racheld FAO is Hiring Home-Based Evaluation Specialists for a Major Climate-Resilient Agriculture Project in Benin
Discover this exclusive opportunity for home-based international development consultants with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). We are advertising for Evaluation Specialists – Climate-Resilient Agriculture & Water Management to lead the interim review of a flagship Green Climate Fund (GCF) project in Benin. These remote consultancy roles (up to 50 days over 3-6 months) are perfect for senior experts in integrated water resource management, climate-resilient agriculture (CRA), and gender-sensitive evaluation. If you have 5+ years of experience evaluating complex climate adaptation projects and are fluent in English and French, apply now for this high-impact, home-based position.
Background & Job Description
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The FAO Office of Evaluation (OED) is undertaking a critical interim evaluation of the “Quémé Basin Climate-Resilience Initiative (OCRI)” in Benin, a significant project funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The OCRI project aims to enhance the climate resilience of vulnerable communities in the Quémé Basin by catalyzing a systemic shift toward Integrated Climate-Resilient Management (ICRM). This ambitious initiative operates through three interconnected pillars: implementing hard and soft adaptation technologies like micro-dams and agroforestry across 95,000 hectares; strengthening climate-resilient and gender-sensitive value chains for crops like maize and shea; and establishing a robust enabling environment by institutionalizing the ICRM approach through a multi-stakeholder platform and strengthened policies.
The interim evaluation is a pivotal mid-point assessment designed to gauge the project’s progress, identify successes, and pinpoint areas requiring corrective action for the remaining implementation period. Its core objective is to provide the project team, national partners, and the GCF with evidence-based findings and actionable recommendations to enhance the project’s performance, maximize its impact, and ensure its long-term sustainability.
To conduct this rigorous, independent evaluation, the FAO Office of Evaluation is seeking a team of highly qualified national and international consultants. They are looking for both a Team Leader and Team Members with proven expertise in evaluation methodologies and deep technical knowledge in integrated water resource management, climate-resilient agriculture, value chain development, and institutional governance. The selected experts will be responsible for assessing the project’s technical performance, sustainability, and its impacts on gender equality and climate adaptation within a structured evaluation framework.
FAO is Hiring Home-Based Evaluation Specialists for a Major Climate-Resilient Agriculture Project in Benin
Tasks
The roles and responsibilities are differentiated between the Team Leader and Team Member positions as follows:
Team Leader (Climate-Resilient Agriculture and Water Management)
- Take overall responsibility for the evaluation, including the design of a robust methodology and comprehensive data collection tools tailored to assess integrated interventions.
- Conduct an in-depth review of all project documentation, including the original funding proposal, progress reports, and relevant national policies and strategies.
- Lead and conduct field visits to the five target municipalities in the Quémé Basin and/or hold virtual interviews with a wide range of stakeholders, including project beneficiaries, staff, government agencies, and private sector partners.
- Spearhead the assessment of the project’s relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, and potential impact, focusing on waterworks, CRA interventions, value chains, and institutional capacity-building efforts.
- Lead the analysis of results against the project’s Theory of Change and GCF objectives, critically evaluating its contribution to a paradigm shift in integrated basin management.
- Ensure the systematic integration of cross-cutting issues, including gender equality, social inclusion, and climate resilience, with specific attention to measures mitigating women’s vulnerability.
- Coordinate, review, and synthesize inputs from all team members to produce a comprehensive, high-quality final evaluation report that is both substantively sound and stylistically polished.
Climate-Resilient Agriculture and Water Management Specialist (Team Member)
- Provide substantial input into the design of the evaluation methodology and the development of data collection tools.
- Assist in the thorough review of project documentation and technical reports to build a foundational understanding of the project’s context and objectives.
- Participate in field missions and/or conduct virtual interviews to gather qualitative and quantitative evidence from key informants.
- Support the assessment of the project’s interventions, providing technical analysis on the performance of CRA practices, agroforestry systems, water management infrastructure, and value chain development.
- Contribute to the analysis of how project results align with the Theory of Change and contribute to GCF’s strategic goals.
- Actively integrate gender equality and social inclusion perspectives into all aspects of the technical analysis.
- Draft specific sections of the evaluation report related to their areas of expertise, including detailed findings, conclusions, and evidence-based recommendations.
Qualifications
Education and Certification
- For Consultants: An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) from an IAU/UNESCO-recognized institution in Agricultural Economics, Water Management, Environmental Sciences, Public Policy, or Social Sciences. Those with a Bachelor’s degree require an additional two years of relevant experience.
- For PSA (Personal Services Agreement) Contractors: A university degree from an IAU/UNESCO-recognized institution in the fields mentioned above.
- All degrees must be from institutions listed in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).
Experience
Required Experience:
- A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in fields directly relevant to the technical focus of the roles, such as integrated water management, climate-resilient agriculture, rural finance, or institutional development.
- Demonstrated, hands-on experience in conducting evaluations of international development interventions.
- Proven professional fluency in both English and French (both written and spoken) is mandatory for effective communication and reporting.
Desired Technical/Functional Skills:
- Demonstrated specific experience in evaluating Climate Change Adaptation projects, with a strong preference for experience in the agriculture and water sectors within Africa.
- Deep technical knowledge in at least one of the following: Integrated Climate-Resilient Management (ICRM), Climate-Resilient Agriculture (CRA) including Farmer Field School (FFS) methodology, small-scale waterworks engineering, or rural financial mechanisms.
- Proven track record of successfully integrating Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) into evaluation design, analysis, and reporting.
- Familiarity with the specific evaluation requirements and methodologies of the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
- Extensive experience working with diverse stakeholders in West Africa, including government bodies, local communities, and private sector entities.
- Strong analytical skills with proficiency in applying both qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods.
Additional Information
Language Requirement:
- Full professional proficiency in both English and French is a mandatory requirement for this role. Applications without demonstrable skills in both languages will not be considered.
Contract Details:
- Job Type: Consultant / PSA (Personal Services Agreement)
- Duration: Up to 50 working days spread over a period of 3 to 6 months.
- Primary Location: Home-Based
- Application Deadline: November 06, 2025, at 12:59 AM (based on the timezone settings of your personal device).
Equal Opportunity Statement:
FAO is strongly committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background, and culture. Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals from non- and under-represented member nations, and persons with disabilities are actively encouraged to apply. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and are expected to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct.
Scam Alert:
FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing). You should never be asked to pay in connection with an application for an FAO vacancy.
How to Apply:
All applications must be submitted through the official FAO recruitment website at Jobs at FAO. Candidates must complete an online profile and are strongly encouraged to attach a motivation letter. Incomplete applications or those received outside the FAO portal will not be considered.
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