Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Specialist at Food and Agriculture Organization Of the United Nations

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Organizational Unit: FRNIR
Job Type: Non-staff opportunities
Type of Requisition: Consultant / PSA (Personal Services Agreement)
Duration: Up to 11 months

Organizational Setting

• Under the general oversight of the FAO Representative (FAOR) and direct supervision of the Deputy FAO Representative (DFAOR) and Head of the FAO North East Sub-Office, and in close collaboration with the Emergency Programme Coordinator, and under the technical guidance of the MEAL teams in the Resilience team in Dakar (REOWA) and PSE (Rome), the Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Specialist will be expected to provide technical advice towards strengthening the link between needs assessments and response in close coordination with Implementing Partners and all relevant stakeholders.

Reporting Lines:

• The Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Specialist reports to the FAO Representative in Nigeria.

Technical Focus:

• The Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Specialist will be responsible for the design, coordination and implementation of the monitoring and evaluation, accountability, and learning framework of FAO programme.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Manage and supervise the MEAL team;
• Lead the development of a Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) system for the FAO emergency and resilience response in North East Nigeria;
• Develop a suitable MEAL framework and monitoring plans for the programme and its projects so as to provide, in a timely manner, the data/information needed on project progress in terms of results (outputs, outcomes and impacts), with which to guide and advise on improvements/adjustments to the project/programme implementation strategy, and generate learning through active engagement with all relevant actors involved in  implementation;
• Design, implement and report technical studies, impact assessments and evaluations on resilience and food security under the technical guidance of the MEAL and RIMA teams in HQ and REOWA;
• Ensure that electronic database for all FAO beneficiaries of the North East Nigeria programme is functional;
• Identify and assess context-appropriate remote monitoring modalities and tools and integrate them into the MEAL system where applicable by engaging and managing Third Party Monitoring (TPM) contractors to ensure that quality data are generated effectively;
• Ensure required collection, tabulation, storage, analysis and reporting of relevant monitoring data including, inter alia, post-distribution monitoring, crop yields and annual assessments , to monitor the progress of outputs and measure the impact of FAO’s programme;
• Ensure the continued monitoring and reporting of all project/programme activities against work plans (annual and quarterly) and results frameworks (logframes), undertake periodic travel to project sites for monitoring/follow up of field activities, and identify activities/areas requiring follow-up to alert the Management in case of significant deviation from expected outputs and outcomes;
• Conduct pre- and post-evaluations of trainings/workshops and pilot activities;
• Provide support to FAO implementing partners to facilitate knowledge transfer, streamline MEAL tools and ensure a harmonized approach;
• Provide support to the Reporting and Communications Officer, Programme staff and FAO implementing partners to generate learning and mainstream Accountability to Affected populations (AAP) in the programme;
• Strengthen FAO’s partnership monitoring system and its integration with corporate information tools;
• Coordinate with the Emergency Programme Coordinator and Operation Officers to ensure regular and timely reporting from partners by monitoring and following up with state-based coordinators and Implementing Partners (IPs);
• Contribute to project reporting and support the formulation and preparation of concept notes, project proposals and project documents;
• Conduct regular and ad hoc training of FAO and IP staff on M&E Data collection, particularly for surveys to be conducted within the given MEAL strategy/framework;
• Act as focal point for independent evaluations conducted by the FAO Office of Evaluation (OED) and in coordinating management response and follow-up in implementing evaluation recommendations;
• Represent FAO in evaluation taskforces with UN and other partners and stakeholders;
• Support the Head of Office and Emergency Programme Coordinator with MEAL-related issues as and when required, and actively participate in relevant technical and coordination meetings;
• Any other tasks as required.

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University Degree in Economics, Statistics, Rural Development, Social Sciences or closely related technical field;
• At least 5 years (category B) of relevant experience in MEAL applied to food security and/or agricultural programmes;
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of any other official language of the Organization (Arabic, Chinese French, Spanish and Russian).

FAO Core Competencies:

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

Technical / Functional Skills:

• Relevant work experience in MEAL applied to food security and/or agricultural programmes;
• Excellent knowledge of MEAL tools and methodologies applied in food security, resilience and agricultural interventions;
• Working knowledge of advanced statistics with ability to use statistical software packages (i.e. SPSS and R);
• Good knowledge of using and programming questionnaires in Open data kits (in particular Kobo toolbox);
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook);
• Ability to perform in multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary context.
• Experience in complex/protracted emergencies would be an asset;
• Experience in conflict sensitive and peacebuilding programmes would be an asset;
• Field experience in implementing MEAL activities and strategies.