Emergency MEAL Coordinator at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Emergency MEAL Coordinator PM II

Job ID: 2100003U
Location: CARO-NG-Borno
Shift: Standard
Schedule: Regular
Job Type: Full-time
Job: Program Management
Travel: Yes, 25 % of the Time

Project Background and Job Summary
Now in its 11th year, the Lake Chad Basin crisis has been estimated to affect 10.7 million people in one of the world's poorest, most drought-prone regions. As of January 2018, an estimated 5.2 million people are in dire need of emergency food assistance in Northeast Nigeria. Despite a scale up in humanitarian assistance, significant gaps remain, as thousands of people affected by the conflict have not been reached with adequate humanitarian support. Communities are in immediate need of food, nutrition, WASH, emergency shelter, and NFIs to save lives and restore dignity. Agriculture and livelihood support remain key as the ongoing humanitarian response transitions to support early recovery and resilience. Social Cohesion forms an integral part of the overall response.

In order to effectively respond to the crisis, CRS' Northeast Nigeria emergency and early recovery program provides a holistic support package including food assistance, nutrition, NFI, WASH, shelter, agriculture, livelihoods, and social cohesion for both IDPs and host families. Where possible, CRS seeks to maximize project impact, efficiency and effectiveness by adopting market-based approaches through e-vouchers and empowering targeted communities through participatory approaches.

The primary roles for Emergency MEAL Coordinator include providing technical and field level support to improving emergency MEAL and information management systems in CRS’ emergency responses in Northeast Nigeria.  

Roles and Key Responsibilities
Monitoring & Evaluation:

• Champion and maintain a robust MEAL system for emergency response where MEAL related documents, reports and tools including ICT4D are organized, up-to-date and accessible.
• Lead and ensure that all emergency and early recovery projects are in compliance with CRS’ MEAL Policies and Procedures, CRS’ project management standards as they relate to MEAL.
• Ensure that donor’s MEAL and reporting requirements are adequately incorporated in projects’ M&E plans.
• Develop and continually update a MEAL operation manual in line with SMILER (Simple Measurement of Indicators for Learning and Evidence-based Reporting) approach for emergency and early recovery projects.
• Ensure the consistency of tools, indicators and methodologies for data management and analysis across projects as appropriate.
• Lead the implementation of data quality controls and annual data quality assessments to ensure the integrity of project data.
• Work closely with emergency MEAL team, Abuja-based MEAL Coordinator, ICT staff and emergency program staff to incorporate and maximize the value and utility of ICT4D initiatives, including ICT4D software, license management and necessary technical support when needed
• Conduct field monitoring visits events frequently with project teams and implementing partners. Document, summarize and report monitoring findings for program quality and decision-making purposes on regular basis.
• Conduct, document and report Post Distribution Monitoring, Real Time Evaluations and On-Site Monitoring using scientific methodologies oriented to emergency context including sampling and analysis.
• Monitor Gateway and coordinate staff for regular updates on critical and time-bound project-specific information including annual BSDI updates for all emergency projects.
• Coordinate the implementation of program assessments and evaluations including baseline, annual, and end-line assessments to recognize results of emergency response.
• Coordinate and lead needs assessments that may be required to inform new or adapted programming.
• Collaborate with the program team and Emergency Coordinator to communicate assessment findings to different stakeholders, tailored to the needs of various audiences.
• Ensure MEAL systems allow for timely and quality reporting both internally and externally and for timely decision making.

Learning:

• Coordinate and facilitate After Action Review and reflection events for learning with Project Management and Emergency Coordinator.
• Coordinate and conduct annual MEAL self-assessment of emergency response with Projects and emergency response leads.
• Support the elaboration of success stories and case studies – modify as needed based on intended audience.
• Promote learning and assist response team on documenting and implementing lessons learned and good practices.

Accountability:

• Lead the development and implementation of feedback and response channels to reflect the preferences of community members and beneficiaries.
• Coordinate and support emergency response for accountability specific requirements including accountability needs for distributions interventions
• Support programming staff to incorporate participatory methods into community level M&E systems and tools.
• Ensure that beneficiary feedback is adequately analyzed and documented.
• Ensure that all sensitive and not sensitive cases are channeled (including documentation) according to the framework with a high level of confidentiality and neutrality
• Coordinate with Gender and Protection Focal Persons for accountability related cases that involves gender and protection factors
• Orient program staff and partners on the basic principles and practices of beneficiary accountability.
• Guide project managers to ensure that they consult with male and female beneficiaries in one or more communities to define indicators for project success.

Capacity Building and Supervision:

• Train and provide technical supervision to MEAL and ICT4D leads.
• Engage direct reports regarding their development plans, determine their professional aspirations, and manage / coach them towards development objectives.
• Provide high-quality mentoring and coaching of staff and partners.
• Address poor performance promptly and constructively, ensuring fair treatment of staff by identifying, documenting and providing adequate support to address performance and behavioral issues.
• Promote a work culture in line with CRS values: promotion of international and national talents, collaboration, and uniform adherence to CRS programming principles.

Qualifications
Basic Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in a field related to International Development, Research Or Social Sciences or equivalent relevant experience and Bachelor's degree
• Minimum of 3-5 years of work experience in a management position involving MEAL responsibilities with an international NGO
• Strong knowledge of principles and current approaches to MEAL of development programs using both quantitative and qualitative methods, especially those of USAID
• Experience contributing to the development of technical proposals
• Supervisory experience and team building skills
• Flexibility to work both in a team and independently
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Power BI, Web Conferencing Applications, ICT4D software and devices, and information management systems.
• Experience living and working, preferably in an emergency context
• Willingness to be based in rural North-East Nigeria and travel to field locations
• Familiarity with Red Rose One System and / or CommCare would be an added advantage
• Knowledge with beneficiary accountability mechanisms and ability to implement these
• Proficiency in database development / management, and skills in analyzing, interpreting, and communicating data and information to various stakeholders
• Strong experience in conducting assessments and surveys
• Experience with facilitation, capacity strengthening and partnership building, with the capacity to empower staff through opportunities for growth & development

Personal Skills:

• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with culturally diverse groups.
• Excellent planning and organization skills
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented
• Cultural sensitivity, patience and flexibility
• Demonstrated personal accountability and driven to serve others.
• Required / Desired Foreign Language: English fluency, including excellent oral and written skills, required.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions independently
• Excellent self-motivation skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports

Key Working Relationships:

• Supervisory: Reports to Emergency Coordinator with support from the CRS Nigeria MEAL Coordinator (Abuja-based). Technical supervision of MEAL managers.
• Internal: Emergency program team, in particular WASH, Shelter, Livelihoods, Cash and Food Program Managers; Admin and Finance Managers, CRS Nigeria MEAL Coordinator (Abuja-based), CR, DCR Operations, Program Quality Manager.
• External: International and local implementing partners, including Caritas; Government of Nigeria; UN agencies; USAID; program volunteers; program beneficiaries.

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

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Note

• Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
• Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
• Note:  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside their home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical examination.
• CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation

Application Deadline  2nd March, 2021.