Evaluation Officer (Impact Evaluations)

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO aims to build efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems. The organization operates in over 130 countries and employs a skilled workforce dedicated to various sectors, including fisheries, forestry, animal production and health, land and water management, plant production and protection, inclusive rural development, nutrition" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food and nutrition, food systems and safety, social protection, and information management systems. FAO's mission is to end hunger and ensure security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all, and it conducts its work through a combination of projects, programs, and partnerships.

Job Overview:
The Evaluation Officer (Impact Evaluations) plays a crucial role in the Office of Evaluation (OED) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. This position involves planning, designing, conducting, and promoting the use of evaluations to enhance results accountability to the Director-General and the Governing Bodies. The officer will contribute to enriched learning within the organization and mentor junior evaluation staff. The role requires active participation in multidisciplinary evaluation teams, often collaborating with both internal and external partners. The officer will design and lead impact evaluations of complex projects and programs using various experimental and quasi-experimental designs, including randomized control trials and regression discontinuity. A key aspect of the job is to apply rigorous analytic thinking to lead data analysis and prepare evaluation reports for dissemination. The officer will also present findings and recommendations to relevant audiences and promote the use of evaluation findings in the design and implementation of strategies, programs, and projects. Additionally, the officer will liaise with other units within the organization to foster a results-based and evaluation culture, keeping abreast of methodological developments in evaluation, and guiding junior evaluation officers and consultants in their work.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Evaluation Officer (Impact Evaluations) will be responsible for the following duties:

• Actively participate in multidisciplinary evaluation teams, collaborating with internal and external partners to ensure comprehensive evaluations.
• Design and lead impact evaluations of complex projects, programs, operations, and themes, employing experimental and quasi-experimental designs.
• Conduct rigorous analysis of qualitative and quantitative data collected during evaluations and prepare detailed evaluation reports and materials for dissemination.
• Present evaluation findings, conclusions, and recommendations to relevant stakeholders and audiences.
• Promote the integration of evaluation findings into the design and implementation of organizational strategies, programs, and projects.
• Collaborate with other units within FAO to enhance the organization's evaluation culture and learning from evaluations.
• Stay updated on methodological advancements in evaluation practices.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior evaluation officers and consultants in conducting evaluations.
• Perform additional duties as required to support the Office of Evaluation's objectives.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in a social science field such as economics, sociology, or psychology, or in evaluation with a focus on research and evaluation methods.
• A minimum of seven years of demonstrated work experience in conducting impact evaluations.
• Proficiency in English (level C) and intermediate knowledge of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) (level B).

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in a relevant social science field or evaluation, emphasizing research and evaluation methodologies. A Ph.D. is highly desirable and would enhance the candidate's qualifications for this role.

Experience:
Candidates should possess at least seven years of relevant work experience in conducting impact evaluations. Experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable. Additionally, candidates should have a proven track record of delivering clear and concise reports and presentations, demonstrated through writing samples and presentations related to impact evaluations.

Languages:
The mandatory language requirement for this position is proficiency in English (level C). Candidates should also have intermediate knowledge of another official FAO language, which could include Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish (level B).

Additional Notes:
This position is based at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. Candidates will be assessed against the specified qualifications and competencies. The role may involve collaboration with various stakeholders and requires a commitment to FAO's mission of ending hunger. The position may also entail a full-time commitment, and candidates are encouraged to submit relevant writing samples and presentations as part of their application.