Lead MTR Consultant

Organizational Setting:

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.
FAO India is currently implementing the ‘Promotion of Sustainable Food Systems in India through Transforming Rice-Wheat Systems’ Project under the GEF-7 cycle. This five-year project focuses on four states - Punjab, Haryana, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. The project will: 1) result in major global environmental benefits in terms of reduced land degradation, biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas emissions; 2) provide the country with win-win benefits in terms of improvements in the environmental sustainability of food systems and the income and resilience of farmers, and; 3) generate additional benefits for other food system stakeholders such as improved access to safe and healthy food and to employment opportunities. The project is aligned with the global objectives of the Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) Impact Program, contributing to integrated landscape management and sustainable food systems transformation in India.

The project Mid Term Review (MTR):

The project is at the mid-point of its planned implementation duration and is now required to conduct a Mid-Term Review (MTR).

The objectives of the MTR are to assess the progress made in achieving the project objectives and results set out in the project document, to analyse early signs of success or failure, and to identify any changes needed to bring the project back on track and achieve the desired results.

The FAO Guide for planning and conducting mid-term reviews of FAO-GEF projects and programmes (2020) provides the corporate guidance on planning, formulating, and conducting the mid-term reviews (MTRs) of projects and programmes implemented by FAO that have received grant financing from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund. It describes the requirements at various stages of the MTR process and clarifies the tasks, roles, and responsibilities of the various parties involved in FAO-GEF project MTRs.

The project will contract a small team of specialists - comprising a Lead MTR Consultant (International) and MTR specialists (Two Locals) - to develop and apply the MTR methodology, produce a brief MTR inception report, conduct the MTR and prepare the final MTR report.

A project-specific Terms of reference for the mid-term review of the project, ‘Promotion of Sustainable Foods Systems in India through transforming Rice-Wheat System in Punjab, Haryana, Odisha & Chhattisgarh’ (referred to below as the ‘MTR terms of reference’) has also been prepared to direct the overall approach to, and method of conducting the MTR, for this project, including how to address the GEF evaluation criteria, the main general and project-specific questions, and the data sources and choice of tools for the assessment.

FAO is seeking to recruit Lead MTR Consultant, to perform the mid-term review of the GEF-7 Project.

The position is home-based with missions to FAO Country Office and to the project states in India.

Reporting Lines:

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in India, while closely coordinating with the Lead Technical Officer in the FAO Regional Office in Bangkok, Assistant FAO Representatives (Program and Administration), MTR Manager assigned by the FAO India Country Office, and the MTR focal at the FAO GEF Coordination Unit in HQ and lead the other two local MTR specialists.

Technical Focus:

The Lead MTR Consultant will guide and coordinate the Mid-Term Review of the GEF-7 Project in India, ensuring methodological rigor, effective team collaboration, and delivery of high-quality MTR reports and recommendations in line with FAO-GEF standards.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Under the administrative supervision of the FAO Representative in India, the Lead MTR Consultant will be responsible for delivering the final report while coordinating the other two local MTR specialists’ contribution to the project’s MTR and ensuring that the final MTR report is prepared in close coordination with MTR Manager. 

Specific responsibilities include: 
•     Coordinate and develop a field visit plan with the Project Team in India; 
•     Review relevant background documentation made available by the designated MTR manager and project team, including the project document, the project’s logframe, progress and final reports, workshop and technical reports, among others as listed in the MTR terms of reference; 
•     Review and complement (expand as appropriate) the methodology described in the MTR terms of reference, prepare data-collection tools, including questionnaires, checklists and interview protocols as appropriate;
•     Coordinate preparation, drafting and finalization of the MTR inception report, including an MTR matrix, theory of change and stakeholder table, and participate in the finalization of the team’s work programme;
•     Lead and coordinate the collection of primary data by the MTR team through interviews and meetings (face-to-face or virtual) with relevant FAO officers in headquarters and/or Project Coordination Unit, among other things, and during country visits with key stakeholders including the government, FAO Representatives, external partners, project teams, international organizations, the private sector, civil society, academia, research institutes and ultimate beneficiaries, as appropriate, as described in the MTR terms of reference;
•     By leading other two local MTR Specialists, coordinate the collection of primary data by the MTR team during country visits and relevant secondary data, according to the methodology presented in the MTR terms of reference and detailed in the inception report; 
•     Lead the analysis and discussion of evidence collected within the MTR team to identify key findings and preliminary conclusions that respond to the MTR’s issues and questions, and formulate preliminary recommendations in line with the findings and conclusions;
•     Ensure that all the findings are sufficiently triangulated and validated;
•     Present the preliminary MTR findings to key stakeholders, as required; 
•     Lead, coordinate and prepare all deliverables planned in the MTR terms of reference, according to specifications provided in the terms of reference and detailed in the FAO-GEF MTR Guide and annexes;
•     Coordinate the participation and contribution of team members in all deliverables, as required;
•     Lead the preparation of the first and second drafts of the MTR report, integrate comments received, as appropriate, from the Budget Holder, MTR Manager, FAO-GEF Coordination Unit, other FAO and government agency staff, and other relevant stakeholders, as appropriate;
•     Lead the finalization of the MTR report and coordinate the inputs of other members of the MTR team into the final version, as needed.
•     In terms of reporting, or if information, advice or guidance is required from FAO by the Lead MTR Consultant, he should address requests to the FAO MTR Manager and to the FAO GEF Coordination Unit Monitoring and Reporting Officer. 
•     The consultant may also be requested to perform other on-demand duties to the GEF Coordination Unit relating to project design, implementation and reporting, as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements:

•     And advanced university degree from an institution recognized by UGC/ UNESCO in Monitoring & Evaluation, Science, Environment Sciences, Natural Resource Management, Agriculture, Climate Change and Adaptation or a related discipline relevant to project evaluation, agriculture extension and sustainable development. 
•     At least ten years of relevant experience in evaluating, supporting, designing, planning and/or managing agriculture, rural development, or natural resource management projects. 
•     Working knowledge (level C) of English

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical skills and competencies:

•     Experiences in leading evaluations of complex projects 
•     Knowledge of FAO and GEF work/procedures, or other UN agencies, would be an asset.

Note: Applicants should be independent of any organizations that have been involved in designing, executing or advising on any aspect of the project being evaluated in the MTR and should not have been involved in any aspect of the project previously.