The Technical Advisor for MEAL will provide technical direction within the EARO Region to strengthen organizational and staff capacity to design and implement effective monitoring, evaluation, learning and accountability systems. S/he will provide technical assistance to EARO Country Programs, their partners and staff to ensure that projects/programs are monitored as needed, enhance donors and stakeholders accountability of resources and program impact, and to enhance learning for quality programming, scopes for evaluation reflect key learning questions, high quality external or internal evaluators undertake evaluations, recommendations are adopted and lessons learned are disseminated through channels including EARO Country Programs and the CRS MEAL community of practice. S/he will be guided and advised by the Deputy Regional Director for Programming Quality.

The TA-MEAL will be a part of the Regional Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Community of Practice (MEAL) and liaise with technical MEAL PMs/POs across the region. The TA-MEAL exists to promote best practices, learning and sharing and advance CRS' Agency Strategy (2019-2030), which recognizes MEAL as a Core Competency.

Overall responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Providing CPs technical support on all matters pertaining to MEAL;
• Developing and implementing a strategic plan for strengthening capacity of Country Program and Regional staff to design and implement MEAL systems as per CRS MEAL Policies and Procedures to improve program quality;
• Assisting Country Programs to strengthen capacity of Local Partner staff to implement MEAL systems to improve program quality;
• Assisting Country Programs and the Regional team in project design and the development and review of strategies;
• Collaborating with Regional and Country Program staff to realize a learning agenda rooted in evidenced-based approaches.
• Collaborating with Regional and Country Program staff Improve accountability to a range of stakeholders through increased participation, transparent communication, responsive feedback mechanisms, and adherence to internal and external quality standards and requirements.
• Developing MEAL resources that benefit EARO staff primarily, but that also have wider agency resonance.
• Actively participating in the agency regional MEAL Advisors community to strengthen MEAL practices in the region.

QUALIFICATIONS

Technical/Professional:

• Masters degree in Social Sciences, Statistics, International Development, Communications or related field
• At least 5 years of progressive responsibility in MEAL in overseas relief and development programs; at least 3 experience working for an international agency on MEAL
• Thorough familiarity with principles and current approaches to MEAL in relief and development programs
• Strong conceptual knowledge about theories of change, logic model, food and nutrition security indicators, MEAL plan, data quality assurance, data utilization and gender integration into MEAL
• Experience in data collection, including survey design and training enumerators
• Understanding and experience with data management, including database design
• Strong experience analyzing data, including both qualitative and quantitative methods, and experience with appropriate software
• Experienced in developing data quality assurance strategies, data management and data visualization; including proficiency in database development/management, SPSS, Stata, EPI-Info, Access, Excel and skills in analyzing, interpreting and communicating information to various stakeholders
• Understanding of donor expectations and trends for MEAL, especially of FFP, FtF, OFDA, USDA, PEPFAR, DFID, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring, and other formal and non-formal methods
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, and spoken fluency of local languages in East Africa is plus
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 30% of her/his time
• Prior experience in sub-Saharan Africa preferred
• Skilled in working collaboratively with others
• Able to work with diverse groups of people in a multicultural, team environment.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills
• Self-motivated and able to work without close supervision, including prioritizing work and multi-tasking to meet deadlines.
• Excellent organization, planning and analytical skills; detail oriented.