Organizational Setting

The main aim of FAO Country Office, headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner. FAO Kyrgyzstan assists the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to develop policies, programmes and projects to address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition, to develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors and to use environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner. FAO participates in the development and implementation of field projects in the sectors of food security, agriculture and rural development. This requires the integration within the broader framework of sustainable food and agriculture that aims at increasing production and productivity, addressing climate change, and managing natural resources; and enhance rural livelihoods.

In this context, the FAO is implementing in collaboration with the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, the GCF- funded project “Carbon Sequestration through Climate Investment in Forests and Rangelands (CS-FOR)” (GCP/KYR/020/GCF). Project activities are aligned to the immediate needs, as well as longer term development challenges associated with Agenda 2030 and beyond. The project objective is to increase carbon sequestration through supporting climate investments in forests and rangelands and through reducing drivers of degradation and emissions via institutional support, participatory ecosystem-based sustainable management of natural resources and green growth investments. This assignment will contribute to project objective, such as to contribute to the development of a low carbon-emission and climate-resilient economy, while capitalizing important co-benefits from adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

Reporting Lines

The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) specialist for Evidence-based Project System provides support to the project under the general supervision of the FAO Representative for Kyrgyzstan and the direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic and National Project Coordinator.

Technical Focus

Natural resource management, climate change mitigation and adaptation, social, economics, monitoring and evaluation.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Facilitate Stakeholders engagement Evidence-based M&E Workshops (Y2);
•    Facilitate consultation / workshop – District (2 / district/ year) on GIS / Georeferencing evidence-based monitoring; (Act 1.2.1) with no less than 30% participation of women ;
•    Facilitate consultation / Workshop – National (4 / year until Y4, 3 from Y5) on GIS / Georeferencing evidence-based monitoring; (Act 1.2.1);
•    Provide expertise on Georeferencing M&E with other consultants of FAO; (Act 1.2.1);
•    Supervise Georeferenced M&E Mid-Term reporting expert (Y3);
•    Support strengthening the existing national system for gender-responsive monitoring natural resources, with the specific additionality to focus on climate-sensitive and evidence-based monitoring and decision making. (Act 1.1.3);
•    Establishment of a dedicated evidence-based and georeferenced project M&E system including gender disaggregation of the data; (Act 1.2.1);
•    Development of standards, methodologies, and implementation modalities for the state monitoring of rangelands, forests resources and forest fires to track investments in climate change-related activities; (Act 1.2.1);
•    Support use of georeferencing and evidence-based approach: (Act 1.2.1)
•    At national level: establish an NRM communications framework to secure gender-disaggregated data and information transfer across the country and within institutions;
•    At local level: provide technical support to beneficiary institutions at local level (PUUs (pasture users units) and Leskhozes (local forest institutions)) to update and enhance their datasets, working maps and tools to support the evidence-based NRM/climate-oriented strategies addressing gender gaps;
•    Coordinate all activities on evidence-based approach, all natural resources will be mapped and georeferenced to facilitate the M&E of progress in planting, safeguards, carbon sequestration, etc.;
•    Ensure that mechanisms, tools and approaches will be used to support the dissemination of NRM and climate policies/laws/information across the country, and to update central institutions with gender-disaggregated data/information/needs originating from local administrations and rural communities; (Act 1.2.1)
•    Facilitate the provision of the assistance to the DPLB of MoA on climate-sensitive pasture management, assessment and monitoring, and conduct INRMCRP assessment and monitoring and coordinate DPLB of MoA activities on M&E works; (Act 2.1.2)
•    Support development and improvement of Integrated Natural Resource Management and Climate Resilience Plans (INRMCRP) from the M&E perspective and subsequently monitor and evaluate their implementation in target areas; (Act 2.1.3)
•    Actively engage in conducting gender-responsive capacity building activities, workshops, seminars related to M&E of CS-FOR project to reach both women and men, including vulnerable groups (such as female-headed households, low-income families, unemployed) ;
•    Supervise and coordinate all activities related to M&E to ensure its results are in accordance with the Project Document and the rules and procedures established by FAO/GCF;
•    Assist to prepare annual monitoring and evaluation plan in consistent with M&E Framework;
•    Assist to implement the M&E framework, guidelines and other tools;
•    Conduct M&E need identification survey among CS-FOR staff and beneficiaries (including that of district level) and identify M&E capacity gaps;
•    Organize capacity building training to CS-FOR project staff to minimize M&E capacity gaps among project staff
•    Assist to prepare Terms of Reference (ToR) for project evaluation related activities;
•    Together with the NPC maintain regular contact with the Forestry Service, DPLB of MoA, pilot Leskhozes and other partners on project implementation issues of their respective competence;
•    Ensure adherence to the project’s work plan, prepare revisions of the work plan, if required;
•    Undertake any other actions related to the project as requested by PIU/FAO or the National Project Coordinator;
•    Provide progress report regularly and contribute to elaborating the overall reporting process of the CS-FOR project;
•    Implement and strengthen Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) processes using georeferencing and geospatial analysis to improve accuracy of reporting, monitoring and accountability for project results;
•    Monitoring and assessing the gender-responsive impact of project investments (NDVI analysis and on-site verification);
•    Ensure that standard FAO Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) procedures are applied and that the GCF performance measurement framework is followed;
•    Creating a M&E system in accordance with (but not limited to) Georeferencing Strategy and procedures for the CS-FOR.
•    Сonducting monitoring and evaluation of project activities of the CS-FOR for qualitative and quantitative figures and for achieving project indicators
•    Back up colleagues on administrative matters as needed
•    Perform other relevant tasks as required;

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•    A university degree in social and technical (such as geography, GIS, ecology, forestry or a related discipline) science preferably in development planning, economics or management, or related fields,
•    At least 7 years of experience in Monitoring and Evaluation and/or
•    At least 5 years of experience with national, regional or international projects.
•    Working knowledge of Russian and Kyrgyz.
•    National of the Kyrgyz Republic 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 

•    Excellent communication and inter-personnel skills.
•    Knowledge of geographic information systems and georeferencing methods;
•    Practical field experience in working with cartographic materials and georeferencing tools (GPS and mobile applications);
•    Experience with databases (creation, management, processing and analysis) and web mapping services;
•    Experience in developing and implementing scientifically based monitoring and evaluation systems:
•    Understanding of natural resource management, climate change resilience and related concepts:
•    Familiarity with remote sensing technologies (NDVI analysis, etc.);
•    Advanced geospatial analysis skills to improve reporting and monitoring accuracy;
•    Ability to monitor and evaluate the impact of project investments using remote sensing techniques;
•    Knowledge and experience in designing M&E systems and conducting evaluations;
•    Ability to conduct gender-disagregated data analysis using various methods.
•    Experience in the development of training materials, manuals, modular program, instructions for use;
•    Strong knowledge and experience on regional and international gender-sensitive climate strategies, programmes and implementations
•    Knowledge about monitoring of Carbon sequestration in forests/pasture.
•    Working experience with ministries, national and municipal institutions, forestry and pasture sectors on national and local level in Kyrgyzstan;
•    Ability to effectively coordinate large-scale project activities involving stakeholders on various levels;
•    Strong drafting, presentation and reporting skills;
•    Strong computer skills, in particular mastery of all applications of the MS Office package and internet search;
•    Working experience with ministries, national institutions, NGOs and agricultural sector on national and local level in Kyrgyzstan;
•    Ability to effectively coordinate large-scale project activities involving stakeholders on various levels;
•    Ability to solve problems and the ability to make effective and timely decisions in crisis situations.

Selection Criteria 

•    Masters and PhD postgraduate studies will be an advantage;
•    Knowledge of English is an asset.
•    Academic degree in GIS and remote sensing will be an additional advantage;