Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (Cluster Based) - Level SB 3/Peg 5

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented member nations and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold our values. FAO has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and FAO, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates, therefore, will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO helps developing countries in transition modernize and improve agriculture including livestock, forestry, and fisheries practices, ensuring good nutrition and food security for all. Upon request from the Government of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, the FAO has agreed to provide technical assistance for the execution of the Food and nutrition Security Enhancement Project (FANSEP), UTF/NEP/077/NEP from July 2019 to June, 2023. The project is implemented by Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.

Objectives

FAO Technical Assistance to FANSEP will contribute to achieve the project development objective: improved agricultural productivity and nutrition practices of targeted smallholder farming communities in selected areas of Nepal

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative and the direct supervision of National Consultant – Project Team Leader and technical supervision of the FAO designated technical officer in the FAO Regional office or FAO HQ, and in close coordination with the Government of Nepal’s designated project cluster chief, National Consultant Monitoring and Evaluation specialist of Center TA team, the proposed National Project Personnel-Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (Cluster Based) will have the responsibility of timely monitoring and reporting of project activities implemented in the cluster. In addition, the incumbent will be closely supporting planning, implementation and management of activities related to project monitoring, evaluation, reporting and Knowledge Management as envisaged by the project. His /her other prime functions will be to validate the cluster level data, compile and share with PMU and FAO TA in close coordination with cluster level other National Consultants Subject Mater Specialists (SMSs) and also prepare cluster level quarterly and annual narrative report based on result indicators.

Technical Focus

• Support to establish M&E system and coordination
• Capacity development
• Data management, results tracking and progress reporting and communication
• Management and communication
• Quality assurance

Tasks and responsibilities

The incumbent will be responsible for the following specific tasks:

Task 1. Support to establish M&E system and coordination
• Support in establishing robust Monitoring and Evaluation System for the project at Rural Municipality and Cluster level
• Facilitate and coordinate the cluster teams for effective and robust planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of project interventions at cluster and field levels
• Facilitate in harmonizing the project monitoring and evaluation system with existing sectoral M&E system for effective management decisions at cluster and rural municipality level
• Work closely with the concerned officials at the municipality and cluster level to set up and implement group and community-level monitoring and evaluation systems including those related to Farmer Field School (FFS), Nutrition Field School (NFS) and Farmer Business School (FBS) processes and follow-up support programmes in liaison with the local-level institutions such as ward, municipality and if required at Province level
• As a Cluster Coordinator, take responsibility for the day-to-day management of the programme in the respective programme cluster and coordination of planning, implementation supervision of activities to ensure efficient provision of both administrative and technical support services at cluster, district and rural municipality level
• Coordinate with cluster technical specialists, Service Providers’ (SP’s) staff in data collection, monitoring, evaluation and reporting and ensure technical backstopping support as required
• Guide service providers and their technical staff to implement FANSEP interventions, in recruitment, placement and mobilization of the field level technicians and project facilitators in close coordination with cluster technical specialists, and timely communicate about the vacant positions and status of recruitment of SP’s FLTs/PFs to the central M&E Specialists and Team Leader of FAO TA to FANSEP
• Participate in district / cluster level forums, programmes and initiatives active in the respective project clusters on providing support to farmers to improve nutrition and agriculture production
• Facilitate exchange of information with the government extension teams at cluster and municipality level and with other implementing partners. Coordinate with PCU chief, PCU officers, cluster TA team members and SPs for mobilizing SP technicians, resolving their field level problems and building technical capacity

Task 2. Capacity development
• Provide training to different stakeholders and relevant project personnel at cluster and municipality level on the use of indicators, data collection activities, reporting and information management
• Build capacity of project and counterpart staff on monitoring, supervision and report writing for different project activities

Task 3. Data management, results tracking and progress reporting
• Assist in the implementation of data collection, storing and results monitoring and institutionalize them at rural municipality and cluster level
• Provide technical assistance and supervise development of programme database(s) and, when ready, assist and supervise data entry and management of programme database
• Assist in analysing information on agreed result indicators (e.g. production and marketing, and public and private-sector activities, nutrition practices) and include them as a part of the monitoring and reporting system
• Ensure timely data collection, analysis and reporting on key programme indicators on periodic basis to plan and implement interventions based on data and gaps identified
• Prepare and or compile quarterly, annual reports and success stories of different project interventions and share with PMU based experts and M and E specialist in periodic basis (monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual) in a prescribed format and structure
• Assist to operationalize Project Information Management System (PMIS) for effective data collection and reporting of FANSEP interventions coordinating with other cluster technical specialists, PCU & SP’s staff as necessary
• Review, provide feedback, analyse the reports submitted by the service providers ensuring relevant data, information of the reporting periods and consolidate the data and information of the respective clusters and timely submit to the central M&E specialist and Team Leader of FAO TA to FANSEP
• Support the implementation of baseline line surveys (type of data, questionnaires, sampling size, statistical analysis) to collect all needed data for measuring results during mid-term and final evaluations
• Facilitate and supervise timely reporting of all programme activities in the assigned municipalities and processing of the reports in databases including periodic progress reports
• Prepare technical reports as required or requested and prepare an end-of-assignment report before the end of contract

Task 4. Management and communication
• Conduct/initiate specific case studies to document effectiveness of different programme approaches adopted by the project under various project components and compile success stories
• Assist to develop other relevant knowledge products, consolidate technical papers & ensure sharing these knowledge products to the concerned stakeholders as needed
• Ensure effective and functional communication among the team at cluster level

Task 5. Quality assurance
• Monitor the project activities at field and assess the efficiency (in terms of quality, quantity, timeliness, cost) and effectiveness (outputs and outcomes towards objective of the project, ensure quality of the data, information, reports and knowledge products and report to Central M&E Specialist and Team Leader of FAO TA to FANSEP
• Supervise and manage the portfolio of subcontracts at cluster level.
• Undertake any other work as assigned by the Central M&E Specialist and the Team Leader of FAO TA to FANSEP pertaining to project with focus to project monitoring and evaluation

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• National of Nepal
• Advanced University (Master) Degree in Agriculture Economics, Statistics or any related field with a background in Agriculture and Food Security or Rural Development
• Five Years of relevant experience in the design and establishment of monitoring and evaluation system in the field of agriculture, livestock and nutrition development programs with knowledge for the design of indicators, database system and reporting
• Having experience of working with multi-disciplinary team will have an advantage
• Working knowledge of English, Nepali and local language
• Knowledge of computer skills (MS Office package: word, excel and power point) and M&E database management

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience and in-depth knowledge in the design and establishment of M&E system (database management and MIS)
• Proven experiences in in the design, monitoring and reporting of project indicators
• Working experience in Food and nutrition security programs
• Capacity building of field staff and concerned stakeholders on project M&E system, data collection/reporting

Selection Criteria

• Relevant Education
• Relevant Work experience;
• Language skills;
• Extent of relevant technical experience in the areas mentioned above
• Having experience of working with multi-disciplinary team
• Good working knowledge of English, especially on written
• Experience in design and establishment of M&E system in agriculture, livestock, food security and nutrition programs
• Knowledge of planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of government, international agencies and UN system will be added advantage

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: Careers@fao.org
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.