FAO Afghanistan is investing across all 34 provinces, in resilience reinforcing actions that focus on protecting agriculture livelihoods and local ecosystems, boosting local production of nutritious foods and cash-incomes, and safeguarding critical agriculture sectoral development gains achieved over the past couple of decades through revitalizing rural markets and economy. In 2024-2026, FAO will continue to implement emergency and longer-term, resilience-building projects and programmes in the context of the UN Strategic Framework for Afghanistan (UNSFA) and the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan.

Organizational Setting

FAO Afghanistan is investing across all 34 provinces, in resilience reinforcing actions that focus on protecting agriculture livelihoods and local ecosystems, boosting local production of nutritious foods and cash-incomes, and safeguarding critical agriculture sectoral development gains achieved over the past couple of decades through revitalizing rural markets and economy. In 2024-2026, FAO will continue to implement emergency and longer-term, resilience-building projects and programmes in the context of the UN Strategic Framework for Afghanistan (UNSFA) and the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan.

These are National Project Personnel positions – SC 5.1. Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Afghanistan. S/he will work under the direct supervision of the Head of the Regional Office or as may be assigned. The Head of Regional Office or as assigned, will be responsible for all day-to-day supervision, technical guidance and performance evaluation.

Technical Focus

The National Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Assistant will contribute to successful implementation of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and MEAL framework in the Emergency and Resilience Unit of FAO Afghanistan. The candidate will support the FAO Afghanistan Regional Office in strengthening the MEAL system for FAO Afghanistan’s programme in line with the FAO Country Strategic Framework (CPF), the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and other Corporate Priorities pertaining MEAL.Tasks and responsibilities

Monitoring systems roll-out:
•    Assist the regional MEAL Specialist in monitoring of ongoing emergency response and resilience building projects through the following tasks;
•    Support track data collection of Implementing Partners and keep regular backup of data’
•    Support review and clearance of beneficiaries’ lists shared by FAO Implementing Partners (IP) in line with the agreed criteria in Letter of Agreement (LoA);
•    Review and provide feedback on Implementing Partners Reports;
•    Track and keep record of all reports and databases shared by Implementing Partners;
•    Undertake regular visits to the field to support the implementation of the MEAL plans.

Monitoring data management :
•    In collaboration with Regional MEAL Specialist, and under guidance of Information Management Specialists support roll-out of best practices and solution in data collation, beneficiary registration and management and entitlement distribution system;
•    Support implementation of data management initiatives in the region office in coordination with MEAL team in the region and in Kabul; be a focal point for data management and reporting in the regional offices;
•    Support in designing and conducting capacity building trainings for Implementing Partners on use of Identification Delivery and Empowerment Application (IDEA) – for both TOTs and enumerators that use FAO- Afghanistan’s tools for beneficiary registrations;
•    Support roll-out of digitisation of beneficiary registration process through use of IDEA by leading in configuration of the beneficiary registration mobile devices for data collection with KoboCollect before the commencement of implementations, including integration with biometric and applicable softwares;
•    On a real time, manner keep in touch with implementation partners to monitoring and report bugs on IDEA systems reported during beneficiary registration and escalate for quick resolution;

Accountability to affected population:
•    Support undertaking of basic stocktaking of existing accountability practices within the MEAL system of the FAO Afghanistan programme in the regional offices,
•    Using available FAO Corporate Guidance on accountability best practices and current accountability practices within MEAL system, in collaboration with partners develop a plan on strengthening the accountability practices in the regional offices
•    Support the MEAL team on implementing this plan on strengthening the accountability practices,
•    Assist the FAO Afghanistan Programme Unit in the region in undertaking accountability best practices at community level through stakeholder engagements, meeting beneficiaries of various emergency response projects, documenting the beneficiaries’ complaints / feedback, and bringing this feedback into project formulations / programming.

Learning and knowledge management :
•    Undertake a learning and knowledge management needs assessment of the FAO Afghanistan Emergency and Resilience Unit,
•    Analyse available MEAL reports and document key learning and knowledge management aspects to inform the learning and knowledge management plan and capacity building of implementing partners in the regional office,
•    Based on the learning and knowledge management needs assessment and review of reports, develop a plan for establishing the learning and knowledge management pillar within the region in collaboration with the regional MEAL Specialist
•    and knowledge management plan,
•    Perform any other related duties as required.

Minimum Requirements    •    University (Bachelor) degree in agriculture, agriculture economics, data science, computer science, statistics, international development, or related field
•    At least three (3) years of relevant work experience in results-based management and monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian and/or development projects that combines emergency response, disaster risk reduction, project formulation and implementation with UN or I/NGOs;
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English and local languages (Pashto and/or Dari).
•    National of Afghanistan. FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous ImprovementTechnical/Functional Skills

•    Data management systems fully operationalized and fully functioning at the regional level in line with FAO’s Afghanistan’s MEAL Systems;
•    Quality review of beneficiary data and feedback provided to implementing partners;
•    IDEA system fully operationalized in the regional;
•    Implementing partners and third-party enumerators fully capacitated in the regional office to collect quality data;
•    Ensure fully functional accountability mechanisms in the regional;

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.

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions. 

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
•  We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT

Job Description – Regional MEAL Assistant (2402396) (fao.org)