Organizational Setting

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.
FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO’s goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure 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 Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level.
The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.
Specifically, FAO Country Offices:
(i)    advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
(ii)    provide technical assistance and deliver core services;
(iii)     assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation;
(iv)    position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and
(v)    ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.
FAO, with UNIDO, is implementing the Joint SDG Fund-funded Joint Programme (JP) on “Transforming Jordan’s agri-food system towards greater sustainability and resilience”. The Join Programme (JP) aims to support Jordan in improving its agri-food systems, aligning them with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by enhancing food security, gender equality, and social inclusion. Using the FAO-UNIDO Agrifood Systems Transformation Accelerator (ASTA) methodology, the JP will run from September 2024 to 31 August 2025 and work with the government and local stakeholders through four main outputs:
I.    assess and evaluate Jordan’s National Food Security Strategy (NFSS) and Action Plans, identifying opportunities for system upgrades;
II.    develop strategies for three key entry points. These strategies will need to specifically focus on: (i) integrating refugees into agrifood systems by leveraging their skills in agriculture and food production; (ii) empowering women and youth through vocational training, entrepreneurship, leadership opportunities, and inclusion in food security decision-making; (iii) optimizing value chains and market systems to support smallholder producers and SMEs, enhancing domestic agri-food production and value addition, and (iv) addressing climate change by promoting water-preserving and FLW-reducing technologies along the value chain. FAO will be responsible for two of the entry point strategies, while UNIDO will handle the other.
III.    Support the establishment of a national Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) system to track sustainability and impact; and
IV.    ensure joint management, communication, and reporting with a focus on gender equality and inclusiveness. Capacity-building efforts will also equip key actors with the skills to integrate food systems approaches into national policies.

The position is located in the FAO Country Office in Jordan.

Reporting Lines

The National Specialist on M&E Methodology and Data Collection works under the overall supervision of the FAOR and AFAOR, the technical leadership of the Lead Technical Officer (Agricultural Economist, Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division, ESF), technical guidance and supervision of the International Consultant on Agrifood Systems, and in collaboration with a Consultant on Food Systems M&E.
Technical Focus

The National Specialist on M&E Methodology and Data Collection will support tasks related to JP output 3, interlinked with JP Outputs 2 and 1: design and establish the Ministry of Agriculture’s M&E system at national level that will track key indicators for the sustainability performance and resilience of the agri-food system and food security in Jordan. This output will essentially link to the Food Security Management Information System and the Food Security Dashboard being set up by the Government of Jordan.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Support the Consultant on Food Systems M&E by providing inputs to the design and operationalization of the MoA’s online M&E System for Food Systems and Security in Jordan and ensure all M&E activities and indicators are gender-sensitive and socially inclusive
•    Contribute to the organization of a Round Table on monitoring and accountability with different stakeholders to increase awareness, connections and collaborations across various sectors and stakeholders at different levels, with a special attention for inclusion of women, youth and refugees.
•    Pilot the M&E System for some existing FS programmes and set them up for the M&E of the three upgrading strategies being developed under JP output 2.
•    Provide guidance and training to personnel and equip them with standardized forms and data gathering procedures (using PUNO’s materials in this area) to collect and monitor quantitative and qualitative data, including relevant sex-disaggregated data, to inform decision-making.
•    Other tasks as requested

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements 

•    Advanced degree in economics, social sciences, environmental science, agriculture, rural development or other field relevant to monitoring and evaluating international development programmes
•    At least 5 years of practical experience working M&E components within larger projects of food security and systems or agribusiness-related programs, ideally in both rural and urban settings, including budgeting and resource allocation
•    Working knowledge of English and Arabic
•    National of Jordan or resident of the country with valid work permit

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Proficient in designing M&E frameworks and logic models tailored for food security programs.
•    Skills in qualitative and quantitative data collection methods (surveys, interviews, focus groups), and in statistical analysis software (e.g., SPSS, R, or Stata) and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau).
•    Ability to define relevant indicators for measuring food security outcomes, such as food availability, access, utilization, and stability, and in planning baseline and endline assessments to evaluate program impact.
•    Depth understanding of food security principles, including food systems, agricultural practices, nutrition, and socioeconomic factors, and familiarity with national and international policies related to food security and food systems, such as SDGs, and regional food security strategies, and knowledge of the key stakeholders in food security (e.g., government agencies, NGOs, local communities) and experience in collaborative project environments.
•    Experience training and mentoring local staff or partners in M&E processes and data management.
•    Hands-on experience conducting field research in diverse environments, understanding local contexts and challenges, and ability to analyze complex data and contexts, drawing meaningful conclusions for program improvement.
•    Strong skills in writing clear and concise reports, presenting findings to stakeholders, and making data-driven recommendations, and in communication and interpersonal skills to facilitate collaboration among diverse stakeholders, and active participation in professional networks and forums related to food security and M&E.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements