Senior expert in monitoring & evaluation, knowledge management and communication

Organizational Setting

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy in Rwanda with about 70% of the population employed in agriculture, of which 66% women. The Government of Rwanda has ambitious plans for continued development and transformation of the agriculture sector, as outlined in the Strategic Plan for the Transformation of Agriculture (PSTA 4) 2018-2024. The plan emphasizes that enhancing agricultural productivity and resilience cannot be achieved through investments and technologies alone. It also requires skills development, efficient markets, strengthened farmer ‘organizations and institutions, and the right policy environment and institutional arrangement as mitigation measures. Rwanda wants to see more climate-resilient innovations in agriculture to achieve the triple win of enhancing agricultural productivity, mitigating emissions of greenhouse gases, and helping farmers adapt to climate change. However, weak capacity to innovate, at different scales, remains a real obstacle to this transformation, as evidenced by many studies and projects, including the Capacity Development for Agricultural Innovation Systems (CDAIS), which was implemented jointly by FAO and Agrinatura in Rwanda from 2015-2019 (https://cdais.net/home/pilots-countries/rwanda/).

Under the DeSIRA initiative (Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture) (https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/desira), the European Union is committing to support through a grant, to strengthen Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation systems (AKIS) in Rwanda. By linking more effectively research and innovation with development initiatives, DeSIRA aims at supporting research and innovation projects in Africa, Asia, Latin America and strengthening research capacities and research governance involving key actors at national, regional, continental and global levels. It intends to boost innovation in agriculture and food systems transformation of partner countries with a view to be more resilient to the effects of climate change, thereby contributing to the sustainable development goals targets 2.3 (increase agricultural productivity of smallholder food producers), 2.4 (ensure sustainable food production systems, strengthening adaptation to climate change), 2.A (increase investment in agricultural research and extension services, and technology development), 13.2 (Integrate climate change).

Rwanda is also involved and benefiting from two on-going projects funded under the DeSIRA initiative, i.e.:

• TAP-FAO DeSIRA project (entitled Developing capacities in agricultural innovation systems: scaling up the Tropical Agriculture Platform Framework), which is a global project implemented by FAO in 9 countries (Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Eritrea, Lao PDR, Malawi, Pakistan, Senegal and Rwanda). The overall objective is to strengthen capacities of actors within the national agricultural innovation systems through the application of TAP common framework for capacity development (http://www.fao.org/in-action/tropical-agriculture-platform/commonframework/en/).
• Agroforestry Rwanda project: Improving resilience of farmers’ livelihoods to climate change through innovative, research proven climate-smart agroforestry and efficient use of tree resources in the Eastern Province and peri-urban areas of Kigali. The general objective is to increase the pace and scale of agroforestry-based restoration of degraded agricultural lands and sustainable use of biomass energy, with associated improvements of land health, livelihoods and poverty reduction. The specific objective is to effectively understand and demonstrate the ecological, social and economic pathways to, and resultant benefits from, the scale up of agroforestry-based restoration and sustainable biomass use in Eastern Province and in the peri-urban Kigali city of Rwanda (https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/sites/default/files/media/agroforestry_rwanda_desira_2020.pdf).

In 2019, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations supported the formulation of a project proposal in close collaboration with the University of Rwanda, and the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB). The project proposal entitled Capacity development for innovation in Rwanda: strengthening innovation partnerships, was approved for full development by the EU Delegation In Rwanda. The overall objective of the project is to contribute to promoting climate-relevant and sustainable transformation of agricultural systems in Rwanda to reduce poverty and ensure food and nutrition security. The specific objective is to improve capacities for climate-smart innovation among actors engaged in local innovation partnerships in six districts, i.e. Burera, Rutsiro, Gatsibo, Nyagatare, Bugesera, and Ruhango. To achieve this, the project document has identified three major outputs: a) Multi-stakeholder process facilitated and functioning in the selected innovation partnerships, b) Knowledge gaps and technical capacity needs addressed through participatory action research, and c) Best practices communicated and disseminated to support scaling up and inform policy.

The full project will be implemented from January 2021 to December 2024, and will focus on three main thematic areas: a) Diversification of livestock and crop systems: Burera and Rutsiro districts; b) Effective management of irrigated areas of Gatsibo and Nyagatare Districts; and c) Crop intensification and diversification in drought-prone areas of Bugesera and Ruhango districts, alongside cassava plantations. The full project will build, expand and further develop the lessons learnt in the CDAIS project in two ways: i) addressing outstanding challenges in the innovation partnerships supported in the CDAIS project, and ii) expanding and promoting the approach on new thematic and geographic areas, and last but not the least, build synergies with the abovementioned two projects (TAP-FAO DeSIRA and Agroforestry Rwanda).

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative in Rwanda, the direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR (Programmes), the technical guidance of the lead technical officer (LTO) based in FAO Headquarters in Rome and in close collaboration with the National Project Manager (NPM).

Technical Focus

Services for monitoring & evaluation, knowledge management and communication.

Tasks and responsibilities

The expert, under overall supervision of the FAO representative, the direct supervision of FAO the Lead Technical Officer of the project, Assistant FAO Representative in charge of programmes, National Project Manager, and in collaboration with the teams involved in communication and knowledge management at national level, will support the development and implementation of the communication plan for the project.

The consultant will perform the following duties:

• Provide support to project implementation, including organization of project Steering Committee Meetings,
• Support the implementation of project output 1; in close collaboration with other project partners, provide support to Output 2 and 3;
• Contribute to Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) activities of the project;
• Support the preparation of technical progress and monitoring reports on project activities;
• Support the development of e-learning module on CD for AIS and additional tools
• Participate to the development of the communication plan for the project and facilitate its implementation,
• Produce advocacy material for distribution to target audiences, including videos, factsheets, leaflets and posters;
• Support the development and foster the promotion of knowledge products (2-3 per year)
• Support content development for website and other relevant channels (e.g. newsletter) of the project (partners) to foster the sharing of relevant information, news and publications on the project;
• Prepare press release for the Marketplace, Policy Dialogue, and other relevant events;
• Provide support to communications and information sharing at project-related events, including through use of corporate social media;
• Support any other activity related to communication and knowledge sharing as required, ensuring compliance with FAO’s communication corporate standards.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advance degree in communication or agriculture or rural development, or other field related to FAO’s mandate;
• At least 10 years of experience in international development, Monitoring and Evaluation and/or communication and/or knowledge and information management;
• Excellent working knowledge of English and knowledge of French desirable.
• To be national of Rwanda.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required;
• Knowledge of Kinyarwanda is required;
• Knowledge of French it is a benefit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience with communication strategies and tools, including with production of press releases, newsletter messages, audiovisual material
• Extent and relevance of experience with media relations and social media
• Extent and relevance of experience with internationally funded (e.g. EU or UN) projects or programmes of similar scale of the proposed project;
• Knowledge of FAO communication policy is desirable;
• Understanding of capacity development and innovation system concepts.
• Demonstrate integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relations with colleagues in multi-cultural environment;
• Fulfils obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.