Organization Mission

IFAD is an international financial institution, and a United Nations specialized agency. Based in Rome – the United Nations food and agriculture hub – IFAD invests in rural people, empowering them to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve nutrition and strengthen resilience. Since 1978, IFAD has provided more than US$24 billion in grants and low-interest loans to fund projects in developing countries.

Context

IFAD is an international financial institution and a United Nations specialized agency. Based in Rome – the United Nations food and agriculture hub – IFAD invests in rural people, empowering them to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve nutrition and strengthen resilience. Since 1978, IFAD has provided more than US$24 billion in grants and low-interest loans to fund projects in developing countries.

Current programmes and projects under the IFAD Country Office Nepal

VITA: Total amount US$ 179.62 million; IFAD financing US$ 80.67 million

ASDP: Total amount US$ 50.14 million; IFAD financing US$ 23.08 million

R-HVAP: Total amount US$ 120.97 million; IFAD financing US$ 70.94 million

BRECSA: Total amount US$ 30.06 million; IFAD financing US$ 8.93 million + US$ 10.40 million GAFSP grant. GAFSP TA (WFP) US$ 2.60 million.

Key Responsibilities

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Country Director and Country Programme Analyst (CPA)or their designated mandated representative(s), the UNV M&E Officer will undertake following tasks:

A. M&E System Strengthening and Analysis

· Participate in design, supervision, and implementation support missions in Nepal and Bhutan as a team member when required. This involves traveling to project or programme areas.
· Conduct comprehensive analyses of M&E systems for IFAD programmes/projects, assessing performance in planning, monitoring, and evaluation.
· Evaluate the adequacy of data collection methods and the functionality of Management Information Systems (MIS) of prgrammes/projects.
· Assess the quality, reliability, and timeliness of data, and the usefulness of M&E reports prepared by programmes/projects for decision-making.
· Provide actionable recommendations and capacity-building support to Project Management Units (PMUs) to improve their M&E systems.

B. Strategic M&E Planning and Review

· Review and support the preparation of comprehensive Project M&E Plans, ensuring they include:

· A well-defined logframe with specific indicators.

· An annual M&E calendar and budget.

· Clear data collection, analysis, and reporting workflows.

· Define roles and responsibilities for M&E implementation.

· Support ICO in reviewing Annual Work Plans and Budgets (AWPBs) to ensure:

· Consistency between physical targets in the logframe and the AWPB.

· Integrated analysis of physical and financial progress.

· Adequate budgeting for all planned activities.

C. Support to Surveys, Missions, and Reporting

· Provide technical support for the preparation of Counterpart-Implemented (COI) surveys, including drafting Terms of Reference, survey questionnaires, and methodological guidance.

· Critically review and analyze COI survey reports, assessing methodology, sample representativeness, and the validity of findings.

· Update project logframes based on survey results and prepare them for upload to IFAD”s Results Management System (ORMS).

· Participate in and provide M&E inputs to project design, supervision, start-up, and implementation support missions in Nepal and Bhutan.

· Support the ICO in preparing progress reports and in organizing and documenting workshops and events.

D. Promotion of Inclusive and Participatory M&E

· Assess and promote the participation of beneficiaries in project planning, monitoring, and decision-making processes.

· Evaluate the effectiveness of project targeting strategies.

· Advocate for and support systematic collection, analysis, and use of disaggregated data (e.g., by gender, age, ethnicity).

E. General Country Programme Support

· Perform any other duties as requested by the Country Director or Country Programme Analyst to support the effective management of the country programme.

· Any other related tasks, as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

· Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);

· Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;

· Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.

· Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;

· Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;

· Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

· As an active IFAD Country Office team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to IFAD and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

· Writing mission aide-memoires, mission reports and appendices on relevant M&E-related sections

· Reviewing AWPBs, COI survey reports, progress reports and other M&E related documents

· M&E improvement plan (if the project is underperforming in M&E aspects)

· Providing implementation support to PMUs in AWPB preparation and other M&E aspects

· Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment

· A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

Required Skills and Experience

At least 7 years of relevant professional work experience at the national and/or international level in IFAD financed programmes/project, or other relevant programmes; experience with IFIs is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization;

· Other desired/mandatory required technical knowledge (Strong computing skills particularly the MS Excel and similar software, drafting project logframe, preparation of AWPB, designing and conducting quantitative and qualitative surveys, development and maintenance of Management Information System (MIS),

· Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;

· Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;

· Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;

· Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;

· Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;

· Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;

· Desirable: valid national driver’s license and proven ability to drive manual gear 4×4 over rough terrain; (if not applicable, delete)

· Sound security awareness;

· Have affinity with or interest in rural poverty alleviation, food security enhancement, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Core Competencies

Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to IFAD; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to IFAD procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;

· Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and IFAD in daily activities and behaviour while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority;

· Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;

· Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.

· Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;

· Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;

· Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary;

· Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards IFAD’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Living Conditions

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.