Monitoring and Evaluating (M&E) Expert

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough 
high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 members - 194 countries and the European Union, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 articulates FAO’s vision of a sustainable and food secure world for all, in the context of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 seeks to support the 2030 Agenda through 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.

Under the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (FAORAP) priority on “Accelerating sustainable natural resources management for biodiversity conservation and climate action,” FAO aims to support Members to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and combat climate change in realizing more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems. Working closely with its member countries, FAORAP ensures multidisciplinary support to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with the Offices, Centres and Divisions at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to country and regional priorities.

Water programming and resource mobilization for work on water at FAORAP is expanding rapidly – including the Water Scarcity Programme (WSP), water-centric Global Environment Facility (GEF), GEF International Waters (GEF-IW), and Green Climate Fund (GCF) programming. FAORAP is seeking a dynamic, skilled professional to provide Monitoring & Evaluations (M&E) expertise required to fully support the implementation of an M&E Framework for the WSP, which includes data collection, stakeholder engagement, and final evaluation reporting.

Water Scarcity Programme (WSP): The WSP aims to ensure agricultural water consumption is within sustainable limits while also preparing the sector for a productive future with less water. The WSP has assessed the scope of water scarcity in the region, evaluated effective management response options, and developed a range of tools and approaches to assist partner countries to implement adaptive scarcity management strategies. The WSP promotes practical water accounting and the development of transparent, rational, and evidence-based water allocation processes. It seeks to embed these activities at a high-level and represent the interests of all water stakeholders, improving policy coherence between water-using sectors. The WSP is also undertaking field work to understand water tenure and set a framework for the inclusion of all water users in a transparent and equitable manner. The WSP also facilitates high-level regional buy-in and south-south cooperation across both technical and governance issues.  

Reporting Lines

The M&E Expert will work under the overall technical supervision of the FAORAP Land and Water Officer and in close coordination with the WSP technical team.  

Technical Focus

Provision of technical advice or expertise and capacity development for the evaluation of the Water Scarcity Programme (WSP), in accordance with FAO guidelines.

Provision of technical expertise for the (i) implementation of a Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) framework for the WSP to ensure accountability, transparency, and effective use of resources; (ii) data collection, synthesis, and analysis to evaluate programme performance; and (iii) stakeholder engagement and final evaluation reporting to review and gather inputs on collected and analysed data. The M&E Framework will align with FAO guidelines.

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Conduct a thorough final evaluation of the Asia-Pacific Water Scarcity Programme’s project documents, including logical frameworks, and work plans using an approved, comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework that aligns with FAO guidelines.
•     Conduct data collection through key informant interviews, potentially short-form surveys and/or online focus group discussions (for Consultants), where expected and required.
•     Produce an aide memoire and finalized M&E report using templates for regular monitoring reports and final evaluation reports
•     (For Consultants only) Engage with key stakeholders, including donors, local governments, and partner organizations, to gather inputs and ensure the M&E results meet their needs and expectations.
•     Prepare and organize a dashboard of outputs from each WSP country for final reporting
•     Perform other related duties as required.

FAO Standards and guidelines:

•     Liaison with OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, aligned messaging, and appropriate review and clearance processes.
•     All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en 
FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia  
Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en 
FAOSTYLE (https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en)  
FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm
FAO Names Of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en    
Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff).

•     Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.
•     Ensure that all publications and documents to be disseminated via the FAO document repository are timely processed through the corporate Publications Workflow System (PWS), from their planning to production and dissemination. 
•     Work in constant contact with the Publishing Group at FAO and ensure that all corporate publishing standards are adhered to in publications and documents.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO (for Consultants) / relevant educational background (for PSA Subscribers) in natural resources management, water resources management, climate change, disaster risk management, environmental sciences of engineering, political science, international relations or a related field or related field. Consultants with bachelor`s degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience
•     5 years of relevant experience in planning, designing and executing the evaluation of natural and/or water resources management, climate change adaptation and mitigation, disaster risk management, agricultural and rural projects and programmes, including in developing countries and/or countries in transition  
•     Working knowledge (level C) of English.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Extent and relevance of experience in preparation of sector studies as well as formulation, implementation support or evaluation of natural or water resources management, climate change adaptation and/or mitigation, disaster risk management activities
•     Extent and relevance of experience in performing evaluations of projects and programmes 
•     Extent and relevance of experience in adaptation of evaluation results into technical knowledge products and reports for resource partners
•     Demonstrated experience in dealing with government officials, development partners, the private sector and other country level stakeholders (for consultants); 
•     Relevance of experience in different geographical areas.

Selection Criteria:

•     Limited knowledge (level B) of Chinese, French, Spanish, Arabic or Russian is considered an asset.