Director, Office of Evaluation

Rome

Organization: FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Location: Rome
Grade: Senior Executive level - D-2, Director - Internationally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Managerial positions
- OED
Closing Date: Closed

1A021A02

FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and underrepresented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply for this position
FAO does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks
All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is the Specialized Agency of the United Nations leading international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to high-quality food.

The Office of Evaluation is responsible for ensuring the relevance, effectiveness, quality and independence of evaluation in FAO, in support of FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-31 which supports the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the transformation to　More efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems for Better production, Better nutrition, a Better environment, and a Better life, leaving no one behind.

The Director of the Office of Evaluation (OED) heads an independent evaluation function in FAO in accordance with the Charter of the Office of Evaluation as reflected in the Basic Texts of the Organization and aligned with the United Nations evaluation principles, norms and standards. Through the Office of Evaluation, the Director provides global leadership, sets standards and maintains oversight of FAO’s entire evaluation function. All of the work carried out by the Organization is subject to evaluation, regardless of the source of funds, through three types of evaluation: evaluations for the Governing Bodies, focusing on key elements of FAO’s results framework, country evaluations, and evaluations of individual programmes and projects.

FAO strives for the highest international standards in its evaluation practice. All evaluations follow the United Nations Evaluations Group (UNEG) Norms and Standards (2016). The primary principles underpinning evaluation in FAO are: Independence, Impartiality, Credibility, Transparency and Usefulness.

() The Director of Evaluation serves for a fixed term of four years with a possibility of reappointment only once for a further term of four years in accordance with the Charter of the Office of Evaluation. The Director of Evaluation may not be reappointed within FAO to another post or recruited as a consultant during a period of one year following the expiry or termination of the appointment.

Reporting Lines

The Director OED reports to the Director-General of FAO who, inter alia, ensures that the Office of Evaluation functions within its approved budget and work programme and the agreed rules and procedures. The Director also reports to the FAO Council through the Programme Committee.

Summary of Duties and Functions

Promote, strengthen and support FAO’s evaluation culture, capacity and systems, in consultation with FAO’s Management and the Evaluation Committee, and in accordance with the Charter of the Office of Evaluation;
Provide strategic vision, guidance and quality assurance for FAO’s entire evaluation function;
Exercise overall management responsibility for the Office of Evaluation, including managing its human and financial resources, planning for the Office’s programme of work, progress monitoring and reporting;
Lead FAO’s engagement in the international evaluation system and professional networks to ensure that the evaluation function in FAO reflects and contributes to international best practice;
Represent the Organization at high-level meetings and fora of relevance to the Office’s work and negotiate effective working relationships with international and national partners;
Provide overall guidance and technical quality assurance for the Office’s work in the field of evaluation;
Maintain a motivated and effective work force and a results-oriented work environment;
Perform other duties and functions as required.

Minimum Requirements

Advanced university degree in agriculture, economics, sociology or in a field related to the work of the Organization;
At least 15 years of extensive experience in evaluation at field or headquarters levels, in diverse areas related to international development (including areas of relevance to delivery of FAO’s mandate);
Substantial experience in management and administration;
At least ten years of experience in managing and/or conducting policy or strategic or thematic or country portfolio evaluations in diverse humanitarian and/or development contexts;
Proven knowledge of evaluation ethics and ability to apply this knowledge appropriately; ability to ensure that ethics are incorporated into evaluation processes; ability to maintain independence and impartiality;
International experience in providing policy advice to high-level decision-makers, including in intergovernmental settings;
Strong analytical skills and ability to express and synthesize ideas clearly and concisely and demonstrated communication skills;
Experience in the international evaluation community, as reflected in publications and presentations;
Demonstrated professional competence and management/strategic leadership of a high level;
Ability to lead and work effectively with a diverse team of people of different national and cultural backgrounds in an international setting;
Working knowledge of English and a limited knowledge of one of the other FAO official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).