Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO Country Offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments in developing policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and nutrition and reduce hunger and malnutrition, promote sustainable agricultural development, reduce rural poverty, develop inclusive agri-food systems and strengthen livelihood resilience – in line with the Organization’s Strategic Objectives and United Nations’ global and Government of Egypt’s national Sustainable Development Goals.

In its effort to support the Government of Egypt with respect to enhanced climate resilience and efficiency of natural resource for all/rural people in a sustainable environment, FAO has been working towards improving management of land, water, fertilizer, pesticide and other agriculture inputs for efficient, more sustainable, healthy, income-generating agriculture production. Within this context, FAO is implementing projects in Egypt to support smallholder farmers in better managing their natural resources through various interventions, including the utilization of modern irrigation techniques, land use consolidation, agriculture waste transformation into valuable secondary products and improving value chains.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of FAOR-EGY, the direct supervision of the project Manager, the project Chief Technical Advisor (CTA), the technical senior land and water officer (FAO-RNE), and in close collaboration with all partners (government, local authorities, NGOs, private sector, and others) and the technical team of the project, and the team of  FAO Office in Egypt

Technical Focus

The main purpose of the assignment is to develop an efficient and commercially viable Enterprise Development Model that can be adopted/followed by future entrepreneurs. Another key target in this assignment is to develop national capacities through facilitating learning, training and knowledge and skills transfer to the government relevant entities. The specialist is expected to include a gender transformation plan in all the work requirements and ensure gender sensitivity of all the deliverables which would be based on a gender analysis to ensure that the needs and specific considerations related to men and women is taken into account. This is specifically important in this assignment as gender aspects are significant in SME development and related policies.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Collect, collate and review relevant documentation (ex. new legislations, initiatives, etc..) on the field of MSMEs financing/creation/renewal/expansion, etc..
•    Identify successful examples of small enterprises
•    Analyze and evaluate the experiences and identify and document lessons and successful examples
•    Identify policies, strategies and methods that can be utilized/adapted within the assigned project context and propose general recommendations and directions for MSME development based on those.
•    Conduct a realistic assessment of the current situation of SME sector in the target locations
•    Identify potential MSMEs to be created along the project interventions on value chains enhancement
•    Identify the basic setup needed for the various
•    Conduct feasibility studies and provide economic advice for new entrepreneurs when requested
•    Coordinate the planning and implementation of data collection activities including preparing data collection tools and methodology.
•    Conduct data cleaning, validation, analysis, and visualization and systemize the information gathered in the field.
•    Review feasibility studies prepared by entrepreneurs and ensure their soundness.
•    Facilitate IT support to provide entrepreneurs and business owners with needed information
•    Develop programmes on how to support SME development through business support services, business incubators, and other innovative approaches
•    Support entrepreneurs in the design and implementation of tailored growth plans/strategies for their enterprises
•    Build capacity of staff at the Entrepreneurs Support Division on various elements of a successful SME strategies development, monitoring and evaluation.
•    Conduct training workshop sessions as required
•    Other duties as needed
•    Develop, implement and review project monitoring and evaluation system, which include developing M&E work plans, designing monitoring and reporting tools, templates and guidelines.
•    Manage the M&E functions of the project and provide updates and milestones of progress on a quarterly, bi-annually and annually basis, compared to the project log frame and baseline assessment.
•    Facilitate the development and review project work plans and Logical framework to ensure implementation and reporting.
•    Analyse monitoring data and produce reports that show progress in achievement of outputs and outcomes, bottlenecks for not achieving results and recommendations for improvement, using FAO reporting templates.
•    Liaise with PM & FAO EG communications officer to document good practices, success stories and lessons learned for organizational learning and improvement.
•    Take lead in the maintenance of project M&E system, including tools, databases as well as the continuous provision of information from monitoring data.
•    Contribute to the design and implementation of terminal evaluation study.
•    Design monitoring tools to be used by facilitators and trainees to support easy identification of impacts of training undertaken through project activities.
•    Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing through organizing learning sessions for project implementing partners.
•    Work closely with the project team, to undertake monitoring of project activities and assist in the preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual implementation reports as per donor and FAO requirements.
•    Undertake other duties as assigned by the supervisor

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements  

•    Advanced university degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Social sciences; Development studies; agriculture or related Social Sciences field or equivalent with good understanding of monitoring and evaluation and conducting research studies
•    At least five years of experience in designing and conducting independent development M&E frameworks, desk studies and/or research of development programmes and advocacy in the monitoring arena.
•    Working knowledge of English and Arabic.
•    Nationality of Egypt

FAO Core Competencies

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION