About CRS
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. CRSโ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.
CRS launched its work in Ghana in 1958 and currently has robust programming in Agriculture and Livelihoods, Health, WASH, Migration, Youth Development and Peace Building, Gender and financial inclusion. CRS is implementing several projects across these core program areas to address issues of poverty and in Justice
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Job Summary:ย
As a lead for the Regreening Africa project MEAL, you will facilitate the achievement of project objectives through coordinating and reporting on all project activities and providing technical guidance and advice to staff and implementing partner(s) advancing Catholic Relief Servicesโ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your coordination and relationship management skills will ensure that the Regreening Africa project applies best practices and constantly work towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve. Your monitoring and evaluation skills will ensure that the partners in the region for which you are responsible apply best data quality practices and constantly work towards improving the impact of beneficiaries for whom we serve.ย This position will report to the Program Director for Agriculture, Livelihoods and Landscapes and will be based in Tamale, Ghana, with frequent travel to Yendi and the Mion District.
Regreening Africa โ Phase II builds on concrete and inexpensive tools and approaches to restore and regreen land developed under โRegreening Africa โ Phase Iโ. The Action will further scale existing interventions and spread the successful approach across the Project interventions areas. Phase II will establish strong linkages and evidence-based scaling strategies for landscape restoration to enhance climate change resilience in both the countries and the region at large. This will include a broad dissemination of regreening as a climate adaptation and mitigation strategy, including assessing and understanding the potential of regreening to sequester carbon.ย
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
Project MEAL System Designย
Organize and lead the implementation of all assigned project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices. Work with the Program Director for Agriculture, Livelihoods and Landscapes and the MEAL Coordinator of the Country Program to design the projectโs MEAL system, including drafting results framework, Proframe, accompanying MEAL narrative, and operating manuals Ensure learning properly accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle. Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and guiding partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences.ย Analyze implementation challenges and report any inconsistencies and/or gaps to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.ย Coordinate and oversee working relationships with all local project stakeholders and serve as the liaison between them and the project team to mobilize local actors and promote project activities and impact. Supervise and perform ad-hoc inspections of various processes and resources at project sites to ensure timely project activities implementation and adherence to established process standards and procedures. Ensure proper tracking of resource use for project activities through periodic budget reviews and follow-up with and assistance to implementing partner. Support and coordinate capacity building and technical support activities to ensure assigned project activities are implemented per project guidelines and standards. Coordinate provision of any logistical and administrative support to staff and partners. Ensure project documentation for assigned activities is complete with all required documents and is filed per agency and donor requirements.ย Assist with preparation of trends analysis reports andย documentation ofย case studies and promising practices.ยProject Monitoringย
In coordination with the Program Director for Agriculture, Livelihoods and Landscapes, lead all project level data collection exercises. Conduct quarterly field visits to monitor the implementation of project activities. Initiate annual data quality assessments for the project.ย Validate all collected data, to ensure it is accurate and of the highest quality. Analyse data collected using available ICT4D tools and software (I-form builder, CommCare, etc.) Ensure all data is recorded in relevant project databases in a timely and accurate manner. Initiate thinking on innovative ways to collect and present data using ICT4D.Project Evaluationsย
Support the consortium partners and the PMU for data collection for baseline, midline and endline values for the project as outlined in MEAL Policies and Procedures.ย Lead the project team to use the Regreening Africa App for periodic monitoring of project indicators.ย Initiate terms of reference for all required evaluations. Lead efforts to coordinate final evaluation or after-action review as outlined in MEAL Policies and Procedures. Lead organization of participatory events with partners and beneficiaries to reflect on project monitoring data, identify learning and recommendations as a part of all evaluations and reviews. Lead all aspects of realizing project studies and evaluations, which includes but is not limited to planning and making logistical arrangements for field research, overseeing sampling strategies, attending research and tool training workshops, leading quantitative, qualitative, and participatory data collection efforts in the field, supervising the execution of field studies and ensuring the reliability and validity of data collected therein.Accountabilityย
Adopt best practices for including beneficiary input into all major monitoring, evaluation and learning activities. Support the country program MEAL Coordinator to set-up project feedback, complaint, response mechanism system for project, and assist with regular monitoring.ยReporting and Learning for Improving Program Qualityย
Draft documentation of results and other evaluation findings to key stakeholders, as requested. Highlight areas of concern in project quality as shown in data analysis. Assist in knowledge management initiatives, including leading in the completion of past performance reference for the project and maintaining an updated Gateway system.ย Ensure project documentation of activities is complete with all required documents and is filed per agency and donor requirements. Assist with preparation of trends analysis reports and documentation of case studies and promising practices. Prepare monthly project flashpoints.ยOtherย
Review data collection systems as implemented by partners, to ensure rigor and appropriateness of practices. Lead formal training events for partner MEAL staff, to enhance their capacity for sound MEAL implementation. Accompany and mentor partners after MEAL trainings, to ensure knowledge retention and address concerns which may emerge.ย Required Languages - Proficient in English Language. Other local languages of the project localities such as Dagbani, Likpakpaln, Twi and/or Bassari is preferred
Travelย - Must be willing and able to travel up to 50%.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilitiesย
Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilitiesPreferred Qualifications
Experience working with partners, participatory action planning and community engagement. Staff supervision experience a plus. Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data. Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Experience using statistical analytical software/tools, SPSS, MS Windows, and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).ยย
Supervisory Responsibilities: None
Key Working Relationships:ย
Internal:ย Country Representative, Head of Programming, Business Development Specialist, Finance Manager, Sector Engagement and Local Leadership Advisor, Risk and Compliance Officer, Agriculture, Livelihoods and Landscapes Program Director, AG SPOs, POs, Gender and Protection and Youth Manager.ย
External:ย District Assemblies, Decentralized relevant state departments, ministries and agencies, Catholic Diocesan Church Partners and Caritas Ghana, I/NGO partners, Government partners, technical partners, consultants, research and academic institutions, local government units
***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.ย CRSโ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.ย
Disclaimer:ย This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.ย
CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree in Monitoring and Evaluation,ย agriculture, development studies or social sciences required. Masterโs degree in agriculture (Economics, Extension, Agribusiness), Statistics or in the social sciences would be a plus.ย Minimum of 5 years of work experience inย project support,ย ideally in the field of Monitoring Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) and for an NGO. Additional experience may substitute for some education.ย Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
Personal Accountability โ Consistently takes responsibility for oneโs own actions.ย Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.ย Is considered honest. Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions. Collaborates with Others โ Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams. Open to Learn โ Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.Agency Leadership Competencies:
Lead Change โ Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation. Develops and Recognizes Others โ Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance. Strategic Mindset โ Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.What we offer
CRS offers U.S. based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan.ย Benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the candidate will perform the role.ย CRSยด work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States.ย Catholic Relief Servicesย works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. ย Catholic Relief Servicesโย relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.ย 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. CRSโ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.
CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.ย The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRSยด Code of Conduct.
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.
Disclaimer:ย This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.ย
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
General Requirements
CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidateโs ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.ย ย All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.
CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.