Project Officer - Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) at Catholic Relief Services

Catholic Relief Services 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 are accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Project Officer - Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)

Location: Yola, Adamawa
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Summary

• Under the direction supervision of Program Manager II and as a member of the team MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning), the MEAL Officer will be responsible for all MEAL-related activities including, but not limited to monitoring progress on project indicators, elaboration of M&E tools, conducting needs/market/post-activity assessments, beneficiary database management, recalibration of beneficiary targeting at project mid-point, development and implementation of accountability mechanism as well as the compilation of reports.
• The MEAL officer will be based in Yola, Adamawa state with frequent trips to the project area and will report to the Program Manager II but will also work closely with the STaR Project MEAL Manager for technical support.

Roles and Key Responsibilities
In general, the responsibilities of the MEAL officer are the following:

• Support the coordination and implementation of all assigned project MEAL activities as outlined in the Detailed Implementation Plan in line with CRS program quality principles, standards and MEAL policies, procedures, and practices; donor MEAL requirements; and industry good practices.
• Monitor and report any MEAL-related challenges and gaps identified to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. Assist partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences.
• Collaborate with local partner(s) to prepare MEAL-related aspects of reports per the established reporting schedule.
• Collect information on staff MEAL capacity needs and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and monitor MEAL capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact.
• Complete project documentation for assigned MEAL activities. Assist with identifying information for case studies and reports on promising practices.
• Support program learning and decision-making by posing thoughtful questions, engaging with project data, reflecting upon, and sharing with project management the information gathered from community members and partners.

This means more precisely but not limited to:

• Track the project performances vs. the target set for all project indicators and support the MEAL Manager to regularly update the Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT) and Compile yearly Participants and services delivery and Global agency results data. (Create and manage databases to ensure the traceability of the project beneficiaries and assistance provided and make available separate dis-aggregated file(s) by sex, status, and age).
• Quarterly, ensure partner and head of Components report on project activities and include proof of data/set of participants and proof of activities achieved.
• Organize quarterly field visits to conduct routine data quality assurance checks on data collected/reported by the project’s stakeholders, observe anticipated and unanticipated changes and communicate with community members on their feedback and/or complaints.
• Review, clean and analyze all project data, including but not limited to Participants’ registration, baseline study, onsite monitoring, post-activity monitoring, Midterm evaluation and final evaluation.
• Follow up on and review performance indicators that are under performing, call attention to and suggest to the Project Manager and MEAL manager any additional actions to be taken to improve performance.
• Elaborate, review, and test all MEAL tools and conduct post-activity monitoring surveys, a household-level baseline study, Midterm assessment and the Endline study promptly and as per donor’s & CRS’ policies.
• Promote the use of Information Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) solutions throughout the project including for the registration of beneficiaries, the registration and payment of traders/vendors, the monitoring of the project activities, the post-distribution household surveys, the post-distribution market surveys, the baseline study, the mid-term and final evaluations.
• Lead the roll-out and implementation of the project’s feedback and response mechanism (FRM) and support actively seeking and responding to feedback from all members of targeted communities and other stakeholders as defined by the Feedback and Response Mechanism.
• Train enumerators and daily workers on data collection tools and on the utilization of ICT4D tools (iPads and/or Android devices) and supervise all data collection exercises. In coordination with the MEAL Manager and ICT4D Specialist, maintain the project’s stock of IT equipment (including vendor phones, program phones, solar panels, Bluetooth printers, etc.).
• Collect and share lessons learned, best practices, success stories and innovations stemming from program implementation via routine monitoring activities, field visits, quarterly ‘’reflection meetings’’ and learning-action discussions’’ sessions.
• In liaison with the Protection and Safeguarding focal person, collect data on protection and safeguarding issues and report them for action.

Qualifications
Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s in Information and Technology Management or Statistics / Mathematics, Computer Science or Project Management or any other relevant equivalent degree.
• At least 3 years of full-time experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning, preferably with an international NGO.

Required Languages:

• English and Hausa languages are required. Proficiency in other local languages will be an added advantage.

Travel:

• Must be willing and able to travel up to 40%.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent interpersonal skills: must be able to interact in a mature, professional, and friendly manner with local and international colleagues of differing religious and cultural backgrounds.
• Able to work independently, take initiative and be committed with few guidance in the implementation of received directions.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and privacy.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure, organize and prioritize a variety of initiatives.
• Demonstrated commitment to gender-responsive and safe/dignified programming.
• Attention to details, accuracy, and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
• Proactive, results- and customer-oriented.
• Understanding of NGOs’ and other entities responsibility to protect beneficiaries from sexual exploitation and abuse.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Good technical knowledge and experience in managing MEAL in a Resilience, Developmental or Emergency context.
• Demonstrated commitment to gender-responsive programming.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, oral, and written communication skills.
• Team-oriented and strong interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated experience in database management and appropriateness of quantitative statistical management programs including Microsoft Access, SPSS, EPI-INFO, STATA, and Microsoft Excel. Familiarity with GIS and GPS technology and Knowledge of Microsoft Power BI will be added advantages.
• Demonstrable experience, high degree of competency and comfort working with Information and Communication Technologies (software and hardware).
• Strong group process design and facilitation skills, including developing and leading workshops.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Data collectors.

Key Working Relationships:

• Internal: STaR MEAL Manager, Program Manager II, MEAL Coordinator, STaR Component leads, Other MEAL Officers, ICT4D Specialist, Operations Staff.
• External: Local partners, enumerators, external consultants, and other key stakeholders.

Safeguarding:

• CRS is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all people who interact with our work. We uphold the highest standards of safeguarding and expect all staff and partners to respect and protect the dignity and rights of everyone from any form of harm, abuse, harassment, or exploitation.
• All staff are required to follow CRS’s safeguarding policies and procedures and to complete mandatory safeguarding e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

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.

***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.

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

Note

• Female applicants are highly encouraged to apply
• Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
• 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 safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.
• CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Application Deadline 15th February, 2024.