Mid-Term Review and M&E Specialist

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 Members 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 FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

Organizational Setting

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has approved the Government of India’s GEF6 Green-Ag. Project titled, “Green-Ag: Transforming Indian agriculture for global environmental benefits and the conservation of critical biodiversity and forest landscapes”.

The project objective is to catalyze transformative change for India’s agricultural sector to support the achievement of national and global environmental benefits and conserve critical biodiversity and forest landscapes. The project has two components. The first component strengthens the enabling framework and institutional structures to mainstream biodiversity (BD), sustainable land management (SLM), climate change mitigation (CCM), and sustainable forest management (SFM) policies, priorities, and practices in India’s agricultural sector. The second component demonstrates replicable “improved agricultural and conservation practices” for sustainable production, resilient livelihood advancements, habitat improvements, and delivery of tangible BD, LD, CCM, and SFM benefits.

The project is being implemented in five landscapes: i) Chambal Landscape (Madhya Pradesh), ii) Dampa landscape (Mizoram), iii) Similipal Landscape (Odisha), iv) Desert National Park Landscape (Rajasthan) and v) Corbett- Rajaji Landscape (Uttarakhand). These landscapes are representative of different agroecological conditions with high conservation value. Each landscape includes a mix of conservation and production areas. They serve as habitats of critical biodiversity with Protected Areas embedded within their boundaries and productive landscapes within the adjoining areas of these Protected Areas.

Reporting Lines

Under the direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative in India (Programme) and guidance of the Project Director, Green-Ag Project, the Mid Term Review (MTR) and M&E Specialist is responsible for coordinating the MTR team’s contribution to the MTR of Green-Ag Project; GCP/IND/183/GFF and has ultimate responsibility of overseeing the delivery of the MTR report. He/She reports to the Assistant FAO Representative in India (Programme).

Technical Focus

Expertise in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Results-based Management

Tasks and responsibilities

The MTR Specialist will undertake the following duties:

• Prepare a list of key project-related documentation for the MTR (the “project information package”). This includes the collection and collation of co-financing data (and sending the co-financing table to each of the co-financers) well ahead of the MTR mission, monitoring data, progress reports, back-to-the-office reports (BTORs) and any associated GEF tracking tools, etc., supported by the National Project Management Unit (NPMU).
• Together with the NPMU and Project Task Force members, prepare the first draft of the overall terms of reference of the MTR, including the scope/objectives, its utility and feasibility, timing and budget, an initial stakeholder analysis, the main progress made to mid-term and the main challenges/issues faced, as well as the terms of reference for the independent MTR consultants.
• Liaise with the NPMU to identify stakeholders to be interviewed by the MTR team and send formal requests for interviews with government authorities and other partners for the MTR mission, as necessary.
• Oversee the preparation of the MTR Inception report, share the MTR inception report with relevant PTF members (including the LTO and the FAO GEF Coordinating Unit (CU) FLO and FAO GEF CU MTR focal point) for review and comment and provide the MTR team with feedback before the mission starts.
• Facilitate MTR team meetings and field missions, including organizing interviews and field missions as required. Organize debriefing sessions/workshops with MTR team for the PMU, government counterpart(s) and key partners (including the GEF OFP). Participate in the wrap-up/debriefing meeting in which the MTR team presents its initial findings.
• Coordinate the review process for the draft MTR report with relevant stakeholders for: (1) the internal FAO review of the draft report, sharing drafts with the BH, LTO, PMU, FAO GEF CU FLO and FAO GEF CU MTR focal point, the PTF (allow one week), followed by (2) external review by the project counterparts (through the BH or FAO Representative) and the wider group of relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate, collect, collate and synthesize feedback on the draft MTR report and send feedback (in the comments matrix) to the MTR team for incorporation into the revised version.
• Contribute to reviews of further drafts of the MTR report as required to ensure the overall quality of the report in coordination with the FAO-GEF CU MTR Focal Point.
• Approve the final MTR report together with the FAO GEF CU focal point.
• Performs other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree in Project Management, Evaluation, natural resource management, Rural Development, Agriculture, or related subjects
• 3-5 years of relevant experience of working with government agencies and development projects
• 8-10 years of experience monitoring and evaluating NRM projects with particular emphasis on participatory development and climate change
• Working knowledge (level C) of English with strong oral, written, and presentation skills.
• National or Resident of India.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Knowledge and experienced in project cycle management, and well versed in logical frameworks.
• Experience working with or in international non-governmental and donor organizations (UN agencies, World Bank, IFAD, Asian Development Bank, etc.) with the implementation of participatory projects; Understanding of FAO policies and programmes is considered a strong asset.
• Good analytical and report writing skills.
• In-depth knowledge and experience of monitoring methods, approaches, and tools relating to Community Based NRM (CBNRM).

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