Evaluation Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO’s goal is to achieve food security for all by ensuring that people have regular access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to lead active and healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

FAO assesses the strategic alignment, implementation, effectiveness, and efficiency of its work through its independent Office of Evaluation (OED). OED is led by a Director who reports directly to the Director-General and the FAO Programme Committee. The Office conducts evaluations of FAO strategies, initiatives, programmes, and projects at global, regional, and country levels.

OED seeks to generate credible, timely, and useful evidence and insights to inform decision-making, support accountability and oversight, and contribute to FAO’s effectiveness in achieving its mandate. In addition, OED participates in system-wide evaluation initiatives, contributing to assessments of development and humanitarian effectiveness across the United Nations system.

OED is establishing a roster of evaluation specialists to support the implementation of FAO’s Rolling Evaluation Workplan 2026–2029, which includes over 200 potential thematic, country, and project evaluations. Specialists on the roster may be engaged on a short-term basis, as required, to contribute technical expertise across a range of assignments, ranging from leading, managing to supporting evaluations.

Please note that inclusion in the roster does not guarantee immediate engagement, and that assignments may vary in duration, scope, and location, including remote and field-based work.

Reporting Lines

Evaluation specialists will work under the technical supervision of the assigned Evaluation Officer and under the overall responsibility of the Director, Office of Evaluation (OED).

Technical Focus

The evaluation specialist will contribute technical expertise across a range of assignments, ranging from leading, managing to supporting evaluations.

Tasks and responsibilities

When leading evaluations:

•     Develop an evaluation design to guide the work of the team, leveraging the programme/project M&E plan and data (when available), complemented with primary quantitative and/or qualitative data when appropriate and feasible within the budget and timeline for the evaluation.
•     Foster a productive working relationship with the evaluand and other FAO stakeholders, by engaging them during the design process.
•     Implement the evaluation design, that is, carry out / oversee all evaluation activities, including leading the analysis and writing of all deliverables.
•     Lead and guide the evaluation team (including OED personnel and/or external consultants as the situation requires): providing guidance including writing specifications for quantitative and/or qualitative analyses, troubleshooting issues, reviewing work, monitoring progress, and maintaining regular communications with team members, OED leadership, and evaluation stakeholders.

When responsible for evaluation management:

•     Manage, monitor and document progress, ensuring that all deliverables are fully completed and properly stored. Regularly and proactively monitor and update the evaluation workplan, timeline and budget, following up with team members to monitor progress and expenditures and alerting the Evaluation Lead if any risks increase or materialize.
•     Help draft or review documents and submit key deliverables for clearance.
•     Coordinate communications, organize missions, and schedule activities (such as remote interviews). 
•     Prepare meeting agendas, draft and circulate meeting notes. 
•     Draft specifications of the work to be conducted to enable collaborations with other team members.

When providing analytical support:

•     Review existing literature to motivate, help design, and contextualize the evaluation, including project documentation.
•     Analyse data to inform the evaluation design or produce results.
•     Prepare graphs, tables, and other visual displays of findings.
•     Support the preparation of reports, briefs, papers, presentations, and other deliverables. 
•     Draft the specifications of the work requested to ensure understanding and obtain approval before carrying out the work.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

For Consultants:

•     Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in economics, econometrics, sociology, public policy, data science, statistics, or another field closely related to evaluation. Consultants with a bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
•     At least five (5) years of relevant professional experience in evaluation and/or research.
•     Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish).

For PSAs:

•     University degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in economics, econometrics, sociology, public policy, data science, statistics, or another field closely related to evaluation.
•     At least three (3) years of relevant professional experience in evaluation and/or research.
•     Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish).

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Demonstrated experience in leading, managing or supporting thematic, country, programme and/or project evaluations, preferably in areas of FAO’s work, including agriculture, food security, food systems, nutrition, animal production and health, plant production and protection, forestry, climate change, biodiversity and environment, social protection, inclusive rural development, land and water, or related sectors.
•     Strong stakeholder engagement, facilitation, and interviewing skills, including experience working with donors, government counterparts, and development partners.
•     Solid quantitative analysis skills, including the use of econometric and statistical methods and ability to use relevant software to conduct analyses (STATA, R, python, etc.). Experience with qualitative analysis methods and software such as NVivo is also desirable.
•     Ability to synthesize complex information and produce clear, evidence-based evaluation findings and recommendations.
•     Familiarity with UN or multilateral development organizations and resource partners such as the Green Climate Fund is an asset.