Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist at the Federal Department of Rural Development (FDRD)

Federal Department of Rural Development (FDRD) - The Federal Government of Nigeria has secured a credit from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for the implementation of Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP).

The VCDP will address the constraints along the cassava and rice Value Chains in Anambra, Ebonyi, Benue, Taraba, Niger and Ogun States. The programme comprises three complementary and mutually reinforcing components viz: Agricultural Market Development; Smallholder Productivity Enhancement: and Programme Coordination and Management.

The specific objective of the Programme is to enhance on a sustainable basis, the incomes and food security of poor rural households engaged in production, processing and marketing of rice and cassava in the participating states.

For effective programme take-off, the FMARD is constituting a National Programme Management Unit (NPMU) at the Programme Headquarters in Abuja. Consequently, part of the proceeds of the VCDP credit will be applied to engage the services of the following officer at the Programme Headquarters, Abuja.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist

Location: Abuja

Responsibilities

• The Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation (PME) Specialist will have overall responsibility for coordinating and facilitating the planning, M&E activities related to the Programme Implementation.
• The Specialist will ensure that robust systems for PME are established and fully linked to other information and knowledge systems, to enable the Programme to be flexible and responsive to changing circumstances.
• The Specialist will also assess needs and capacity for PME at national level and accordingly design and implement capacity building programmes.
• The Specialist will work closely with relevant NPMU and SPMU staff to ensure a coherent and collaborative approach to
  PME.

Specific Duties:

• Develop the Programme M&E System on the basis of the programme's Logical Frame work taking into account Government
  monitoring frameworks;
• Organize and supervise focused baseline surveys at the beginning of the programme be undertaken by a contracted institution;
• Prepare an M&E Plan, Including the programme's monitoring formats;
• Establish indicators for outputs, outcomes and impact, monitor implementation processes and performance, and assess outputs and outcomes;
• Foster participatory planning and M&E by training and involving stakeholder groups;
• Oversee design of a field-based system for the programme monitoring that incorporates the logical framework approach;
• Presume essential data to be included in quarterly, semi-annual and annual reports;
• Monitor financial and physical progress as well as reporting back to stakeholders to create a better learning environment; undertake project and thematic evaluations;
• Integrate the M&E system into the overall programme coordination and organization function and with other information and
  knowledge systems;
• Ensure capture of intended impact as well as successes and failures: prepare reports and guide staff in preparing their progress reports;
• Organize and oversee annual review and planning workshops and preparation of annual workplans and budgets:
  Inform and join supervision missions by screening and analyzing reports;
• Support advocacy efforts through providing evidence of impact gathered through the M&E system. closely linked to knowledge management activities;
• Undertake any other duties that may be assigned to him/her by the National Programme Coordinator.

Terms of Appointment:

• Two year contract, subject to renewal for a maximum of 6 years, based on performance.

Qualification and Experience

• Masters or Higher Level University Degree in Agricultural Economics, Economics Statistics or other relevant field.
• Proficient in the use of databases and spreadsheets, in the use of statistical and other software packages for both quantitative and qualitative analysis and demonstrated skills in quantitative and qualitative analysis and data management.
• Experience in analyzing complex programmes or policies.
• A minimum of 10 years experience working in M&E and/or project management in areas such as agriculture, marketing, rural finance - and policy matters.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing successful M&E systems and developing MIS.
• Solid understanding of use of modern information and communication technology (ICT) in development and excellent knowledge of computer-based communication stools, In particular web-based technology.
• Experience in facilitation, in particular of learning processes.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Application Closing Date
18th February, 2014.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their applications to:

The Director,
Federal Department of Rural Development
No. 30 127, Algiers Street,
Beside PDP National Secretariat,
Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, FCT.

Note: 

• This position is open to serving public officers as well as other interested candidates.
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. All applications must bear the positions applied for, on the top right hand side of the envelopes.