Economist (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning)

Food and Agriculture Organisation Palestine / West Bank & Gaza

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic planning and support to FAO management on economic analysis and MEAL frameworks

• Coordinates office activities and supervises personnel involved in MEAL activities, and economic analysis, planning and monitoring for results;
• Chairs FAO's Local Procurement Committee to review the appropriateness of procurement actions and obtaining best value for money;
• Plans, monitors and reports for results ensuring alignment of projects to FAO s Country Programme Framework (CPF) and Global Strategic Framework consistently with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC), national plans and strategies, and Agenda 2030, ensuring that FAO corporate requirements (baselines, milestones, and target indicators) are streamlined within programme components;
• Contributes to the delivery of technical assistance in planning, monitoring and evaluation of programmes and policies including the National Agriculture Sector Strategy, the Sustainable Development Goals, the UNSDCF and other relevant programmatic framework of FAO, Government and UN/humanitarian systems.

Design and oversight of assessments, surveys, and evaluations

• Plans, designs and ensures timely implementation of baseline and endline surveys, post-distribution monitoring, quantitative and qualitative analyses achievements, as well as programme and project reviews and evaluations. This includes preparation of ToRs and facilitation of external reviews and evaluations;
• Reviews existing tools, define methodologies, develop work plans and supervise implementation of external and internal assessments, monitoring and evaluation exercises for projects, policies and the overall FAO program, including data collection exercises (surveys, community and key informants interviews, focus group discussions, etc.) and reports writing;
• Carries out, participates in or provides technical advice for economic assessments, surveys, studies and analytical reports.

Capacity building, supervision, and quality assurance of MEAL activities

• Provides training and supervision of enumerators; and reviews quality control of data collection activities involved in monitoring, evaluation, ensuring accountability to affected population and learning from programs and project implementation;
• Identifies, monitors and evaluates capacity building among government and other partner institutions.

Reporting, analysis, and strategic dissemination of MEAL results, and strengthening accountability and Grievance mechanisms

• Contribute to drafting regular/periodic project implementation progress reports, developing information products and advocacy material;
• Provides timely and relevant information to the office management on the reach, outcomes and longer-term impacts of FAO's interventions, including analytics and visualizations (in the form of dashboards and other forms);
• Ensures that MEAL findings are effectively disseminated to all relevant stakeholders -including relevant Focal Points in related Ministries and other governmental institutions- to ensure fine-tuning of projects implementation and design;
• Organizes and maintains records of beneficiaries for monitoring, evaluation and reporting purposes.
• Maintains updated and aligned with FAO s and UN wide approaches the office operating procedures to ensure Accountability to Affected Population (AAP), including Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), and ensures timely and effective implementation of these procedures, including the operationalization of a Grievance Redressal Procedures tailored to the evolution of FAO field activities and consistent with corporate rules and procedures.

Perform other duties within your functional profile as assigned and deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the office. Report to FAO Jerusalem Office as and when required.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervise SB3/Peg1 and 2 International Consultants.

Competencies

Core

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master s degree or equivalent) in economics, or a closely related field.

Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years (with Master s degree) or seven (7) years (with Bachelor s degree) of relevant experience in managing Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning, including economic analysis, planning, and monitoring for results in food security, resilience, and vulnerability is required.
• At least three years of relevant experience with UN agencies or international organizations is required.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) Internet and office technology equipment is required.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of Results-Based Planning relating to multi-sectoral programmes including food security and nutrition, livelihoods, women s empowerment and gender equality is required.
• Experience in providing capacity building, technical guidance and mentoring is required.
• Extensive experience in conducting baseline and endline surveys is desired.
• Working experience in ensuring compliance with Accountability to Affected Population (AAP), Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), and managing Grievance Redressal Systems is desired.
• Experience in strategic visioning with strong technical and highly developed analytical capabilities is desired.
• Policy, advisory and advocacy experience is desired.
• UN experience in conducting baseline and endline surveys, AAP and PSEA is desired.