State Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (SMEO) - IFAD Assisted Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise - Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project at Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, is inviting applications from qualified and competent personnel to fill the position below for the IFAD-Assisted Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise - Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project:

Job Title: State Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (SMEO) - IFAD-Assisted Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise - Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project

Location: Edo, Niger-Delta Region
Employment Type: Contract (Renewable)
Office: Edo State Project Coordinating Office (SPCO)

Introduction / Background

• The Federal Government of Nigeria (hereafter called the borrower) has received a credit of 60 million USD from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) with additional financing of 30 million USD from the Niger delta Development Commission (NDDC) towards the cost of implementing a FGN / IFAD / NDDC assisted Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise – Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project in six states of the Niger Delta region.
• IFAD financing will focus on the six states of Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Rivers, Imo, Akwa Ibom, and Ondo, while NDDC financing will cover three states of Akwa Ibom, Imo, and Rivers.
• The LIFE-ND is planned with a financing gap of six years in the first instance, and an additional six years to be financed in the future by other partners and/or an additional IFAD loan.
• The project targets establishing over 38,250 agri-business enterprises.
• The objective of the project is to enhance income, food security and job creation for youths and women using sustainable agri-business development in the Niger Delta.
• To facilitate implementation of the project in Edo State, it is a requirement to have qualified and competent personnel from the state to fill the vacant position above.

Main Responsibilities

• The State Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (SMEO) will be responsible for operating, coordinating, and facilitating the planning and implementation of all project monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities at the state level.
• He/she will oversee the operationalization of the project's Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation (PME) system and ensure its full integration with other information and knowledge management systems to enable flexibility and responsiveness to evolving project realities.
• The SMEO will also assess the M&E capacity needs of staff and stakeholders at the state and LGA levels and design appropriate capacity-building interventions. The Officer will work closely with the LGA Desk Officers to ensure coherence and collaboration in M&E implementation across the state.

Specific Duties

• Develop M&E activities for inclusion in the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB).
• Organize and supervise baseline surveys and assessments of project beneficiaries, in collaboration with consultants.
• Prepare an M&E Plan, including standardized monitoring and reporting templates.
• Establish and track indicators for outputs, outcomes, and impacts, ensuring alignment with government and IFAD ORMS (Operational Results Management System) guidelines.
• Promote participatory planning and M&E by training and involving stakeholders and beneficiaries in data collection and feedback processes.
• Compile and analyze data for inclusion in quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports.
• Monitor both financial and physical progress of project activities and report findings to relevant stakeholders to enhance learning and adaptive management.
• Capture both the intended and unintended impacts of project interventions, documenting key lessons, successes, and challenges.
• Develop and implement reporting formats to ensure uniformity and compatibility of reports from service providers and implementing partners with the project's results framework.
• Organize and oversee state-level annual review and planning workshops and contribute to the preparation of AWPBs.
• Participate in supervision missions by screening and analyzing reports and providing relevant M&E data and insights.
• Select service providers where necessary, develop their TORs and scope of work, supervise and certify their outputs and deliverables.
• Contribute to the preparation and consolidation of periodic project progress reports at the state level.

Qualifications and Experience

• Education: Master's or higher degree in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Statistics, Social Sciences, or other related fields.
• Experience: Minimum of 8 years' relevant experience in M&E, results-based management, or project management within agriculture, rural development, or natural resource programmes.

Technical Skills & Proficiency:

• Proven proficiency in the use of databases, spreadsheets, and statistical software packages for both quantitative and qualitative analysis.
• Experience in analyzing complex programmes, policies, and data systems.
• Solid understanding of modern information and communication technology (ICT) applications for data management, including mobile and web-based platforms.

Core Competencies:

• Excellent written and spoken English, with strong analytical and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate learning processes and capacity development initiatives.
• Fluency in a major local language of the state will be an asset.

Reporting and Location:

• The positions will be based at the State Project Coordinating Office (SPCO), Benin City, Edo State.
• The prospective State Officers will report directly to the State Project Coordinator (SPC).

Duration:

• The duration of the assignment will be a 2-year renewal contract following a successful completion of a 1-year probation period.
• Subsequent contract renewal will be based on satisfactory performance review.

Application Closing Date
21st July, 2026.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Applications with a detailed CV to: info@life-nd.org.ng using the Job Title as the subject of the email.
Or
Send by post to the address below: 
The National Project Coordinator,
 LIFE-ND Project,
 6 Woji Road,
 Port Harcourt,
 Rivers State.