National Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure 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 Ukraine is seeking to increase the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises that affect agriculture, food and nutrition, focusing on four major areas\: - rural economic development - transition to sustainable agriculture and food production practices - adaptation to climate change - humanitarian assistance.

FAO Ukraine is the country office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, a specialized agency dedicated to achieving food security, reducing rural poverty, and promoting sustainable management of natural resources. FAO Ukraine works in close partnership with the government, civil society organizations, private sector, and other UN agencies to address the diverse challenges and opportunities in the agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and environmental sectors. By providing technical assistance, policy advice, and capacity development support, FAO Ukraine plays a vital role in fostering sustainable agricultural practices, strengthening the resilience of rural communities, and enhancing food security and nutrition across the country.

The role is full-time in-office, based in Dnipro, Ukraine.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the DRO/FAO Ukraine Head of Office, the direct supervision of the Head of Office in Dnipro, the technical supervision of the FAO Ukraine MEAL Head of Unit, and in close coordination with colleagues across FAO Ukraine.

Technical Focus

The National MEAL Specialist will be responsible for design, coordination and implementation of a Monitoring and Evaluation (MEAL) framework for the designated project(s).

Tasks and responsibilities

Specifically, the incumbent will carry out the following tasks\:

• In close cooperation with the International MEAL Specialist, prepare project monitoring framework and plan corresponding with the project log frame and yearly work plans.
• Support the International MEAL specialist in updating FAO Field Programme Management tracking.
• Develop MEAL tools for the project. Establish and coordinate plans for collection and analysis of data. Ensure quality of data through data verification procedures, including routine data quality audits.
• Ensure up to date progress tracking of the project indicators as contained in the project log frame.
• Monitor and analyse project development and implementation; identify problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions.
• Coordinate monitoring of the activities implemented by the beneficiaries, report on the progress against the milestones indicated in the grant contracts and contribute to the closing reports of the grant contracts.
• Supervise and ensure regular capacity building of the project MEAL team and partners. Train enumerators and /or project staff in data collection, validation, processing, analysis, interpretation and presentation / dissemination.
• Coordinate and, when necessary, participate in regular monitoring missions to obtain beneficiary feedback and prepare monitoring reports to ensure timely, equitable and transparent delivery of assistance to beneficiaries.
• In close collaboration with the Communication Specialist support preparation of success stories, lessons learned and the best MEAL practices for inclusion in internal and external communication products.
• Ensure that MEAL findings are effectively disseminated to all project partners to ensure lesson learning and fine-tuning of project implementation;
• Draft project’s monitoring reports highlighting the progress achieved, deviations tackled and responded or pending remedial actions, supported by field monitoring visits as necessary.
• Contribute to the yearly progress reports of the project.
• Conduct needs assessments to identify the needs of the population and inform program design
• Collect and analyze data from assessments, ensuring data quality and accuracy
• Conduct needs assessments to identify the needs of the population and inform program design
• Collect and analyze data from assessments, ensuring data quality and accuracy
• Perform any other tasks as necessary.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in Economics, Statistics, Rural Development, Social Sciences or related technical field
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in monitoring and evaluation, MEAL, results-based management (RBM) or related
• Working knowledge or Native (Level C) Ukrainian
• Working knowledge (Level C) English
• National of Ukraine

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Advanced university degree is desirable
• Previous experience with the UN system or relation work for a donor organization, consulting company or NGO is a strong advantage
• Ability to effectively use standard office software, such as MS Office (Windows, Word, Outlook, Excel, Power Point, Exchange), and statistical software (such as R, Stata, SPSS).
• Ability to take ownership and accountability for assigned processes and to work autonomously
• Ability to work quickly and under pressure
• Experience in updating log frame results against progress achieved, beneficiary verification, PDM survey and reporting, and/or working with feedback and complaint mechanism will be considered an advantage

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION