candidates .
• Approved Health Certificate will be required prior to contract commencement and assignment. 
• Feedback will be given to all applicants within four weeks after the closing of this advertisement.
• Apply before 03rd August 2025, 23.59 PM (Oslo time)