Evaluation Specialists – One Health, Food Security and Crisis Contexts

Job Description - Evaluation Specialists – One Health, Food Security and Crisis Contexts (2601728)Job Description CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST - VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: 2601728 Evaluation Specialists – One Health, Food Security and Crisis Contexts Job Posting: 12/Aug/2026Closure Date: 10/Sep/2026, 12:59:00 AMOrganizational Unit: OED - Office of EvaluationJob Type: Non-staff opportunitiesType of Requisition: Consultant / PSA (Personal Services Agreement)Grade Level: N/APrimary Location: Various LocationsDuration: Up to 11 monthsPost Number: N/AIMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's valuesFAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checksAll applications will be treated with the strictest confidentialityFAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations. Organizational Setting The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) leads international efforts to defeat hunger and achieve food security for all. FAO works in more than 130 countries and supports its Members through normative work, policy advice, technical assistance, capacity development and emergency response.FAO’s independent Office of Evaluation (OED) conducts evaluations of FAO strategies, programmes, projects and initiatives at global, regional and country levels. OED generates credible and useful evidence to support accountability, learning and informed decision-making.OED is seeking expressions of interest from senior evaluators and subject-matter specialists to support forthcoming evaluations of FAO’s work at the intersection of humanitarian, development and normative action. The evaluations will focus particularly on integrated One Health approaches, pandemic preparedness, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, food security analysis, early warning and crisis contexts.Selected candidates may be considered for one or more assignments, depending on their qualifications, availability and the requirements of each evaluation. Inclusion in the pool of suitable candidates does not guarantee immediate engagement. Reporting Lines Selected specialists will work under the supervision of the assigned OED Responsible Officer and under the overall responsibility of the Director, Office of Evaluation. Tasks and ResponsibilitiesDepending on the assignment, selected candidates may:• Review relevant programme, project and technical documentation. • Contribute to evaluation design, inception reports and data-collection instruments. • Develop theories of change and support learning activities and the dissemination of evaluation results.• Conduct interviews, consultations, field visits and technical assessments.• Analyse qualitative and quantitative evidence. • Assess the relevance, effectiveness, sustainability and contribution of FAO-supported interventions. • Prepare country studies, technical notes and substantive inputs to evaluation reports. • Contribute to findings, conclusions, recommendations and stakeholder validation processes. • Address comments from stakeholders and quality-assurance reviewers. CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING Minimum Requirements• For Consultants: Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in evaluation, economics, public policy, public health, veterinary medicine, epidemiology, food safety, food security, agriculture, international development, humanitarian studies, sociology, statistics or another discipline relevant to the work of the Organization. Consultants with bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.• For PSAs: University degree (or technical degree/certificate) from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in evaluation, economics, public policy, public health, veterinary medicine, epidemiology, food safety, food security, agriculture, international development, humanitarian studies, sociology, statistics or another discipline relevant to the work of the Organization• Minimum one year of professional experience in evaluation, research, technical assessment or programme implementation commensurate with the profile and the corresponding consultant or PSA level.• Working knowledge of an FAO official language: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian or Spanish.FAO Core Competencies• Results Focus• Teamwork• Communication• Building Effective Relationships• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement Technical/Functional Skills• Demonstrated experience in conducting or contributing to complex thematic, programme, portfolio, country or project evaluations. • Relevant expertise in one or more of the following areas: One Health, pandemic preparedness, animal or public health, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, Codex standards, disease surveillance, laboratory systems, food security analysis, early warning, humanitarian response or crisis preparedness. • Experience working across humanitarian, development and normative contexts. • Strong analytical, stakeholder-engagement, facilitation and interviewing skills. • Ability to synthesize complex evidence and prepare clear, balanced and evidence-based evaluation products. • Familiarity with theory-based evaluation, contribution analysis, mixed methods or systems approaches. • Experience working in fragile, conflict-affected or food crisis contexts is desirable. • Experience with the United Nations, multilateral organizations, government institutions or international development partners is an asset. • Ability and willingness to undertake international field missions, as required. Candidates must disclose any previous or current involvement in the design or implementation of the activities covered by the relevant evaluation. Actual or perceived conflicts of interest may preclude participation in a specific assignment.All candidates must adhere to the FAO values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All, and Integrity and Transparency. Information to Include in the Letter of MotivationApplicants should indicate:• Whether they wish to be considered as an evaluation specialist, subject-matter specialist, or both; • Their principal areas of thematic and evaluation expertise; • Relevant regional and country experience; • Language skills; • Availability and willingness to undertake field missions; • Any previous involvement with FAO projects or programmes that may represent a potential conflict of interest. Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONFAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing)Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO listPlease note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/ For more information, visit the FAO employment websiteAppointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. HOW TO APPLY• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/. These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings. • Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications• Incomplete applications will not be considered• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/cspFAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT