Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Central Asia Water–Land Nexus (CAWLN) Programme, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) under its eighth replenishment (GEF-8), aims to strengthen transboundary cooperation and Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) in the Amu Darya and Syr Darya river basins. Within this framework, the CAWLN Coordination Project – Supporting Sustainable Results under the Water–Land Nexus Program (GCP/SEC/11379/GFF) provides programme-level coordination, knowledge management, environmental and social safeguards support, Earth Observation (EO) harmonization, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) services to all child projects under the CAWLN Programme. Umbrella programme and child projects will be implemented in five countries of the Central Asian sub-region: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Component 3 of the Coordination Project focuses on Knowledge Management, Lessons Learned, M&E, and Programme Coordination, and aims to establish a robust and coherent framework that promotes collaboration, adaptive management, data harmonization, and systematic learning across the entire CAWLN Programme. Activities include supporting the development of the CAWLN program website, facilitating participation in IW:Learn knowledge-exchange activities, producing experience and result notes, and coordinating spatial and analytical data sharing across countries and partners.

The CAWLN Programme adopts a holistic Water–Land Nexus approach, recognizing that land and water systems are interdependent and must be managed jointly to enhance ecosystem resilience, water security, pollution reduction, and sustainable rural livelihoods. By promoting integrated watershed management across two major transboundary basins, the Programme contributes to multiple GEF-8 Core Indicator targets, strengthens institutional capacities, and supports long-term environmental and socio-economic benefits across Central Asia.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist will operate within this broader programmatic framework, supporting cross-project coordination and ensuring rigorous multi-country monitoring, reporting, knowledge sharing, and learning across all CAWLN child projects.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Subregional Coordinator for Central Asia, the direct supervision and technical guidance of the project's Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and under the technical backstopping support from the regional Monitoring and Planning Specialist, and the operational guidance of the SEC Project Implementation Unit, and will work in close collaboration with FAO Country Offices and the Project Task Force.

Technical Focus

To lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive, gender-sensitive Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) system for the CAWLN Programme, ensuring alignment with programme objectives, donor requirements, transformational change principles, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), and Global Environmental Benefits (GEBs).

Tasks and responsibilities

M&E Framework Development and Operationalization:

•    Lead the design, development, and operationalization of comprehensive M&E Plan and M&E system including multi-country indicator tracking table for the Programme, ensuring alignment with transformational change, GESI (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion), and GEBs (Global Environmental Benefits) , including the development of SMART indicators. 
•    Develop and implement a robust monitoring data-collection system, ensuring the integration of gender-sensitive approaches and sex-disaggregated data, in full alignment with the FAO and GEF Secretariat timelines.
•    Conduct an M&E capacity-needs assessment across the six child projects 
•    Design and deliver training for project staff and implementing partners on M&E protocols and tools, including GESI indicators.
•    Coordinate an M&E Working Group covering all Programme components.
•    Ensure that the M&E framework supports adaptive management and incorporates feedback mechanisms for continuous programme improvement.

Data Collection, Analysis, and Validation:

•    Set up schedule of timely collection of monitoring data (with the focus on baselines, midlines and endlines) across target countries: within FAO and from the implementing partners. 
•    Oversee the collection, analysis, and reporting of data related to programme and child-project activities, including with the focus on core indicators, indicators from results frameworks and gender action plans, with strong focus on GESI and GEBs.
•    Ensure the use of appropriate data-collection tools and methodologies, including remote sensing and geospatial tools where relevant.
•    Conduct regular monitoring of key indicators related to land degradation, water quality, biodiversity, community engagement, GESI, and GEBs 
•    Coordinate any M&E rituals requiring primary data collection, with the engagement of external service providers, e.g. surveys, etc. 
•    Conduct validation and data entry of actual monitoring data into the M&E system .

Reporting, Knowledge Management, and Stakeholder Engagement:

•    Support adaptive programme and project management by presenting the updates on the monitoring performance to the project task force on a regular basis.
•    Prepare regular programme M&E reports for internal and donor use, ensuring clear documentation of progress, challenges, and lessons learned, with specific attention to GESI and GEBs.
•    Contribute to the Programme's knowledge-management platform by developing and disseminating lessons learned, best practices, and key findings from M&E activities.
•    Ensure that M&E results are effectively communicated to stakeholders, including local communities, government bodies, regional institutions, international partners, and donors to inform decision-making and adaptive management.

Evaluation

•    Facilitate the preparation of monitoring data and means of verification for the mid-term review and terminal evaluation processes
•    Support the mid-term review and terminal evaluation by preparing and organizing all relevant monitoring data and means of verification. 
•    Support gathering indicator data, compiling supporting evidence from partners, ensuring documentation is complete and accessible, and providing evaluators with a clear and well-structured evidence package.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree in economics, international development, environmental science, water resources management, social sciences, or a related field.
•    5 years of relevant experience in M&E and project management, preferably in large-scale, multi-stakeholder programmes.
•    Specific experience with developing and implementing gender-sensitive M&E systems and M&E plans, particularly in the context of environmental or development projects.
•    Experience in working with international development agencies and/or donors (e.g., Global Environment Facility) in the context of M&E.
•    Working knowledge (Level C) of English in speaking and writing and a good command of Russian, which is required for this position.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Experience with M&E systems focused on transformational change, GESI, and GEBs is highly desirable.
•    Experience working with transboundary water management, IWRM, and the water-land nexus is an advantage.
•    Experience with analysing primary monitoring data from surveys, interviews and Focus Group Discussions and overseeing primary data collection conducted by external service providers
•    Experience with collecting and analysing geospatial data (desirable)