* This consultancy is home-based and includes travels as required.

Organizational Setting

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and advocates at the local, national, and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

The Programme Management Department (PMD), under the leadership of an Associate Vice-President (AVP), is responsible for the overall programme of loans and grants of the Fund and is composed of five (5) regional divisions and the Operational Policy and Results Division (OPR).

OPR oversees the development and implementation of operational policies, procedures, training, compliance performance against IFAD’s procurement guidance, social, environmental, and climate assessment procedures, portfolio management, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E).

Background Information

OPR is seeking M&E Consultants who can support M&E aspects in specific assignments in close collaboration with IFAD staff and implementing partners across the IFAD’s project sites.

The M&E Consultant Roster serves as an intermediate between M&E specialists interested in working for IFAD’s M&E-related assignments, and country/regional teams seeking M&E consultants. The roster is accessible to authorized IFAD staff.

Applicants will undergo a document screening and those who meet the minimum requirements will be registered in the M&E Consultants Roster. Rostered consultants may be contacted for specific missions throughout the year. Once a suitable M&E consultant is identified in the roster, a respective team will start a hiring process for specific missions throughout the year.

This call for interest is open to nationals of IFAD members States (the list can be found at https://webapps.ifad.org/members/member-states).

Job Role

The M&E Consultant will be responsible for strengthening IFAD-funded project-level M&E performance and results reporting in line with IFAD corporate requirements by supporting missions in the design, implementation, supervision, and completion of investment projects.

As a centralized roster, this M&E Consultant roster does not specify tasks and responsibilities. Tasks and responsibilities will be detailed in the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for a specific assignment depending on the characteristics of the project.

Overall, the M&E Consultant shall support the project’s M&E system establishment, assess its effectiveness and performance, measure the project’s progress, and support and make recommendations for the project’s performance improvement. The M&E Consultant shall also provide technical support to IFAD’s Core Outcome Indicators (COI) survey preparation and/or review.

The M&E Consultants are not considered staff of IFAD. This consultancy assignment does not carry any expectation of employment, extension or conversion to another type of contract with the Fund.

The M&E Consultants may be contacted for specific assignments throughout the year and the remuneration will be commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and skills as well as the nature of the assignment in terms of:

• Responsibilities and complexities of the assignment.
• The degree of specialization required.

Key Functions and Results

The key functions and results will depend on each assignment. Required deliverables shall be included in the ToR.

Work Relationships

The M&E Consultant will work under the supervision of an IFAD’s Country Director and work collaboratively with a team of IFAD staff responsible for overseeing an IFAD operation and implementing partners.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited institution in economics, statistics, public administration, agriculture, rural development, or other related field is required. Significant work experience in M&E can be considered in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experiences

Experience varies according to requirements for specific tasks and responsibilities. The M&E Consultant should have in-depth knowledge of M&E principles and concepts, including a solid understanding of the results chain, Theory of Change, Logical Framework, and data collection, analysis, and reporting.

(1)    Required Work Experience
•    The M&E Consultants should have at least three (3) years of experience in M&E for development projects, including, field surveys, data collection, analysis, and reporting and development of an M&E system.
(2)    Desirable Work Experience
•    Experience in the utilization of Geographic Information System (GIS) for M&E is an asset.
•    Strong background in research and impact assessment is an asset.
•    Working experience at UN agencies for results-based management is an advantage.

Languages

The required language varies according to an assigned project.  Excellent level (written and verbal) of at least one of the following languages is required. Working knowledge of additional languages is desirable.
•    English, French, Spanish, Arabic

Skills

•    Be fully competent in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
•    Be fully competent in data management for M&E: data collection, analysis, and reporting
•    Mastery of GIS for M&E is an asset.
•    Mastery of statistical software for M&E is an asset.