Call for Expressions of Interest - Specialists in Irrigation, Crops and seeds, Agronomy and extension, Nutrition and livelihoods, Agricultural Marketing and value chain
Evaluation of FAO Cooperation in Afghanistan 2007-2012 - FAO Office of Evaluation
Background FAO carries out country evaluations with the aim to improve the relevance and performance of FAO’s interventions by providing accountability and deriving lessons for better formulation and implementation of country-level policies, strategies and activities in the future. Country evaluations look at FAO’s work from the standpoint of its utility to the country. They provide FAO’s stakeholders with a systematic and objective assessment of the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impacts and sustainability of the programmes and interventions undertaken by FAO in the country, including emergency, rehabilitation and development activities. Country evaluations can support the formulation and review of the Country Programming Framework and FAO contributions to the UNDAF, and they also seek to analyse how FAO’s interventions in the country can best promote the Organization’s comparative advantages and relate to FAO’s overall strategic objectives and core mandate.
Afghanistan has been one of FAO’s largest country programmes globally. Throughout 2008-2012, Afghanistan was the largest recipient of FAO’s overall ‘non-emergency’ funding (US$ 96 million). For ‘emergency’ projects during the same period, Afghanistan ranks as the fifth highest recipient (US$ 95 million). Between 2007 and 2012, FAO HQ, regional and country offices managed Afghanistan projects that had a total value of US$373 million. Since 2012, the FAO Country Programme is governed by a Country Programming Framework (CPF) which covers the period 2012-15 and aims to be aligned with national and international strategic frameworks.
Afghanistan has been one of FAO’s largest country programmes globally. Throughout 2008-2012, Afghanistan was the largest recipient of FAO’s overall ‘non-emergency’ funding (US$ 96 million). For ‘emergency’ projects during the same period, Afghanistan ranks as the fifth highest recipient (US$ 95 million). Between 2007 and 2012, FAO HQ, regional and country offices managed Afghanistan projects that had a total value of US$373 million. Since 2012, the FAO Country Programme is governed by a Country Programming Framework (CPF) which covers the period 2012-15 and aims to be aligned with national and international strategic frameworks.
The main purposes of the evaluation are: i) to assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability/ connectedness, and impact of FAO activities in Afghanistan; and ii) to provide accountability to FAO member countries; and iii) to learn lessons about the factors affecting FAO performance and development impact at country level to inform FAO’s future strategy for Afghanistan.
The evaluation will be forward-looking, i.e. it will identify areas for improvement and draw lessons in order to further FAO cooperation relevance and effectiveness in the future. It will also assist the Government and partners in Afghanistan to maximise the comparative advantage of FAO.
Methodology of the Evaluation: The methodology will be both consultative and participatory. Consultations will be carried out with the main programme stakeholders (Govt, donors, UN and implementing partners, FAO staff and final beneficiaries) during both the inception mission and during the main evaluation to ensure that the evaluation answers questions of interest to main audience for the report – as well as to allow for triangulation of information from different sources. The evaluation will use a wide range of tools and methods, including stakeholder consultation through workshops/group meetings and semi-structured interviews; check lists; desk study to gather all relevant background information; and field visits.
Composition and profile of the Evaluation team: The Evaluation will be conducted by a multidisciplinary team of external consultants, national and international, and two evaluation experts/staff members of the Office of Evaluation (OED). Gender equity and geographical balance will be pursued in so far as possible in the team composition, to ensure diversity of perspectives. Knowledge of the region and experience in managing/evaluating humanitarian responses in the context of complex emergencies and national disasters will be important. As capacity development has been an important component in a number of projects, experience in assessing individual and institutional capacity building will be advantageous. A Senior Consultant has already been selected as Team Leader and an OED Evaluation Officer designated as Evaluation Manager.
The Evaluation team will consist of seven to eight people, as follows: 1. Irrigation specialist (OPEN) 2. Crops and seeds specialist (OPEN) 3. Agronomy and extension specialist (OPEN) 4. Nutrition and livelihoods specialist (OPEN) 5. Agricultural marketing and value chain specialist (OPEN) 6. Team leader and livestock specialist (position filled) 7. Evaluation Manager coordination, monitoring and evaluation systems and governance specialist (position filled) 8. Evaluation analyst and gender specialist (position filled)
Timetable of the Evaluation: The Afghanistan Country Evaluation has already gone through the preliminary stages; a preparatory mission has taken place and the portfolio analysis has been completed. This advertisement has the purpose of attracting expressions of interest for participation in the main evaluation mission, which will take place in September this year.
The current timetable is as follows: Consultation selected team members & HQ and FAORAP staff (29 Aug.- 30 Aug.) Evaluation mission in Afghanistan (1 Sept.- 30 Sept.) Presentation of preliminary findings to FAO Afghanistan and to external stakeholders (29 Sept.- 29 Sept.) Presentation of preliminary findings to FAO RAP Bangkok (Team Leader and Evaluation Manager) (1 Oct.-2 Oct.) Preparation of team member draft reports (7 Oct.- 21 Oct.) Preparation of draft final report (1 Nov.- 1 Dec.) Presentation of draft final report (FAORAP Bangkok and FAOR Kabul) (2 Dec.- 8 Dec.) Preparation of final report incorporating comments (16 Dec.- 20 Dec.) Presentation of final report to FAO Rome (Early 2014)
Due to the working conditions in Afghanistan, particular preference will be given to those international experts that have an extensive track record of working in Afghanistan, have a working command of at least one of the major national languages and who can rely on a wide professional network within the country.
Deadline for application: 24 May 2013. Candidates will demonstrate solid interviewing skills and an ability to collect information and to write succinct well developed analysis. Gender analysis will be required from all experts in the team. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
How to apply:
International and national experts with expertise in one of the areas indicated above and experience in undertaking independent evaluations of complex programmes are invited to submit an expression of interest together with their resume/CV and indication of availability and expected remuneration to the Office of Evaluation: bernd.bultemeier@fao.org
