Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist – MES (Value Chain for Northern Nigeria Programme) at Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS)

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies and strategies in the Nigeria’s  agricultural sector, to sufficiently provide food for an increasing population, adequate supply of raw materials to a growing industrial sector, effectively expand the market for crop, livestock, agro and agro-allied products, continually create employment opportunities, and to widely diversify the economy, for national development.

The Ministry provides resources to the sector for the implementation of various  projects and programmes. The efforts is complemented with the support and funding from donor partners in the implementation of various agricultural projects and programmes in the country.

Applications are invited from suitable candidates to fill the position below for the National Programme  Management Unit of the Value Chain for Northern Nigeria Programme:

Job Title: Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist – MES (Value Chain for Northern Nigeria Programme)

Location: Wuse 2, Abuja (VCN National Programme Coordination Office (NPCO))
Job Type: Contract
Reports to: National Programme Coordinator.
Participating States: Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara, Borno, Katsina, Yobe, Bauchi and Kano.

Background
The Value Chain for Northern Nigeria (VCN) Programme is a flagship initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria, implemented through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the French Development Agency (AFD). The overall development objective of VCN is to increase incomes, food security, and resilience of smallholder farmers and other value chain actors in Northern Nigeria through competitive, climate‑resilient, and inclusive agricultural value chains. Specifically, the Programme aims to transform priority agricultural value chains in Northern Nigeria to drive food security, employment, and inclusive economic growth, with a strong focus on women, youth, and vulnerable groups.

The Programme is financed through multiple financing sources, including IFAD and AFD loans and will run until 31 March 2034 (financial closure: 30 September 2034). Implementation of the programme will be based on a decentralised approach through federal and state programme implementation units under the coordination of the Federal Department of Development Partners Projects (FD‑DPP). The National Programme Coordinating Office (NPCO) will be based in Abuja, and the State Programme Implementation Unit (SPIU) in each participating state. The participating states are: Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara, Borno, Katsina, Yobe, Bauchi and Kano.

The NPMU will be staffed by a multidisciplinary team, including: National Programme Coordinator, Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist, Agricultural Production and Rural Infrastructure Specialists, Rural Institutions Development Specialist, Knowledge Management and Communication Specialist, Food & Nutrition Specialist, ICT4D Support Specialist, Gender & Social Inclusion and GALS Specialists, Climate & Environment Specialist, Financial Controller, Accountant, Finance Officer, Senior Internal Auditor, Procurement Specialist and Officers, and National administrative and HR support staff. State Programme Implementation Unit will mirror these functions (with a few exceptions) at the state level, ensuring strong fiduciary oversight, timely reporting from SPIU, and harmonized accounting procedures resulting in an effective last‑mile delivery.

Governance and accountability will be anchored in a National Steering Committee, supported by technical committees as required, to provide policy guidance, ensure alignment with national priorities, and resolve strategic bottlenecks. The implementation of the project will include high-risk operating environments, hence project staff/specialists at both National and State levels must possess the skills and expertise to work in fragile areas, demonstrating a high level of sensitivity to conflict and crisis situations.

Additionally, prior experience of project staff/specialist in remote project monitoring and implementation using dedicated tools to effectively track project activities would be crucial.

Position Overview

• Under the direct supervision of the National Programme Coordinator (NPC), the MES will be in charge of all VCN M&E activities, including overseeing the State and LGA levels.
• The MES will also be responsible for compiling, validating and reporting M&E results and progress through collaboration with SPIUs and other Implementing Partners, and for the timely submission of reports.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop a Project-Specific M&E Plan detailing:
  • Description of the VCN M&E approach
  • VCN processes and activities to be implemented
  • Tools to be used for data collection and processing
  • Deliverables to be produced; and
  • M&E responsibilities of all  project teams.
• Support the MIS Developer in the development of the VCN M&E MIS to ensure data collection, beneficiary database, and reporting templates are consistent with the project M&E plan.
• Prepare and consolidate, in collaboration with the Finance Unit and technical specialists, the annual work plan and budget (AWPB).
• Coordinate with State teams and implementation partners to collect and report data on project activities using the MIS.
• Provide technical support to the project, State staff, and partners on M&E and MIS-related issues.
• Submit a timely updated  Project Logframe and physical progress performance to IFAD before annual supervision missions.
• Ensure quality of data collected and reported through quality assurance checks.
• Guide service providers contracted to conduct the COI survey, ensuring adherence to IFAD COIs.
• Ensure compliance with IFAD and Project requirements and ethical considerations related to data collection and use.
• Build capacity of VCN, LGA, and State staff and partners on M&E and MIS-related issues.
•  Manage project information, particularly the beneficiary database and documentation.
• Collaborate with the VCN KMC Specialist by providing evidence-based data to guide the development of KMC products.
• Carry out any other assignment or relevant duties as assigned by the Project Coordinator.
• Perform other duties as directed by the NPC.

Key Outputs

• Elaborated VCN contextual Project Specific M&E Plan by project start-up
• Fully operational M&E Management Information System by project year 1
• Fully developed data collection tools by project start-up
• AWPB
• Quarterly data analysis reports to inform implementation
• Quarterly monitoring reports to support decision-making
• Technical assistance to project and implementation partners
• Capacity building materials (training materials, guidelines, toolkits)
• Management of the beneficiaries’ database to ensure outreach is up to date and avoids double-counting

Required Qualifications and Experience
Academic Education:

• At least a Master’s or higher-level university Degree in Statistics, Demographics, Public Policy, International Development, Economics, or a related field.
• An advanced certificate in M&E, statistics, or economics is preferred.

Professional Certification:

• Active membership in a recognized professional project management, management, or agricultural body (PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent) is an added advantage.

Professional Experience:

• Minimum of ten (10) years of relevant professional experience including seven (7) years in a similar role implementing M&E activities in internationally funded agricultural development projects, preferably with IFAD, World Bank, AfDB, or similar multilateral development organizations.
• Experience in designing, implementing, and operating project M&E systems and plans from project initiation to closeout stages.
• Experience in designing and managing beneficiary monitoring and database systems.
• Experience in managing project-level M&E Management Information Systems (MIS).
• Knowledge of major evaluation methodologies (qualitative, quantitative, mixed-method, and impact) and data collection/analysis methodologies.
• Experience in developing and refining data collection tools.
• Experience with data quality assessments and oversight.
• Extensive knowledge of IFAD COI guidelines and policies is an advantage.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and local Northern Nigerian languages.

Technical Skills:

• Technical expertise in M&E concepts, methods, and tools.
• Excellent communication skills to convey project progress, results, and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills, including use of statistical software.
• Strong project management skills.
• Teamwork and collaboration ability.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Ethical and professional conduct, including confidentiality.
• Computer literacy in Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Email Clients (Outlook), Video Conferencing (Zoom, Teams), and Web Applications.

Personal Competencies:

• Results-driven leadership
• Problem-solving orientation
• Excellent communication
• Integrity and independence
• Team builder
• Strong management skills, particularly strategic direction and technical supervision
• Reliable and responsible personality; capacity to work under demanding professional circumstances
• Good team player while able to work autonomously

Terms and Conditions

• Contract Duration: Two-year staff contract with annual performance evaluation, renewable depending on satisfactory performance.
• Travels: Regular travel to State PCOs in Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara, Borno, Katsina, Yobe, Bauchi and Kano. Occasional travel for IFAD/AFD missions and training.

Reporting and Location

• Located in Abuja, FCT, and will report directly to the National Programme Coordinator.

Remuneration

• Competitive package commensurate with qualifications and experience, in accordance with FGN/IFAD/AFD salary scales for nationally recruited  project staff.

Application Deadline 
6th September, 2026 at 12:00 noon.

METHOD OF APPLICATION 
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) applications in ten (10) copies, including one original and nine (9) photocopies, properly sealed and clearly marked at the top right-hand cover “EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF NATIONAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT UNIT UNDER THE FGN/IFAD/AFD-VCN PROJECT.”

Each envelope should include a CV and an application letter with a cover letter suited for the position being applied for.

The sealed envelope should be addressed and delivered to:
The Permanent Secretary,
Federal Ministry of  Agricultural and Food Security,
c/o Director, Federal Department of Development Partners Projects,
Fadama House, No. 1, Eldoret Close, Off Aminu Kano Crescent,
Wuse II – Abuja