National Mid Term Review Specialist

Overview

Support the Mid-Term Review for STAR-FARM project to assess its progress and impact.

You have:

• Advanced degree in Development studies, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Agriculture, Rural Development or related fields
• Minimum 6 years of experience in evaluating international development projects, preferably EU-funded projects or/and FAO-implemented projects in Mekong Delta
• Working knowledge of English and Vietnamese (written and spoken)
• National of Viet Nam or resident of the country with valid work permit

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level.

The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.

Specifically, FAO Country Offices: - Advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO's mandate. - Provide technical assistance and deliver core services. - Assist and catalyze partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation. - Position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and - Ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.

Background information about the project

The project “Smart Agro-ecological Transformation of Farming Systems towards Resilience and Sustainability in Middle and Coastal Zones of the Viet Nam Mekong Delta (STAR-FARM)” funded by the EU Delegation and led by Ministry of Agriculture and Environment through its line agency – the International Cooperation Department. The project aims to facilitate the Smart Agro-ecological Transformation of Agri-food Farming Systems (STAS) in the VMD, enhancing resilience to climate change, environmental degradation, and other external shocks include: Project Expected Outcomes Outcome 1: Enabling policy and frameworks to promote fair, healthy, and climate-friendly farming systems. Outcome 2: Fair, healthy and climate and environmentally friendly VCs established and consolidated. Outcome 3: Strengthened adaptive learning and advisory systems for implementing STAS and climate change adaptation (CCA). FAO takes the management and coordination role in the consortium implementing the project. Besides FAO, the project consortium includes five other research and development institutions including IRD, CIRAD, ISPAE, VAAS and Can Tho University. Consortium Members: Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO) French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) Institute of Strategy and Policy for Agriculture and Environment (ISPAE) Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS) Can Tho University (CTU)

The project Mid Term Review (MTR):

The STAR FARM project has reached the mid-point of its planned implementation duration and is therefore required to conduct a Mid-Term Review (MTR). The MTR will assess the progress toward achieving the objectives and results set out in the project document, and to identify challenges and provide strategic recommendations to enhance the effectiveness and impact of the remaining implementation period. The MTR will assess the project against the OECD DAC evaluation criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact.

Objectives of the Mid-Term Review:

The MTR serves dual purposes: accountability to the EU Delegation and FAO on progress achieved to date, and learning to inform adaptive management decisions for the remaining implementation period. Specifically, the MTR aims to:

- Assess the continued relevance of project objectives and interventions in light of significant policy and institutional changes in Viet Nam, EU development’s priorities, and stakeholder’s needs since project formulation, to determine whether any strategic adjustment is needed for the remaining period. - Evaluate progress toward intended results and the factors (internal and external) that have enabled or hindered delivery, to establish an evidence base for adaptive management decisions. - Assess the project's trajectory and feasibility of achieving intended results within the current timeframe, to inform decisions on implementation options for the remaining period including. - Assess enabling conditions and institutional foundations being put in place for the sustainability and potential scaling of project results, to identify actions needed to secure results beyond project closure. - Examine early signs of change and plausibility of the theory of change, to assess the likelihood of intented impact materializing after project closure. - Identify lessons learned, best practices, and areas requiring adjustment. - Provide actionable recommendations for the remaining implementation period, including options for adaptive management and, where evidence warrants, adjustments to the project timeline to protect the integrity of intended outcomes

To support the implementation of the midterm review of the project ‘Smart Agro-ecological Transformation of Farming Systems towards Resilience and Sustainability in Middle and Coastal Zones of the Viet Nam Mekong Delta (STAR-FARM)’, FAO is seeking a motivated, dynamic candidate to serve as National Midterm Review Specialist.

A project-specific Concept Note for the mid-term review of the project, “Smart Agro-ecological Transformation of Farming Systems towards Resilience and Sustainability in Middle and Coastal Zones of the Viet Nam Mekong Delta (STAR-FARM) (referred to below as the ‘MTR Concept Note’) has also been prepared to direct the overall approach to, the scope of MTR, method of conducting the MTR for this project, the key evaluation questions, and expected deliverables for the assessment.

The Mid-Term Review will be conducted by a team of two independent evaluation specialists (one international and one national specialist). The Mid-Term Review is expected to take approximately 6 –7 weeks from mid of June to July 2026

Reporting Lines

Under the direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR (Programme), and under the technical supervision of the International MTR Team Leader and the project M&E Specialist, the National MTR Specialist will be responsible for supporting the International MTR Team Leader for conducting the entire MTR process including reporting.

Technical Focus

The National MTR Specialist will provide inputs into the MTR process, as agreed with the International MTR Team Leader and FAO project team.

Tasks and responsibilities

- Review the relevant background documentation made available by the project team, including the project document, the project’s log frame, progress and final reports, workshop and technical reports, among others as listed in the MTR Concept note; - In accordance with the methodological approach described in the concept note, contribute to the preparation of inception report, data-collection tools, including questionnaires, checklists and interview protocols, as appropriate; insofar as possible, participate in the finalization of the MTR team’s work programme; - Support primary data collection as outlined in the MTR matrix under the guidance of the International MTR Team Leader, including gathering data and information through interviews and virtual meetings with relevant FAO staff and stakeholders during country visits, strictly for data collection purposes as described in the MTR concept note. - Contribute to the consolidation of all evidence collected during the MTR process in a structured format following the key MTR questions and criteria; - Ensure that all primary and secondary data collected are recorded during the MTR process and organized in a structured format following the key MTR questions, based on which all findings will be triangulated; - Participate in the analysis and discussion of evidence collected during the MTR with MRT Team leader to identify key findings that respond to MTR issues and questions, and contribute to the formulation of preliminary conclusions and recommendations based on their findings, as discussed and agreed with the International MTR Team Leader, under consultation with and for consideration of FAO project team; - Deliver inputs (including written, as required by the International MTR Team Leader) on the specific areas of assessment to all deliverers, including: the inception report, debriefing sessions following field missions, the draft MTR report, participate in addressing and integrating any feedback on the draft report from stakeholder reviewers, as appropriate, support the International MTR Team Leader in finalizing the report, and present the report conclusions and recommendations to EU and GoV as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

- Advanced degree in Development studies, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Agriculture, Rural Development or related fields - Minimum 6 years of experience in evaluating international development projects, preferably EU-funded projects or/ and FAO-implemented projects in Mekong Delta - Working knowledge of English and Vietnamese (written and spoken) - National of Viet Nam or resident of the country with valid work permit

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills - Familiarity with agroecological approaches, agro-based livelihoods and value chain development - Excellent analytical and report writing skills - Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment

Selection Criteria

- Strong knowledge of evaluation or reviews methodologies - Solid knowledge of value chains, economics

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 day ago - Updated 8 hours ago - Source: fao.org