Final Project Evaluator

Organizational Setting:

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations.  With presently 194 member states, FAO works in more than 130 countries worldwide, including Vietnam where the Organization has operated since 1978. The current Country Programming Framework (CPF) for the period of 2017 2021 has four priority areas: (1) Increased food security with focus on alleviation of hunger, malnutrition and food safety concerns; (2) Sustainable development of the agriculture sectors, contributing to the national Green Growth and other strategies on improved natural resources management and environment protection; (3) New Rural Development and Sustainable Poverty Reduction; and (4) Enhancing resilience of communities to disasters and threats. The incumbent’s tasks will largely fall under the fourth priority area.

Reporting Lines:

Under the overall supervision of the FAO-R in Viet Nam, daily supervision of AFAOR (Programme) and in close collaboration with the DRM Technical Specialist, the Evaluator(s) will be responsible for the tasks and responsibilities outlined below.

Technical Focus:

Technical expertise on Agriculture, Livelihood and Disaster Risk Reduction to implement the joint final evaluation of the project “Rebuilding and strengthening agricultural livelihoods and shelter in Lao Cai province in response to Typhoon Yagi”.

Tasks and responsibilities:

The evaluation will cover:
•     Review all JP activities implemented by FAO, ILO, IOM, and UNDP in Lao Cai Province (see Annex A: JP Workplan and PUNO Roles), including the two target communes of Xuan Hoa and Xuan Thuong where JP interventions occurred. 
•     Review the cross-cutting issues such as gender equality, social inclusion (disability, the poor, ethnic minority groups…), and climate resilience.
•     Conduct interviews with stakeholders, including local authorities, community organizations, and beneficiaries as assigned by FAO and other PUNOs. The Key Stakeholder List is provided in Annex B.
•     Review the inter-agency coordination, joint planning and implementation mechanism among agencies and with stakeholders.
Evaluation methodology and approach: 
The evaluation will adopt a participatory, mixed-methods approach tailored to the scale, duration, and data availability of the JP. This approach recognizes the multi-sectoral nature of the Joint Programme. With the coordination of FAO and other PUNOs, the evaluation will ensure the participatory focus, aligning with Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) and PSEA standards.
Key components of the methodology include:
o    Data Collection Methods
•     Document and Data Review: Review project proposals, project reports, financial reports, and data collected by the project team (including baseline and endline monitoring data from PUNOs where available).
•     Conduct Key Informant Interviews (KIIs): With stakeholders at all levels—PUNOs, local focal implementing agencies, local authorities, community leaders, and technical partners—to explore relevance, coherence, and implementation effectiveness, as arranged and coordinated by FAO and other PUNOs
•     Carry out Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), as complementary if data gaps exist: With diverse beneficiary groups (women, men, ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities) to capture perspectives on inclusiveness and empowerment, as arranged and coordinated by FAO and other PUNOs
•     Carry out field Observations, as complementary if data gaps exist: Direct assessment of reconstructed shelters, agricultural activities, and DRR capacity building interventions, as arranged and coordinated by FAO and other PUNOs.
•     Participate in FAO-led participatory workshops: To validate findings and engage stakeholders in jointly making recommendations.
o    Data Analysis
•     Both qualitative and quantitative data will be analysed for:
•     Outcome analysis (including disaggregation by gender and ethnicity where feasible)
•     Thematic analysis of qualitative data
•     Synthesis of agency monitoring findings into a coherent narrative 
Data analysis will be supported by data analysis matrices, aligning evidence with the evaluation questions and criteria.
    Quality Assurance and Ethical Considerations
To support the evaluation, FAO and other PUNOs will ensure:
•     Informed consent from all participants on the interview (including quotations and taking their photos).
•     Confidentiality and data protection.
•     Gender and inclusion sensitivity.
•     Engagement of stakeholders for validation and buy-in/follow-up.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•     Advanced university level of education in evaluation or field(s) relevant to one or more the Joint Proposal’s areas of work. Where possible/suitable PhD level is preferred for the Evaluation Team Leader; 
•     Proven experience in conducting evaluations of complex programmes and themes (minimum 12 years for the Team Leader, and minimum 10 years for other team members); 
•     Demonstrated ability to write and communicate clearly in both Vietnamese and English; 
•     National of Vietnam

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•     Strong experience and knowledge of the UN programming principles, including gender equality and women's empowerment, sustainability and resilience, and accountability; 
•     Good understanding of the coordination of disaster management within UN and of the Government;
•     Demonstrated analytical capacity, particularly in the case of the Team Leader, including on political economy and financing for disaster response;

Selection Criteria

•     No conflict of interest such as recent or expected employment by PUNOs members or implementing partners, private relationships with any PUNO members of staff or government counterparts or implementing partners; participation in the design, implementation or advising the UN JP being evaluated, among others). Any potential conflict of interest should be declared by candidates during the application process.
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION