Organizational Setting

The Office of Evaluation (OED) of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is conducting a country-level project evaluation in Morocco based around the disposal of obsolete pesticides including Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), the projects seek to implement integrated pest and pesticide management in Morocco. OED is seeking qualified independent consultants to form the evaluation team.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall responsibility of the Director, OED, and the close technical and methodological guidance of the Evaluation Manager and Evaluation Supervisor, the evaluation specialists will contribute to the evaluation for their respective areas of specialization. They report to the Evaluation Manager.

Technical Focus 

Building on past and ongoing pesticide management related efforts, this project aims to eliminate existing obsolete pesticides, including Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and associated wastes as well as to remediate contaminated sites. The project also aims to strengthen the capacity for sound pesticides management at the national level to prevent future accumulation.
The project evaluation manager will recruit a team composed of at least two evaluation specialists, preferably home-based in Morocco. It is expected that the team will travel within (or to) Morocco, to visit various locations in which the project implemented activities. The overall team will be qualified in the following areas:

•    Evaluation, preferably of GEF financed projects, with proven skills and experience in monitoring-evaluation and/or auditing of projects and processes, and in environmental and social safeguards.
•    Pest and pesticides management (elimination of stockpiles; pesticide alternatives), with experience in management and support for the management of pests and pesticides in agro-industries and farms and confirmed experience in research and development alternative and sustainable agricultural systems.
•    Capacity building at both national level (policy evaluation, regulatory framework) and at local, community level (management of empty packaging having held pesticides), preferably expert Agronomists, Socio-economists, Environmentalists, or jurists by training with experience and/or proven capacities in analysis/evaluation of the strengthening of both individual and organizational capacities and of the enabling environment for the sustainable management of agriculture and environmental protection in Morocco.

Tasks and responsibilities

The FAO Office of Evaluation (OED) will guide this evaluation. The evaluation team is responsible for the following:

•    Work in close collaboration with the OED Evaluation Manager responsible for this evaluation.
•    Conduct the evaluation and applying the methodology elaborated in the evaluation Terms of Reference together with the project team and GEF liaison officers.
•    Responsible for all deliverables detailed in the TOR.
•    Participate in briefing and debriefing meetings, discussions, field visits with the evaluation team and contributing to the evaluation with written inputs.
•    Ensure appropriate paperwork for travel to or within Morocco (beneficiary country) as part of this assignment.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree in (for COF.REG) / University degree (only for PSA.SBS) chemistry, agro-economics, economics, policy analysis, development studies, or another related field
•    A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in evaluation, preferably of agricultural project and/or programs
•    Working knowledge of French, which is the language through which the evaluation assessments and reports are expected; limited knowledge of one of the other FAO official languages (English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian) for COF.REG are required; in the case of PSA.SBS, a working knowledge of French might be sufficient. Working knowledge or Arabic is desired.

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Extent and relevance of experience in project evaluation, previous experience evaluating GEF financed projects preferred.
•    Extent and relevance of experience working towards improving pesticide management.
•    Work experience in Morocco a plus; strong knowledge of the Moroccan context is highly desired.

In addition to a cover letter/ letter of motivation, attaching a resume/ CV to the application is highly encouraged.