Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Specialist

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

• 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’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

Organizational Setting

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 MEAL Specialist will provide support to the project “Inclusive Rural Development and Sustainable Agriculture“ implemented by the FAO from 2023 to 2027, in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture and the Ministry of Regional Development of Georgia, with the funding from the Austrian Development Cooperation. The overarching goal of the project is to foster increased competitiveness within the agricultural sector, enhance food production, and concurrently alleviate rural poverty, with a specific emphasis on mitigating inequality. The project provides support for the effective execution of the Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy of Georgia 2021-2027.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Georgia (FAOR), the incumbent will report administratively to Technical Advisor (Rural Development Officer) and technically to International MEAL Specialist/Head of MEAL. The position will function in close coordination with, and under the guidance of, the International MEAL Specialist, working collaboratively with the project team.

Technical Focus

The MEAL Specialist will provide support to the project with all the MEAL related activities, putting in place MEAL framework and plan, developing MEAL tools, conducting M&E activities, drafting M&E reports and carrying out other related tasks. The MEAL Associate will also lead the implementation of Data Protection Policy by the project team.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Undertake all M&E activities for GCP/GEO/031/AUS.
•    Develop/update monitoring and evaluation plans and ensure application of FAO result based management (RBM) approach;
•    Support in designing and conducting baseline and endline surveys, as required to assist project team in setting benchmark values for logical framework indicators and developing project work plan;
•    Develop MEAL tools for data collection and analysis;
•    Develop and adopt modernized M&E tools to monitor project progress vs implementation plans and carry out internal assessments;
•    Perform and train MEAL enumerators/project staff in data collection, validation, processing, analysis, interpretation and presentation/dissemination;
•    Support in data verification, data quality assessment/check, analysis and management;
•    Contribute to preparing quarterly/six monthly/annual monitoring reports highlighting the progress achieved, deviations tackled and responded or pending remedial actions, supported by field monitoring visits as necessary;
•    Ensure an update beneficiary database, data entry into ZOHO platform
•    Manage conducting periodic monitoring missions, including beneficiary verification and post distribution monitoring to obtain beneficiary feedback and prepare monitoring reports to ensure timely, equitable and transparent delivery of assistance/services to beneficiaries
•    Update FAO Field Programme Management and Information System (FPMIS) on regular basis;
•    Support in project evaluations and reviews;
•    Any other tasks related to M&E assigned by the supervisor.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advance University degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Project Management, Public Administration, Development Studies Agriculture Economics or related field.
•    Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in designing, implementing and monitoring and evaluation of rural/agriculture/natural resources management capacity development programs/projects.
•    National of Georgia.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Knowledge of United Nations and International Organizations’ administrative policies and procedures.
•    Knowledge of project MEAL requirements as advantage
•    Experience in designing surveys, data collection and analysis frameworks
•    Knowledge of modern M&E tools and data/information management systems
•    Good knowledge of common administrative and financial rules and regulations
•    Good knowledge of communication and documentation standards 
•    Display initiative and take responsibility for achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and closely follow-up until successful outputs are achieved. 
•    Continue to seek new, innovative and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work assigned.
•    Identify and recommend remedial measures to address problems in systems design or implementation

Selection Criteria

•    Proficiency and flexibility in using statistical software, such as Excel, R, Stata, SPSS, SAS or similar (preferably open-source) software.
•    Good knowledge of rural areas of Georgia and working knowledge of English and Georgian. 
•    Ability to work in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams is essential;
•    Ability to travel within Georgia
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/  
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/ 
•  Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. 

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

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
•  We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

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