Evaluation Officer

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.

Reporting Lines
The Evaluation Officer (FAO Decentralized Offices) reports to the Regional Programme Leader, RAF under the technical and policy guidance of the Office of Evaluation (OED).

Technical Focus
Thematic and programme evaluations, decentralized evaluations, use of evaluation results and evaluation capacity development.

Key Results
Increased results accountability and lessons learning at the corporate and unit level.

Key Functions
•    Plans, designs and manages decentralized evaluations ensuring submission of reports according to deadlines.
•    Conducts quality control or assure decentralized evaluations.
•    Takes measures to enhance the utilization as well as the ownership of evaluations in Decentralized Offices.
•    Participates in developing, enhancing and testing evaluation methodologies, determining their applicability in different contexts, and keeps abreast of latest developments.
•    Liaises with technical and operational divisions and offices to enhance the planning, design and utilization of decentralized evaluations.
•    Manages post-evaluation communications, including lessons from evaluations, making them available to various stakeholders.
•    Performs other duties as required.

Specific Functions
Decentralized Evaluations planning, coordination and management:
•    In collaboration with OED, reviews and agrees on evaluation plans and timelines for the completion of decentralized evaluations.
•    Liaises with relevant country offices on the process, timelines, completion and launch of each decentralized evaluation.
•    Coordinates and monitors the overall implementation of evaluation plans and reports to the regional senior management team and OED accordingly.
•    Ensures budget and needed resources availability for each decentralized evaluation.
•    Reviews relevant background documentation and liaises with project key informants to develop evaluation terms of reference (ToRs), including evaluation design and methodology.
•    Identifies the evaluation team and launches their recruitment, in line with FAO processes and procedures.
•    Applies OED evaluation policies, guidance and standards, and ensures Quality Assurance of evaluations by review and quality check of all deliverables of the evaluation team, including inception report, draft and final evaluation report.
•    Oversees the completion of management response and dissemination of decentralized evaluation reports.

Communication, outreach and capacity development:
•    Identifies, along with Country Office evaluation focal points and Regional Office representatives and in coordination with programme, strategic analysis and knowledge management teams, opportunities for communication and dissemination of relevant evaluation results.
•    Organizes communication and knowledge sharing events in the region to promote use of evaluation results, in collaboration with the regional knowledge management teams.
•    Gathers information on main lessons and recommendations for different topics and shares them with all concerned stakeholders either through webinars or specific presentations or syntheses.
•    Contributes to the development and implementation of capacity building activities for evaluation focal points and other FAO actors involved in evaluation processes in the region.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
•    Advanced university degree in evaluation, agriculture, social and economic development or related fields.
•    Seven years of relevant experience in conducting and managing development evaluations at the global, regional or country levels.
•    Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

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

Technical/Functional Skills
•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in designing, planning, leading and conducting development evaluations.
•    Demonstrated knowledge and experience in using evaluation methodologies and managing evaluation processes.
•    Sound understanding of the functioning of UN agencies and the UN system is considered a strong asset.
•    Previous experience with decentralization of the evaluation function in a UN organization is desirable.
•    Analytical skills and ability to write clear and concise reports in English.
•    Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of French would be an asset.