WFP: Consultant Programme Policy – Rome

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The M&E Specialist will lead the operationalization and streamline of the global level MEAL plan for the Joint Programme on ‘Accelerating Progress towards Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment’ (JP RWEE), Phase II, ensuring a high quality monitoring and evaluation system is in place to achieve the intended programme results in an effective manner.

The JP RWEE is a partnership initiative of FAO, IFAD, UN Women and WFP that aims to economically empower rural women in Nepal, Niger, Pacific Islands, Rwanda, Tanzania and Tunisia, and in further countries subject to resource mobilization. The programme applies a holistic, integrated approach to women’s economic empowerment, generating synergies that capitalize on each agency’s mandate, comparative advantage and institutional strength to achieve lasting improvements to rural women’s livelihoods, rights and resilience in the context of sustainable development, Agenda 2030 and the SDGs. The JP RWEE focuses on four key outcomes for rural women: 1) improved food and nutrition security, 2) increased incomes to sustain livelihoods and build resilience, 3) enhanced leadership and participation in rural households, communities and institutions, and 4) a more gender-responsive policy environment for the economic empowerment of rural women.

The implementation of the JP RWEE is overseen by an International Steering Committee (ISC) , supported by a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), at global level, and by a National Steering Committee at country level. The Global Coordination Unit (JPRWEE Secretariat) is responsible for the overall management and coordination of the programme, including oversight of the development and implementation of the programme’s monitoring and evaluation system, and is based in WFP’s headquarters in Rome.

The M&E specialist acts as the MEAL Global Coordinator for the JPRWEE Programme and will lead on the implementation of the global M&E plan and support the implementation of MEAL plans at country level. The overall purpose of their work will be to ensure implementation of a robust M&E system across the JPRWEE programme that ensures the achievement of high quality results and outcomes, and generates evidence based learning.

The M&E Specialist, sits in the Secretariat,reports to the JP RWEE Global Coordinator working closely with the TAC technical units. He /She provids country teams with technical guidance and oversee the performance of five (5) MEAL Coordinators. The post holder will be expected to assume the responsibilities listed below:

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Implementation of the Global M&E System

Lead and oversee the implementation of the global level logical framework, ensuring that quality data is collected and reported for all indicators (goal, outcome and output levels) across all participating countries and along the programme cycle.
Continue to lead the upgrade and maintainance of the JPRWEE Management Information System (MIS), ensuring ongoing data analysis and aggregation at global level.
Provide strategic advice and input into for programme adjustments as needed.
Review country annual workplans with specific attention to performance indicators and targets.
Provide technical adviceon how to enhance evidence based learning with mixed methods on key strategic themes.
Lead the operationalization of the JPRWEE a data visualization system to enable regular and simplified data reporting and analysis at country and global level.
Lead the collaboration with IFPRI on quantitative and qualitative researche and economic empowerment measurement at global level and facilitating coordination across the country teams.

Lead the coordination and technical oversight of the Mid-Term reviews (MTR) for five (5) countries including four Pacific Islands (where applicable), ensuring adeherence to the Joint Programme corporate quality standards.

Country Level M&E

Provide technical support to ensure that data from Community Feedback Mechanisms is streamlined to the global M&E system.
Continue to provide oversight to output, process, and outcome data collection activities, ensuring both quantitative and qualitative data collection methodologies are employed.
Participate in country level programme reviews as required.
Provide strategic Advise in addressing programmatic recommendations from monitoring processes and annual reviews as required.
Provide technical Support in the development of country M&E guides, including output level indicator methodologies.
Provide technical support in the harmonization of the Management Information System at country level.
Support the CTs in qualitative research identification and Terms of Reference to be carried out, if relevant.
Develop indicators for the monitoring of exit strategies to be included as part of the Mid term Review.

Capacity building and oversight

Lead the implementation of the 2025-2026 MEAL Capacity Strenghtening Plan as per the identified capacity building needs.
Provide technical support and training on M&E process as required, including on baseline survey implementation.
Lead the development of the MEAL User Manual with guidance material on monitoring and evaluation methodologies as required.
Support the country level MEAL Coordinators to identify training needs in relation to M&E for agency staff, implementing partners and local government.
Guide the country teams in the analysis and use of monitoring data.
Provide oversight and technical support to country teams, including on survey design, sampling, monitoring and evaluation plans and monitoring and evaluation coverage.Carry out technical support missions to participating country teams as required.

Reporting

Conduct regular data quality checks at various stages of the monitoring cycle, ensuring that monitoring data and reports are timely, complete and of high quality.
Ensure that the global M&E reporting system fully captures the data generated by programme approaches.
Review country progress reports, including the bi-annual report for submission to donors, ensuring that performance indicator tables are completed in line with the approved workplans.
Develop the MEAL related sections of the MPTF corporate country annual reports with a focus on performance indicators.
Provide Consolidated performance indicator section and related narrative content of the MPTF global annual and bi-annual reports and contribute to the review of the reports.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

Continuation and enhancement of the Global M&E system across the participating countries
Data visualization platform operational
Management Information System maintained in place with qualitative data to facilitate the collection and aggregation of data.
JP RWEE M&E User Manual upgraded to reflect the latest guidelines and tools
Mid term Review process coordinated with consolidated reporting and validated management responses circulated at global level.
Consolidated outcome monitoring analysis completed across nine (9) countries, informing programme decision-making and donor reporting.
Country level capacity building and technical support missions carried out.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

Advanced University degree in international development, social sciences, statistics, development economics or related subject, or first University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses.

Experience:

At least 5 years of relevant experience in monitoring and evaluation of integrated development projects, ideally in relation to food and nutrition security, livelihoods, gender equality and women’s economic empowerment
Experience of a variety of quantitative and qualitative tools and methods
Experience of developing and carrying out baseline surveys
Experience in designing tools and methodologies for data collection, analysis and production of reports;
Experience with a UN organization or international NGO.

Knowledge & Skills

Knowledge of Theories of Change and logical frameworks
Excellent knowledge of quantitative and qualitative indicators
Training, mentoring and coaching skills
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and ability to interact with team members in a remote working setting and in diverse cultural contexts;
Good understanding of gender equality and women’s empowerment principles; understanding of gender transformative approaches is an advantage
Understanding of nutrition, food security, livelihoods, and climate resilience

Competencies

Able to plan and organise workload in an efficient manner and complete tasks with adherence to deadlines
Able to build and maintain effective working relationships remotely

Languages

Fluency (level C) oral and written English
French (Level B) French working proficiency

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements