Job Summary:
As a Senior Project Officer MEAL for the Advancing Cross-border Resilience and Opportunities for Safety and Security (ACROSS) ย Project team, you will facilitate the achievement of project objectives through coordinating and reporting on all project MEAL activities and providing MEAL-related 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 ACROSS project applies best practices in MEAL and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
Organize and lead the 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. This includes coordinating MEAL-related logistical and administrative support to staff and partners.ย Ensure learning properly accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle. Integrate adaptive learning and operations research practices to ensure documentation of lessons learned and utilization of best practices. Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and guiding partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences. Analyze implementation challenges and report any inconsistencies and gaps to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. Lead the roll-out and implementation of the projectโs feedback, complaint, and response mechanism (FCRM). Support actively seeking and responding to feedback from all members of targeted communities and other stakeholders as defined by the FCRM. ย Implement monitoring activities and processes according to the projectโs Detailed Implementation Plan, MEAL system and donor requirements. Ensure the quality of monitoring data through annual data quality assessments. ย Coordinate and oversee MEAL-related 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. Identify and respond to key stakeholdersโ information needs in MEAL activities, using a range of appropriate communication methods. This will also include supervising and performing ad hoc inspections of various MEAL processes and resources at project sites to ensure timely project activities implementation and adherence to established process standards and procedures.ย Support and coordinate MEAL capacity building and technical support activities to ensure assigned project MEAL activities are implemented by project guidelines and standards. Optimize partner participation and capacity development in the implementation of MEAL systems.ย Develop a MEAL system outlining indicators, tools, data sources, data flow, procedures, staffing, and statistical procedures required to monitor implementation and assure quality project interventions. Ensure timely, project documentation for assigned MEAL activities is complete with all required documents and is filed according to agency and donor requirements. Assist with the preparation of trends analysis reports and documentation of case studies and promising practices. When required, provide accurate data and information to meet agency (Global and Country Program) information needs and other initiatives. Provide leadership and direction on M&E activities to ensure technical and financial integrity to achieve the projectโs goal, objectives and targets. Lead the design, development and implementation of project monitoring and evaluation framework, indicators and tools related to data management, collection, aggregation and data quality assessment and QA/QI to guide all activities Make regular visits to project and partners sites to oversee and ensure the efficient implementation of M&E activities Undertake regular verification monitoring of ongoing program implementation in close coordination with the Program Managers Regular update of reporting formats to capture key results, challenges, lessons, success stories and opportunities Assist in the formulation of recommendations for improving implementation performance including direct training and mentoring at program and partner staff. Ensure that project M&E system and reporting are enhanced through innovative approach Facilitate and participate in the periodic review of program implementation and progress towards achieving results and adjustment of expected results Assist in the formulation of recommendations for improving implementation performance including direct training and mentoring at program and partner staff. Perform any additional duties as required to support the successful implementation of project activities.ย
Required Languages - Fluency (written and spoken) English, Hausa and other local language preferred.
Location: Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State
Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 75 %.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), ability to portray complex data sets in easy-to-understand formats, including visualizations.ย Demonstrated ability to perform complex data analytics utilizing software such as Microsoft Excel, STATA, Tableau, PowerBI, and/or other analytic software. Knowledge of technical principles and concepts in development projects and infrastructure. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure a proper cross-sectoral approach. Knowledge of capacity-strengthening best practices. Experience with program monitoring and evaluation and analysis. Strong relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings. Good strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment Good technical writing skills. Proactive, resourceful and results oriented. Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.ย Attention to details, accuracy, and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.ย 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.ย Able to work independently, take initiative and be committed with few guidance in the implementation of directions.ย Ability to maintain confidentiality and privacy. Experience with Accountability and feedback systemsย Flexibility to work both in a team and independently. Cultural sensitivity, patience and flexibility.ย
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Preferred Qualifications
Master's degree in information and technology management or Statistics/Mathematics, Computer Science, project management, International Relations or in the field of MEAL would be a plus.ย Experience working with partners, participatory action planning and community engagement.ย Good technical knowledge and experience in managing MEAL in a Resilience, Developmental or Emergency context.ย 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 CommCare and Microsoft Power BI will be added advantages.ย ย Strong group process design and facilitation skills, including developing and leading workshops.ย Demonstrated commitment to gender-responsive programming.ย Staff supervision experience a plusย
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Supervisory Responsibilities: None
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Key Working Relationships:
Internal: Program Manager II, MEAL Coordinator, ACROSS Component leads, Other MEAL Officers, ICT4D Specialist, Operations Staff.ย
External: Local partners, enumerators, external consultants, and other key stakeholdersย
Basic Qualifications
Bachelorโs degree or equivalent in Statistics, Data science, Public Health, Global Health Research, or related field required. Minimum of 5-6 yearsโ relevant work experience with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with minimum of 4 years in MEAL roles relevant to field-based experience in development, social services and infrastructure development monitoring.ย Additional experience may substitute for some education. Proven experience in monitoring and evaluation of light to moderately complex projects Demonstrated commitment to improving gender equality and gender responsiveness in programming and operations. Experience with participatory methods and partnerships required. Demonstrated capacity and experience with institutional strengthening of local civil society and government agencies.ย
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.