Back Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports governments and regional bodies to address their needs and priorities in achieving food security, reducing hunger and malnutrition. This includes developing capacities of National Plant Protection Organizations in fulfilling their legal mandates ensuring suppression and eradication of plant pests and preserving international trade. FAO is currently implementing a project titled “Strengthening Plant Health Services in Tanzania for Enhanced Food Safety (STREPHIT)”. FAO is seeking to recruit a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist to provide technical and project management support to STREPHIT.

The post is in the FAO Representation in Tanzania, with the incumbent also working with other units in an integrated and cross-sectoral approach.

Reporting Lines

The M&E Specialist will work under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative in Tanzania, and that of the direct technical supervision of the Technical Adviser overseeing the project, and guidance from other technical officers at the FAO Headquarter, Regional and Sub regional offices, and working in close collaboration with other relevant officers at the country office. 

Technical Focus 

Expertise in Monitoring and Evaluation, Reporting and Communication. 

Tasks and responsibilities

The M&E Specialist will undertake the following tasks:

•    Lead the development of the action M&E strategy and framework including the definition of targets and identification of appropriate performance indicators, data quality, M&E coordination, and data management.
•    Ensure up to date progress tracking of project indicators as contained in the project logical framework to guide implementation.
•    Provide technical assistance in monitoring, reporting, utilization, and dissemination of information to relevant stakeholders. 
•    Support in designing of monitoring data collection methodologies and reporting tools/guidelines.
•    Lead preparation of regular/periodic project implementation progress reports to support decision making.
•    Conduct Data Quality Assurance and periodic field visits and action reviews to establish compliance with recommended strategies and guidance.
•    Lead evaluation processes to demonstrate program impact, efficiency, and sustainability (Baseline, Midterm and end-line evaluation). In this capacity, ensure evaluation findings, recommendations and reports are used to improve action performance and are effectively disseminated to the intended audience.
•    Develop project status reports with inputs from technical officers and including the findings of M&E activities and assessments and lessons learnt.
•    Liaise with the Communication Specialist to provide messages on the impact of project activities.
•    Support in identification and documentation of project success stories.
•    Collect communications material (photos, videos, statements) in the field and submit to the C&V specialist.
•    Monitor the sustainability of the project’s results and impact.
•    Support the Technical Adviser in project progress monitoring, reporting and other project management assignments. 
•    Perform any other duties as may be required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree (advanced degree preferred) in Agricultural Economics, Statistics, Sociology, Business Administration, Project Management, Agriculture, or any other related discipline.
•    Specific certificate training or certification in M&E or project management desired.
•    At least five years of professional experience, preferably in the field of development and/or monitoring & evaluation, collecting and analysing data and writing reports.
•    Fluent English and Kiswahili.
•    National of Tanzania.

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building effective relationships
•    Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Proven work experience in international, or regional and national organizations.
•    Demonstrated experience in developing M&E Framework or System for development projects.
•    Excellent interpersonal relations and communications skills.
•    Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
•    Ability to design and implement tools for data collection.
•    Demonstrated experience in quantitative and qualitative methods.  
•    knowledge and experience in project management support and writing skills, 
•    Strong ability to draft high-quality reports supported with graphic and statistical summaries,
•    Capacity to interact professionally with a wide variety of stakeholders.
•    Ability to conduct interviews with beneficiaries and partners.
•    Willingness to work extended hours and respond to strict deadlines.
•    Ability to work with multi-disciplinary teams. 
•    Ability to effectively use standard office software, such as MS Office (Windows, Word, Outlook, Excel,), etc.
•    Proficiency in the use of software package for data analysis and presentation (SPSS, Stata, InfoStat, PowerBI, Tableau, MS Dynamics 365, Pictochart, Infogram).
•    Practical knowledge of data collection software (e.g.: Kobo Toolbox, survey CTO, Survey monkey, ODK).
•    Ability to take high quality photographs and make short videos.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION