Vacancies and How to Get a Job at Food and Agriculture Organization – FAO (Salary, Roles & Application Guide)
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is recruiting a MEAL Specialist in Freetown, Sierra Leone, offering an opportunity for an experienced monitoring, evaluation and data professional to work within the UN agency's country programme.
The position is a 12-month National Project Personnel opportunity and is open to Sierra Leonean nationals. The application deadline is 5 October 2026 at 9:59 p.m.
For professionals searching for FAO jobs in Sierra Leone 2026, this is a specialised opportunity particularly suited to candidates with strong MEAL, data analysis, gender-responsive monitoring and information management experience.
About FAO Sierra Leone
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised UN agency focused on food security and the transformation of agrifood systems. FAO works internationally to support better production, nutrition, environmental sustainability and livelihoods.
In Sierra Leone, the FAO country office supports technical assistance, capacity development, partnerships and programmes connected to its mandate.
This vacancy shows the importance FAO places on evidence-based programming, gender inclusion, accountability and learning. The successful candidate will work across projects rather than focusing on data collection alone.
Available Position
- MEAL Specialist – Freetown, Sierra Leone
1. MEAL Specialist
What You'll Do (Simplified)
The MEAL Specialist will provide technical support for monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning across FAO's projects in Sierra Leone.
A major part of the job will involve ensuring that project monitoring systems generate useful evidence for programme decisions. The role also has a strong gender and social inclusion focus.
Key responsibilities include:
- Strengthening MEAL systems and gender-responsive project frameworks.
- Helping teams select appropriate indicators and measurement tools.
- Supporting baseline assessments and gender analysis.
- Designing and monitoring systems that capture sex-disaggregated and social inclusion data.
- Analysing participation, leadership, economic empowerment and decision-making outcomes.
- Supervising beneficiary data collection and feedback mechanisms.
- Supporting the use of KoBoToolbox for data collection.
- Conducting or supporting focus group discussions, surveys and assessments.
- Documenting lessons learned, best practices and impact stories.
- Organising quarterly field monitoring visits.
- Maintaining project and corporate databases.
- Updating relevant FAO systems, including FPMIS and PIRES.
- Providing evidence and analysis to support programme design and resource mobilisation.
This means the role goes beyond producing reports. The successful applicant will need to turn programme data into information that helps FAO understand what is working, where gaps exist and how projects can improve.
Who This Role Is Best For
This is an experienced professional-level role, rather than an entry-level MEAL position.
Applicants need a bachelor's degree in areas such as Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Management Information Systems, Economics, Data Science, Agriculture, Nutrition or a related field.
At least five years of relevant experience in MEAL, data analysis, data visualisation and/or information management is required, particularly within agriculture and disaster risk reduction contexts.
The role would suit professionals who have progressed beyond basic data collection and can independently design, manage and analyse monitoring systems.
Estimated Salary Range
Negotiable based on experience. The vacancy does not provide a specific salary figure.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through the FAO recruitment portal.
Applicants should create and complete their online profile, including employment history, academic qualifications and language skills. A letter of motivation must also be attached.
The application deadline is 5 October 2026 at 9:59 p.m.
FAO states that incomplete applications will not be considered and only applications submitted through its recruitment portal will be accepted.
FAO also does not charge candidates a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
How to Increase Your Chances
This is a role where a generic CV could easily undersell your experience.
Make sure your CV clearly demonstrates experience with:
- Monitoring and evaluation systems
- Logical frameworks and indicators
- Data analysis and visualisation
- Gender-responsive monitoring
- Social inclusion
- Baseline, midline and endline assessments
- Accountability and feedback mechanisms
- Data collection tools
- Programme reporting
- Field monitoring
- Agriculture or disaster risk reduction programmes
The vacancy specifically mentions KoboCollect, Tableau and Power BI, as well as Microsoft Office applications. If you have experience using these tools, name them directly in your CV rather than simply saying you have "data analysis skills."
Your motivation letter should also explain how your previous experience would help FAO improve programme accountability, learning and evidence-based decision-making.
How to Successfully Apply for Jobs at FAO
FAO's online profile is particularly important because the organisation states that applications are screened using the information provided in the profile.
Before submitting your application:
- Complete every relevant section of your profile.
- Use specific examples rather than vague descriptions of your experience.
- Clearly state your years of relevant experience.
- Highlight your strongest MEAL achievements.
- List relevant data and reporting software.
- Tailor your motivation letter to this specific position.
- Check that your educational qualifications meet the stated requirements.
- Submit well before the deadline.
Candidates should also ensure that their higher educational qualifications come from institutions recognised through the World Higher Education Database requirements specified by FAO.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic CV: The role has specific technical requirements, so tailor your application.
- Listing software without demonstrating experience: Explain how you have used tools such as Power BI, Tableau or KoboCollect.
- Ignoring the gender component: Gender-responsive monitoring and social inclusion are central to this position.
- Focusing only on data collection: FAO wants someone who can use evidence to support programme decisions and learning.
- Leaving sections of the online profile incomplete: FAO states that incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Waiting until the deadline: Submit early to avoid technical problems or last-minute errors.
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