National Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

Organizational Context

The FAO supports Jamaica in developing climate-resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agrifood systems, focusing on strengthening vulnerable rural communities and smallholder farmers against climate change. FAO, with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund, implements the "ADAPT Jamaica" project, funded by the Green Climate Fund. This project aims to enhance climate change resilience for smallholders in Central Jamaica through capacity building, adaptation acceleration, improved climate information services, and mobilized financial and policy support for agricultural resilience.

Job Purpose

The National Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist will design, implement, and operate the Project Monitoring System for "ADAPT Jamaica," adhering to GCF and FAO guidelines. This role is crucial for generating timely, reliable, and quality data on project progress, outputs, outcomes, and indicators. The specialist will enable informed decision-making, ensure accountability, and facilitate adaptive improvements. Responsibilities include data verification, ensuring compliance with national climate resilience strategies, and meeting GCF reporting requirements. This position is vital for tracking progress against established indicators and fostering a continuous learning environment, generating valuable knowledge for project evaluations and national stakeholders.

Responsibilities

The National M&E Specialist will develop and implement comprehensive monitoring systems and tools, including reporting instruments for technical execution, financial management, indicator compliance, and project schedule adherence. This involves integrating the monitoring system with donor and FAO corporate reporting requirements (FPMIS, CPF, UNSDCF). The specialist will assist in preparing Annual Work Plans and Budgets, establish baseline data, and coordinate mid-term and final evaluations, ensuring follow-up on recommendations. Key duties include adjusting SMART project indicators, day-to-day monitoring of activities, results, and risks, and ensuring budgets and work plans remain on track. The role also involves monitoring adherence to environmental, social, and fiduciary safeguards, including the ESMP and GAP, and assessing results at outcome, output, and activity levels. The specialist will draft technical and financial reports, identify implementation bottlenecks, prepare budget revisions, and ensure compliance with GCF/FAO reporting calendars. Furthermore, the incumbent will establish and maintain a Knowledge Management component, creating a structured repository for data, capturing lessons learned, producing knowledge products, and ensuring KM inputs inform decision-making for replication and scaling.

Work Experience

Candidates must possess at least five years of relevant experience in project monitoring. Preference will be given to experience gained in agriculture, climate resilience, or rural development projects.

Skills

Core competencies include Results Focus, Teamwork, Communication, Building Effective Relationships, and Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement. Technical skills require proven experience in designing and implementing MEAL frameworks and tools, data analysis, report writing, and stakeholder engagement. Strong analytical skills and proficiency in statistical software (e.g., Excel, SPSS, R, Stata) are essential. Candidates should have excellent communication, negotiation, and report-writing skills, with the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and foster strategic partnerships. Knowledge of modern data management systems and digital platforms, capacity to generate evidence-based recommendations, and demonstrated ability to manage complex projects under pressure are also required.

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