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National Mid Term Review consultant (Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkey)

Multiple locations

  • Organization: FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
  • Location: Multiple locations
  • Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • SEC
  • Closing Date: Closed

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

  • 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 GEF-funded and FAO-implemented project “Lifecycle Management of Pesticides and Disposal of POPs Pesticides in Central Asian countries and Turkey” (GCP/SEC/011/GFF) is implemented in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkey and aims to reduce POPs release from obsolete pesticide stockpiles and contaminated sites of the recipient countries and strengthen the capacity for the sound management of pesticides. The project has four components, specific objectives of each are to:

  • safely destroy up to 900 tonnes of POPs and obsolete pesticides and remediate a pesticide-contaminated site (Component 1). This includes updating national inventories of obsolete pesticides (OP); developing national management strategies of obsolete pesticides, empty pesticide containers and contaminated soils; safeguarding and disposing of obsolete pesticides, including an assessment of national disposal options; assessing and managing contaminated sites; introducing national systems to manage empty pesticide containers; and undertaking risk communication in communities at risk by pesticides wastes;
  • strengthen the institutional and regulatory framework for managing pesticides through their life cycle (Component 2). This includes a review of the legal framework for pesticides management; strengthening pesticide registration systems; acquire gender-disaggregated data on pesticide spraying practices and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) use; and promote improved spraying practices;
  • increase the successful uptake of alternatives to chemical pesticides on key crops (Component 3). This includes an assessment of climate change on the prevalence of pests and diseases; strengthening pest and disease monitoring; and implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) field trials to quantify the benefits of improved agricultural practices including reduced use of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs). These three components are supported by a horizontal project management.
  • Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and communication component (Component 4) which informs project execution decisions and create the necessary conditions for beneficiary knowledge and participation in project activities.

Reporting Lines:

Under the overall supervision and guidance of the project’s budget holder (BH)/ MTR Manager (RM) and the FAO-GEF Coordination Unit (FAO GEF CU), and in day to day supervision and guidance of the MTR Team Leader, the National MTR Consultant will contribute to the MTR in his/her area of specialization and be responsible for supporting the MTR Team Leader and International Technical MTR Consultant. His/Her mandate is derived from and must fully comply with the overall terms of reference for the MTR. He/She will provide inputs as agreed with the Team Leader and MTR Manager (RM). The National MTR Consultant reports to the BH and the MTR Team Leader.

Tasks and responsibilities:

  • Review the relevant background documentation made available by designated project team: the project document, the tracking tool, the project’s LogFrame, progress and final reports, workshop and technical reports, among other things. Some of the reports might be in national language, other materials might be in English or Russian or Turkish;
  • In accordance with the methodological approach described in the terms of reference and provided by the MTR Team Leader, contribute to the preparation of data-collection tools, including questionnaires, check-lists and interview protocols, as appropriate; insofar as possible, participate in the finalization of the MTR team’s work programme;
  • Considering the COVID-19 pandemic related restrictions in the recipient countries, conduct in person MTR missions if possible, to collect evaluative evidence. The meetings will be arranged with the project stakeholders and beneficiaries face-to-face to the extent possible during the MTR period with the participation of the National Consultants and the Team Leader. In cases where face-to-face meetings are not possible, virtual meetings will be arranged.
  • Provide specialised expertise in assessing outputs, deliverables and activities carried out under the specific project technical activities and/or outputs;
  • Contribute to the consolidation of all evidence collected during the MTR process in a structured format following the key MTR questions and criteria (to be provided by MTR Team Leader);
  • Ensure that all primary and secondary data collected are recorded during the MTR process and organized in a structured format following the key MTR questions, based on which all findings will be triangulated;
  • Participate in the analysis and discussion of evidence collected during the MTR within the MTR team to identify key findings that respond to MTR issues and questions, and formulate preliminary conclusions and recommendations in his/her specific field of expertise, as discussed and agreed with the Team Leader;
  • Deliver inputs (including written, as required by the MTR Team Leader) on the specific areas of assessment, per the overall terms of reference, to all deliverables, including: the inception report, debriefing sessions following field missions, the draft MTR report according to the specifications provided in the terms of reference, and participate in addressing and integrating any feedback on the draft report from stakeholder reviewers (e.g. the budget holder, FAO GEF CU, government counterparts, local-community stakeholders), as appropriate, and support the MTR Team Leader in finalizing the report, as required.

In terms of reporting, or if information, advice or guidance is required from FAO by the consultant, he/she should address requests to the BH/RM, the FAO GEF CU focal point and the MTR Team Leader.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

  • A university degree in agriculture, chemistry, environmental sciences, international development or other relevant chemicals area is required and an advanced degree in the same areas is desirable
  • Three years of experience in a relevant technical area and a good understanding of the national and/or local context, as appropriate;
  • Experience in supporting, designing, planning and/or conducting evaluations;
  • Knowledge of FAO and GEF work/procedures, or other UN agencies, would be an asset as would appropriate language skills (English and national language).
  • National of the relevant country or must have valid regular residence/work permit

FAO Core Competencies

  • Results Focus
  • Teamwork
  • Communication
  • Building Effective Relationships

Technical/Functional Skills

Thorough understanding of GEF programming is an asset

Additional Selection Criteria

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

This vacancy is now closed.