Food Systems Monitoring & Evaluation Consultant

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO’s values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting 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.
FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO’s goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure 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 Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level.
The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.
Specifically, FAO Country Offices:
(i) advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
(ii) provide technical assistance and deliver core services;
(iii) assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation;
(iv) position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and
(v) ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.
FAO, with UNIDO, is implementing the Joint SDG Fund-funded Joint Programme (JP) on “Transforming Jordan’s agri-food system towards greater sustainability and resilience”. The Joint Programme (JP) aims to support Jordan in improving its agri-food systems, aligning them with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by enhancing food security, gender equality, and social inclusion. Using the FAO-UNIDO Agrifood Systems Transformation Accelerator (ASTA) methodology, the JP will run from September 2024 to 31 August 2025 and work with the government and local stakeholders through four main outputs:
I. Assess and evaluate Jordan’s National Food Security Strategy (NFSS) and Action Plans, identifying opportunities for system upgrades;
II. Develop strategies for three key entry points. These strategies will need to specifically focus on: (i) integrating refugees into agrifood systems by leveraging their skills in agriculture and food production; (ii) empowering women and youth through vocational training, entrepreneurship, leadership opportunities, and inclusion in food security decision-making; (iii) optimizing value chains and market systems to support smallholder producers and SMEs, enhancing domestic agri-food production and value addition, and (iv) addressing climate change by promoting water-preserving and FLW-reducing technologies along the value chain. FAO will be responsible for two of the entry point strategies, while UNIDO will handle the other.
III. Support the establishment of a national Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) system to track sustainability and impact of the NFSS; and
IV. Ensure joint management, communication, and reporting with a focus on gender equality and inclusiveness. Capacity-building efforts will also equip key actors with the skills to integrate food systems approaches into national policies

The position is located in the FAO Country Office in Jordan.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAOR and the AFAOR, direct technical supervision of project LTO, and close coordination with the International Consultant on Agrifood Systems and the National team.

Technical Focus

The Consultant on Food Systems Monitoring & Evaluation will provide advisory and support services related to JP Output 3, design and establish at national level the MoA’s M&E system that will track key indicators for the sustainability performance and resilience of agrifood systems and food security in Jordan. This activity will essentially link to and complement efforts of the Food Security Council, the Food Security Management Information System and the Food Security Dashboard being set up by the Government of Jordan.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Act as lead designer for the MoA’s M&E System for Food Systems and Security, and help the national counterpart in the MoA to operate the M&E Systems
• Lead, support and provide technical supervision to national consultant supporting the M&E
• Meet with relevant stakeholders as needed, organize and/or facilitate multi-stakeholder workshops
• Provide backstopping support for the operationalization and implementation of the M&E System.
• Organize a Round Table on monitoring and accountability with different stakeholders to increase awareness, connections and collaborations across various sectors and stakeholders at different levels, with a special attention for inclusion of women, youth and refugees.
• Design and operationalize the MoA’s online Monitoring & Evaluation System for the Food Security Stratefy in Jordan and ensure all M&E activities and indicators are gender-sensitive and socially inclusive.
• Pilot the M&E System for some existing FS programmes and set it up for the M&E of the three upgrading strategies identified under output 2.
• Provide guidance and training to personnel and equip them with standardized forms and data gathering procedures (using PUNO’s materials in this area) to collect and monitor quantitative and qualitative data, including relevant sex-disaggregated data, to inform decision-making.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Monitoring & Evaluation, Agricultural Economics, Sustainability, Food Security, or Public Policy (with an agriculture/environment focus).
• Minimum 5 years of experience in national or regional M&E system design, especially in agriculture, food security, or rural development.
• Working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Proven ability to design national M&E systems, with a focus on results-based management and data integration, and knowledge of tracking sustainability and resilience metrics in agri-food systems, including climate resilience and socio-economic factors.
• Expertise in linking M&E systems with other related national platforms
• Experience in training and supporting government staff on M&E systems.
• Skills in aligning M&E outcomes with national goals and preparing high-level reports for decision-makers
• Familiarity with Jordan’s agricultural and food security context.
• Proven ability to lead complex M&E projects.
• Proficiency in using tools like STATA, R, or Power BI.
• Strong ability to collaborate with government, international organizations, and local institutions; and Experience with International Agencies (e.g., FAO, UN) in implementing M&E frameworks.

Selection Criteria

• Technical M&E Training, preferably with certification from recognized organizations (e.g., World Bank, UN).
• Arabic knowledge preferred

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

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