National MEAL Specialist

Organizational Setting

In the Central Dry Zone (CDZ) of Myanmar, approximately 25 percent of the population lives below the national poverty line, with around 50 percent being landless. The limited livelihood opportunities is one of the major constraints in poverty reduction and combating food insecurity, resulting in high rates of malnutrition and food insecurity. To address these challenges, FAO is implementing technical assistance under the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP). The assistance focuses on promoting climate-smart Good Agricultural Practices (CS-GAPs) to improve produce quality, food safety, and income of smallholder farmers. The project is also implementing interventions to enhance household nutrition by diversifying diets for women and children, as well as supporting off-farm livelihood opportunities through skills development to increase employability and household income. The project's theory of change is centered on the idea that a market-driven approach is crucial for helping smallholder farmers sustainably increase their income and improve their livelihoods, food security, and nutrition.
Under the Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) component, an online a MEAL strategy and online MEAL system have been established using interfaces like dashboards, activity logs, and interactive log frames to measure the project progress on the output, outcome and impact indicators, analyse the project results for adaptive management of the country level programme and ensure informed decision making for future programming in the country.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall managerial and administrative leadership of the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Myanmar/ Budget holder and the direct supervision of Assistant FAOR (Programme). S/he will closely work with project MEAL staff.

Technical Focus

FAOMM is seeking a National MEAL Specialist who will work within the programme framework and scope for achieving the desired results.

Tasks and responsibilities

The incumbent will carry out the following tasks\:
• Participate in program/project design, concept note and proposal writing in the areas of theory of change, logical framework design, MEAL activity plan development and budget formulation.
• Ensure the incorporation of relevant indicators and planning of resources to implement MEAL activities (baselines, beneficiary registration and verification, post distribution monitoring, post-harvest monitoring, value-for-money, endline and outcome assessments)
• Ensure compatibility and efficiency in integrating MEAL activities into MEAL online platforms FAO PAID, MIMU, 5W data, 5W matrix reporting, UN TCF, TCF, and DIEM database.
• Reviewing of MEAL workplans, data collection, quality, analysis methodologies, and reporting tools (Kobo toll box) to align the MEAL actions with existing platforms and frameworks.
• Advise and support program/project teams on quality data gathering and analysis to facilitate informed program and project design.
• Develop and provide technical guidance on the training modules for capacity building of the MEAL system users including FAO internal staff, CSOs and other relevant partners on use of the online MEAL system.
• Establish and build MEAL Unit capacity to maintain an up-to-date database of FAO’s beneficiaries, in accordance with FAO’s Data Protection Policy and data quality assurance standards, to provide regular updates on the progress towards activity and beneficiary targets.
• Establish regular information flows from implementing partners to FAO country office MEAL in terms of beneficiary registration and monitoring through regular reports based on standard templates to collect reach, activity, and outcome data.
• Establish mechanisms and protocols for data compilation and analysis on food security, livelihoods, agricultural production, resilience analysis, and assistance tracking, through scheduled field visits to conduct household-level interviews, agricultural inputs distribution monitoring, post distribution monitoring, post-harvest monitoring, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews.
• Develop and implement community engagement, communication, and visibility strategy, ensure accountability to affected populations, provide data literacy coaching, identify learning opportunities, and fulfilling other MEAL management-assigned duties.
• Establish an external network of current and potential development partner organizations and individual experts for joint projects and synergies.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree or equivalent, in social sciences, project development management, statistics, or related field;
• Minimum 5 years’ experience of working as M&E or MEAL expert with UN or International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs);
• Working knowledge (Level C) of English
• Working knowledge (Level C) of Myanmar/Burmese
• National of Myanmar

FAO Core Competencies

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

Selection Criteria

• Extensive experience in development of Result Frameworks, data processing and management, information analysis;
• Ability to communicate clearly and to share knowledge and information;
• Ability to work effectively under pressure;
• Capacity to build effective relationships and partnership with team members and service providers;
• Ability to take initiative, work independently and accomplish tasks in due time;
• Ability to be flexible in changing circumstances and to adapt the work approach in response to changes;
• Proven ability to work and deliver under pressure;
• Multi-tasking capabilities;
• Networks within the project team, among the country team, and other UN agencies;
• Have culturally sensitive and good character and integrity;

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION