Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

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's mission is to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. The organization operates in over 130 countries and employs thousands of staff worldwide, working collaboratively with governments, civil society, and the private sector to develop policies, programs, and projects aimed at improving agricultural productivity, enhancing food security, and promoting sustainable management of natural resources. In Zimbabwe, FAO is focused on supporting government efforts through the Country Programme Framework (CPF) for the period 2022-2026, which emphasizes inclusive agrifood systems, resilience to climate change, and sustainable resource management.

Job Overview:
The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist will play a crucial role in the FAO's Zimbabwe office, focusing on the design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks for various programs, particularly the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF II). This position requires a strategic approach to track progress against resilience outcome and output indicators, ensuring that the FAO's contributions are effectively documented and communicated. The specialist will work closely with various stakeholders, including government officials and external consultants, to generate evidence of program impact and facilitate the dissemination of significant change stories. The role is pivotal in ensuring that the programs align with the goals of improving food security, enhancing nutrition, and building resilience in vulnerable communities across Zimbabwe.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist include:

• Designing and implementing the M&E framework for FAO's programs, including setting targets and indicators for effective monitoring and evaluation.
• Generating evidence of FAO's technical contributions and supporting the verification of results reported by consortium partners.
• Operationalizing an M&E tool to track progress against agreed resilience outcome and output indicators.
• Documenting and demonstrating tangible results based on baseline data and outcome monitoring surveys.
• Consolidating quarterly and bi-annual project progress update reports.
• Updating data for the PAID system and project milestones in FPMIS.
• Participating in complex field missions, providing guidance to external consultants and government officials, and drafting mission summaries.
• Contributing to the production of all required Project Progress reports in line with donor requirements and guidelines.
• Performing any other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in monitoring and evaluation, agriculture, international development, humanitarian studies, sociology, statistics, or a related field. Additionally, candidates should have at least five years of progressively responsible experience in monitoring, learning, evidence generation, evaluation, research, technical assessment, and program implementation. A working knowledge of English at level C is mandatory, and candidates must be nationals of Zimbabwe.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in a relevant field such as monitoring and evaluation, agriculture, international development, humanitarian studies, sociology, or statistics. This advanced degree is essential for understanding the complexities of monitoring and evaluation processes and their application in agricultural and development contexts.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in areas related to monitoring, learning, evidence generation, evaluation, research, technical assessment, and program implementation. This experience should demonstrate a strong understanding of M&E frameworks and their application in complex program environments, particularly in the context of agricultural and humanitarian initiatives.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English at level C is mandatory for this position. Additionally, knowledge of local languages spoken in Zimbabwe will be considered an asset, as it can enhance communication and engagement with local communities and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or processing. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from institutions accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED). The appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, as well as meeting any residency or visa requirements and security clearances.