Senior Project Officer - MEAL at Catholic Relief

Background:

CRS is implementing a 5-year Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) program, MWENDO, which seeks to empower local and county-level OVC stakeholders to strengthen the formal and informal HIV and child protection systems and services and the linkages between them, including cross-sectoral service referrals and coordination to ensure quality service delivery for OVC and their households.

Job Summary:

The SPO-MEAL will provide day to day technical support to a range of project design and implementation issues for MWENDO, in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. S/he will be responsible for the day-to-day tracking and reporting of activities under the project for the MEAL components assigned including Local Implementing Partners (LIPs). His/her MEAL knowledge and support will ensure systems are in place to measure the project’s impact and progress, and that data is readily available to be used as a foundation for programmatic adjustments and evidence-based decision-making.

Job Responsibilities:

• Work closely with the M&E Specialist to support the development and contribute to the implementation of project’s MEAL system and practices that effectively engage partners, donors, and other stakeholders and are compliant with agency and donor MEAL requirements.
• Supervise quality data collection and data management activities according to the project MEAL operating manual
• Review data input into project databases for quality
• Communicate key project information and results with community members and colleagues
• Lead/ contribute to simple analyses and reflective review discussions and workshops on ongoing project interventions and monitoring data to contribute field-based insights to project discussions
• Support field-level implementation of community feedback mechanisms under the guidance of M&E Specialist or program staff
• Build capacity of CRS project and partner staff on MEAL technical activities.
• Support the documentation of lessons learned and best practices to contribute to learning as informed by project learning agenda.
• In consultation with the M&E Specialist, actively contribute to the recruitment process through participation in development of Job descriptions and other selection processes for all new MEAL Officers Effectively manage talent, supervise and mentor direct reports. and complete their performance management.
• Foster respectful relationships with community members and stakeholders including LIPs and DCS and promote honesty and integrity between CRS and partner staff in MEAL work.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in demography, sociology, public health, statistics or any other MEAL-related field. A relevant master’s degree would be an added advantage
• Minimum of five years of relevant work experience in MEAL, ideally with an international NGO.
• Knowledge of technical principles and concepts in MEAL.
• Experience in the use of key qualitative and quantitative evaluation tools and techniques.
• Experience in implementation of program studies and evaluation and use of findings to support adaptive management.
• Experience and skills in partner relationship management and development project support is a plus.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.
• Experience in using data analysis software is preferred (SPSS, STATA, EpiInfo, Nutrisurvey).
• Experience in using mobile-data collection and management software (e.g ODK, Commcare,I-form builder, Kobo)

MEAL Competencies

• Demonstrates solid knowledge and ability, and can apply the Monitoring competency, with minimal or no guidance, in the full range of typical situations. Would require guidance to handle novel or more complex situations.
• Demonstrates basic knowledge and ability and, with guidance, can apply MEAL in Design, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning, Analysis & Critical Thinking, ICT for MEAL, and MEAL in Management competencies in common situations that present limited difficulties.

Personal Skills

• Ability to learn, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members
• Presentation, facilitation, training, and mentoring skills
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented

Required/Desired Foreign Language

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, able to write reports

Travel Required

Up to/Approximately 40% of time

Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory: Project MEAL Officers, possible supervision of external enumerators and data clerks

Internal: Technical Advisors, Project Officers, Other CP MEAL and M&E staff

External: Community members, partner staff, other local stakeholders, MEAL staff from other peer agencies

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.