Job Details

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.
The position is located in the FAO Representation in Lusaka, Zambia.

FAO in collaboration with the research department of the Ministry of Agriculture [ZARI] and the University of Zambia is implementing a 4-year project, titled, “Soil mapping for resilient agrifood systems in Central America and sub-Saharan Africa” (SoilFER). The project is funded by the government of the United States of America, and has 5 beneficiary countries [ie. Zambia, Kenya, Ghana, Honduras and Guatemala]. Therefore, the successful candidate will lead the design, planning and execution of all soil sample collection activities on the project, over the 4-year period, on an annually renewed and performance-based contract.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Country Representative, and the guidance of the Assistant FAOR – Programmes, in coordination with the project LTO and project Lead Technical Unit (NSL), the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist will support the project team by establishing an M&E system, for monitoring progress on project activities and outputs to ensure that the delivery of the SoilFER is on track. The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the AFAOR-P, the National Project Coordinator and the SoilFER Overall Project Manager at FAO-HQ.

Technical focus

The incumbent will be responsible for observing and ensuring high-quality and timely inputs, as well as ensuring that the project maintains its strategic vision and that its activities result in the achievement of its intended outputs, in a cost-effective and timely manner.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Specifically, the M&E Specialist will undertake the following tasks on the assigned project;
•    Ensure up-to-date progress tracking of the project indicators as contained in the project logical framework.
•    Monitor progress on project activities and outputs to ensure that the delivery is on track.
•    Ensures that M&E findings are effectively disseminated to all project stakeholders to ensure lesson learning and fine-tuning of project implementation.
•    Support and provide recommendations on the enhancement and implementation of a sound M&E strategy, framework and tools based on Project Document and recommend further improvement of the logical framework of the project.
•    Lead the development and implementation of a project communication strategy.
•    Monitor outcome and output indicators (gender-disaggregated) based on donor requirements and FAO strategic objectives and contribute to the preparation of relevant results reports, briefs, and other knowledge products.
•    Support beneficiary data collection, feedback mechanism and lead post-distribution monitoring.
•    Oversee the Letter of Agreement (LoA) with the third-party monitoring of compliance to criteria project end-line evaluation.
•    Assist in documenting challenges, best practices and lessons learned from the project.
•    Provide inputs to enhance the visibility of related communications materials and activities.
•    Develop information products to support decision making during project progress review exercise and develop materials for advocacy, knowledge sharing, project promotion as well as for communicating project results
•    In collaboration with the project soil specialists, support data management and GIS mapping, as required.
•    Ensure that reports are developed using the most professional business writing and formatting with comprehensive analytical and visual presentation of information.
•    Facilitate compilation of data and information from different project components for development of comprehensive project reports. This includes participation and contribution to the project knowledge management activities
•    Produce internal reports according to FAO cooperate requirements.
•    Prepare project updates and situational reports as required by FAO HQ and Regional and Sub-Regional Offices
•    Carry out other specific operational tasks for programme/project implementation in the Representation.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University Degree in Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Demography, Agricultural Statistics, or any related field.
•    At least 5 years of experience in monitoring, evaluating, and reporting of project implementation.
•    National of the country
•    Working knowledge of the country

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Considerable experience in collecting and testing soil samples.
•    Familiarity with advanced soil survey techniques and methodologies.
•    Experience in assessing and evaluating methods of soil samples collection and personnel technical capacities

Selection Criteria

•    Prior experience working with FAO or any UN agency.
•    Prior experience working on or supporting a US-funded project.
•    Knowledge and experience in working with Government counterparts and development partners
•    Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
•    Good communication and interpersonal skills
•    Strong focus on results and deliverables
•    Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION