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:

•    advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
•    provide technical assistance and deliver core services;
•    assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation;
•    position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and
•    ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.

For more than four decades, FAO has been working with the Government of the Philippines, civil society, community-based organizations, the academe and the private sector to address challenges in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector. Joint efforts have included increasing sustainability in agricultural production, promoting value-adding practices, mechanization and modernization through improving post-harvest management, enhancing productivity and increasing the resilience of agriculture-based livelihoods to natural disasters, climatic hazards and armed conflict.

The Philippines has faced six devastating cyclones (Trami, Kong-Rey, Yinxing, Toraji, Usagi and Man-Yi) during October – November 2024, striking the country in rapid succession, affecting over 13 million people across 17 regions. Among the hardest hit province is the province of Cagayan where major crops were wiped out, particularly rice and high value crops (HVCs). Floods inundated farmlands in a time when the wet planting season had just started. Farmers narrated that they had initiated land preparation and set up seedbeds, anticipating transplanting by mid-December, only to see their efforts and investments washed out. Since fields were totally damaged with no chance of recovery until after the next cropping cycle in 6 months, respondents have been coping by reducing the number of meals per day or borrowing money for food to compensate for lost income streams.

The road to recovery and resilience for smallholder farmers, fisherfolk and livestock owners requires a medium to long-term strategy drawing on the “build back better” philosophy. Focusing interventions on Cagayan province, FAO is implementing the project “Rebuilding agricultural livelihoods affected by multiple cyclones in Cagayan province”, which will provide support to affected farmers and fisherfolks, noting that it is in these sectors where impacts of disasters are most significant, vulnerability is high, and recovery period longer.

Reporting Lines

The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Management Information System (MIS) Specialist reports to the Assistant FAO Representative (Progamme).

Technical Focus

The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Management Information System (MIS) Specialist plays a key role in ensuring that the project’s logical framework, and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Plan and other related documents are crafted s towards achievement of objectives of the Rebuild Cagayan project.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Provide guidance for overall Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) requirements of the project “Rebuilding agricultural livelihoods affected by multiple cyclones in Cagayan province (OSRO/PHI/085/AUL).”
•    Guide the enhancement of the project logical framework, as well as facilitate the selection of indicators to measure deliverables, Means of Verification and reporting requirements with donor.
•    Develop and manage the Risk Management Matrix of the project.
•    Conduct a baseline assessment with key target communities; use this baseline to inform indicator selection, targeting, and monitoring throughout implementation.
•    Ensure all subsequent data collection (i.e. beneficiary registration, midline assessment, endline assessment) capture gender-disaggregated and social inclusion data, providing an evidence base to assess differential impacts, guide equitable targeting, and strengthen reporting on gender-related outcomes.
•    Supervise beneficiary data collection (through KoBo toolbox), grievance and feedback mechanism and lead post-distribution monitoring.
•    Support in the conduct of FGDs and reports for cash-based transfers, exit surveys, and other related analysis for the project;
•    Guide the documentation processes for the best practices and lessons learnt.
•    Extract collected data in relevant formats to present to relevant stakeholders for analysis and upload to the MIS to facilitate aid disbursement.
•    Conduct training for FAO Philippines staff utilizing the above-mentioned tools during project implementation;
•    Support the preparation of Accomplishment and Final Reports and presentations to complement training and ease on-boarding of new system users (both for Implementing Partners and for FAO Staff);
•    Carry out other specific operational tasks for programme/project implementation as requested.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in Statistics, Management Information System, Economics, Agriculture, Nutrition or related degree programs.
•    At least five (5) years of relevant experience in monitoring, evaluation accountability and learning (MEAL), data analysis, data visualization, and/or information management specially in the field of agriculture and disaster risk reduction.
•    Full proficiency / working knowledge (level C) of English
•    National of the Philippines.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Demonstrated experience working with project logical frameworks, performance monitoring and M&E systems
•    Statistical skills for analyzing data
•    General knowledge and skills in the use of KoboCollect, Tableau, Power BI and other office software’s, such as MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point).
•    Familiarity with FAO operational procedures is an advantage.
•    Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Tagalog
•    Ability to communicate in a Ilocano dialect is an advantage.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Management Information System (MIS) Specialist