Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist

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Description

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The Global Environment Facility (GEF) supports the Project and aims to remove the barriers to SLM and the implementation of LDN in Armenia. The Project will take a three-pronged approach, starting with strengthening the enabling environment for LDN, followed by support to scaling up resilient SLM practices in degraded landscapes in Lori and Syunik districts. These two components will be underpinned by monitoring, evaluation, dissemination, and communication of lessons learned supporting behavioural and institutional change that leads to the adoption and implementation of LDN principles at the national level and balancing of gains and losses of productive land to achieve LDN. This intermediary state is expected to lead to the ultimate goal of Armenia meeting its national LDN targets sustainably and equitably through the implementation and scaling up of SLM.  

GCF Project:

A new project funded by the Green Climate Fund “Forest resilience in Armenia enhancing the adaptation and rural green growth via mitigation” has been approved and started in December 2021. The total funding including co-financing is USD18.7 million. The FAO representation office in Armenia and the national Environmental Project Implementation Unit (EPIU) are the Executing Entities of the project. FAO is responsible for the overall implementation of the project and supervise the work of the EPIU of the Ministry of Environment of Armenia. EPIU retains overall M&E responsibilities with guidance and capacity strengthening offered by the FAO. The project is co-financed by the Government of Armenia, Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, WWF Armenia and FAO.

Reporting Lines:

The M&E specialist reports to the FAO Representative with technical guidance from Lead Technical Officers (LTOs) of the two projects and the Regional Evaluation Specialist. 

Technical Focus:

M&E officer supports the FAO Armenia Representation in developing M&E systems and collecting data to improve and enhance operational and programmatic performance. The M&E officer develops analytical tools and reports to inform management and contribute to reducing and mitigating implementation risks by providing updated and real time performance analysis for the country’s project portfolio. 

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement the “Monitoring and Evaluation Plan of Analysis” for the GEF project, including means of verifications, frequency, data sources, and utilization, as well as guide and supervise EPIU in the implementation of the “Monitoring and Evaluation Plan of Analysis” for the GCF project;
• Support EPIU data collection activities for outcome and impact indicators in compliance with GCF donor requirements. Conduct data collection for the GEF project;
• Continue to build the capacity of the national country-level (EPIU) on data collection, analysis and reporting for the GEF and GCF projects;
• Draft recommendations for country office on M&E tools and systems for GCF and interlinkages with other projects/activities. 
• Support the planning and preparation phase of the mid-term and terminal evaluations for GEF and GCF projects. Support in providing relevant monitoring data to the evaluation teams 
• Establish the M&E architecture at country-level (linking project outcomes to CPF/SDCF outcomes and to FAO’s corporate results framework) review and propose recommendations for improvement;
• Conduct the data collection and entry for the M&E country level tool for project monitoring (action plan recommendation 5.1 for REU RBM)
• Support Regional Evaluation team in the light of planned evaluative exercises (MTR and plan Terminal Evaluation of GEF and GCF projects) with administrative coordination and TOR write-up
• Build the capacity of FAO Armenia CO on monitoring functions as needed with a specific focus to GCF and GEF requirements
• Scout and source national monitoring and evaluation capacity in Armenia to support CO monitoring evaluation strengthening.  
• Develop M&E system for the Project and for the government counterpart/stakeholders, including baseline data collection and monitoring of global environmental benefits of the project;
• Contribute to development of a monitoring system for LDN indicators together with the SLM expert;
• Work in close cooperation with the EPIU (on a daily basis);
• Support the two project teams of GEF and GCF projects to develop and strengthen monitoring, inspection and evaluation procedures;
• Assist (on a daily basis) the FAO representation, Operations Specialist  and LTO to monitor all project activities and progress towards achieving the project output;
• Monitor and evaluate overall progress and the sustainability of the project results and prepare  monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual M&E reports for project and government counterparts, respectively;
• Provide feedback to the OP (NPC ) and FAO on project strategies and activities on M&E;
• Suggest strategies to the OP (NPC) and  FAO for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the project by identifying bottlenecks in completing project activities and developing plans to minimize or eliminate such bottlenecks;
• Conduct capacity assessment on existing monitoring and evaluation system and assist project staff in applying M&E tools;
• Provide inputs, information and statistics for semi-annual and  annual and other reports to draft the Project Implementation Reporting;
• Systematically collect and review project activities to make sure that the activities are being implemented within the work plan and budget.
• Participate in annual project reviews and planning workshops and assist the FAO R/BH, LTO, in preparing relevant reports;
• Assist the project staff in preparing relevant M&E reports and perform other related duties as required.
•  Conduct periodical field trips to the project sites

Candidates Will Be Assessed Against The Following:

Minimum Requirements:    

• University Degree preferably in Statistical Mathematics, Management, Administration, Economics or related fields;
• At least 7 years of experience in designing and implementation of M&E/MIS in development projects implemented by national/international NGOs/UN organizations/ Government. Experience from UN projects would be desirable;
• Working knowledge (level C) of Armenian and English languages is required;
• National of Armenia or a legal resident in the country with a valid work permit.

Technical/ Functional Skills:

• Solid experience in designing M&E tools and strategies for data collection, analysis and production of reports;
• Proven ICT skills, especially in the development of MIS software using database software;
• Expertise in analysing data using statistical software;
• Systematic and efficient approach to work assignments, good judgment and analytical ability;
• Knowledge on UN system is an asset.

Source: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2301156

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