National Ecological Project M & E Specialist
Organizational Context
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) country offices assist governments in developing policies, programmes, and projects to achieve food security, reduce hunger and malnutrition, and promote sustainable agricultural, fisheries, and forestry sectors. FAO supports increased production and productivity, agriculture-based economic growth, and enhanced livelihood resilience. In Nigeria, current projects focus on agriculture, livestock, fisheries, natural resource management, and food security information. The incumbent will contribute to the country's programme and project portfolio by providing technical support.
Job Purpose
This role focuses on programme development, coordination, and operational assistance, leveraging knowledge of local conditions, culture, language, and institutions within the country of assignment. The specialist will be instrumental in ensuring effective project implementation and contributing to the achievement of food security and sustainable resource management goals. The position requires a proactive approach to data analysis, reporting, and the continuous improvement of project monitoring and evaluation systems to support evidence-based decision-making and maximize project impact.
Responsibilities
The incumbent will develop and implement Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) systems and tools, including monitoring and reporting instruments for technical/physical execution, financial management, indicator compliance, and project schedules. Responsibilities include systematically collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data throughout the project cycle to ensure proper implementation, generating learning, promoting good practices, and making recommendations for improvement. The role involves proposing enhancements to the project's indicator system for impact measurement and evaluations, establishing upstream and downstream reporting mechanisms, and ensuring timely information generation for various project committees. The specialist will lead information management for evaluations, prepare technical and financial progress reports, and generate data for national statistics and SDGs. Field monitoring teams will be coordinated, and support will be provided for contract execution, external evaluation missions, and technical missions.
Work Experience
A minimum of three years of relevant experience in agricultural development and/or project implementation within the country, specifically in areas aligned with FAO's activities, is required. Experience in programme/project development and management, policy analysis related to food and nutrition security, agriculture, and rural development is also highly desirable.
Skills
Essential skills include Results Focus, Teamwork, Communication, Building Effective Relationships, and Knowledge Sharing. Proficiency in statistical software for data analysis (e.g., R, STATA, SPSS) is required. Experience with digital data collection platforms (KoBoToolbox, ODK, SurveyCTO) and GIS applications (ArcGIS/QGIS) is highly desirable. Demonstrated understanding of UN or FAO project management procedures and experience in policy analysis and project proposal formulation/implementation are also important.