Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist/Assessment, Consultant

CIMMYT is a cutting edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow's problems today. It is entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, through building strong partnerships. This combination enhances the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers, while working towards a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries.

For more information, visit cimmyt.org.

CIMMYT’s Breeding Resources Services (BRS) platform is seeking a highly skilled Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist/Assessment, Consultant to conduct a thorough evaluation of its flagship project, Crops to End Hunger (CtEH). CtEH’s overall objective is to modernize CGIAR breeding programs and networks to ensure that they deliver the highest possible rate of genetic gains in farmers’ fields in the form of nutritious, climate-resilient, market-demanded cultivars.

Under the guidance and supervision of the BRS Platform Head and, indirectly, the Assessment Chair, the consultant will evaluate the CtEH investment in infrastructure development, capacity building, and efficiency improvement through a series of in-depth case studies on assigned sub-projects to reveal the lessons learned, the outcome achieved and projected future benefits.

The consultant will engage directly with program leaders, scientists, and stakeholders, assess breeding stations, and develop actionable recommendations for improving breeding stations and overcoming challenges.

Deliverables:

• Conduct thorough evaluations of the Crops to End Hunger program, with a focus on Breeding Resources Support across three primary locations, likely Kenya, Senegal, and Nigeria.
• Analyze and measure progress toward CtEH program objectives, particularly those related to the acceleration and modernization of crop breeding programs.
• Review and assess the six specific funder requests, ensuring their effective implementation across various CGIAR centers.
• Collect relevant data from breeding farms and field trialing locations and analyze the effectiveness of modernized breeding processes, capacity-building efforts, and infrastructure upgrades
• Provide insights into investments towards genetic gain improvement, varietal turnover strategies, and optimization of breeding pipelines.
• Develop comprehensive reports with actionable recommendations for breeding program improvements, including potential innovations, automation opportunities, and efficiency strategies.
• Highlight challenges and opportunities related to CtEH's innovations and automation in breeding stations and propose strategies for overcoming these challenges.
• Engage with breeding managers, scientists, and other stakeholders to gather insights and ensure the practical applicability of recommendations.
• Analyze how breeding stations manage staff displacement resulting from mechanization.
• Assessing the safety and ethical protocols in place, particularly in the context of post-mechanization changes.
• Evaluate the breeding stations’ sustainability plans for the mechanization and automation of operations.

Requirements

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Plant Breeding, Agricultural Science, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience in plant breeding R&D, either in the public or private sectors, with a solid understanding of breeding program operations.
• Experience with tropical crops, particularly in Africa, with a focus on cassava, banana, maize, and wheat.[AR1] 
• Strong knowledge of breeding activities’ management within farms and breeding stations.
• Familiarity with breeding operations management and innovations related to automation.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken); knowledge of French is desirable.
• Excellent communication and reporting skills, with the ability to convey complex technical findings to diverse stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to work independently and within cross-functional teams.
• Familiarity with developing and optimizing breeding pipelines to enhance genetic gain.
• Experience working with not-for-profit organizations towards capacity building and the development of strategic breeding program plans is a plus.
• The selected requires the following competencies: Communication, Negotiation, Client Orientation, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving.

Benefits

This consultancy is for an initial fixed term of (1) year, after which further employment is subject to performance and the continued availability of funds.

The Consultant may be based remotely but must be able to adjust to the working hours of the teams and key contacts. A base in Mexico City, Penang, Nairobi, Montpellier, Rome, or an area with other significant staff or partners is an advantage. The position will require frequent international travel.

Candidates must apply online for IRS24142/IRS24143_ Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist/Assessment, Consultant.

Screening and follow up of applications will begin on November 15th, 2024.

Applications must include a CV with contact details (telephone and email address) of 3 work-related references along with the confirmation that Recruitment can contact them) and a cover letter.

Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

This consultancy will remain open until filled.

CIMMYT is an equal opportunity employer.

It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity.

Women are encouraged to apply.