• Job Description

  Req#: 3001211

  About CRS

  Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. We alleviate suffering and provide assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, belief or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

  Job Summary:

  CRS is implementing the Latter-day Saint Charities (LDSC) funded Holistic Opportunities for Positive Engagement in Maternal and Child Health (HOPE-MCH) Project which puts child wellbeing at the center and seeks to envelop children with the support and care they need from their families, communities, clinics, and health system to survive and thrive.

  You will support Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) programming in the Country Program (CP) for HOPE-MCH, designing and implementing project MEAL to advance Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your MEAL-related management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming.

  Roles and Key Responsibilities:

  Project MEAL System Design

  • Work with Project Manager for the HOPE-MCH and the MEAL Coordinator of the Country Program to design the project’s MEAL system, including drafting results framework, Proframe, accompanying MEAL narrative, and operating manuals,
  • Lead the development and standardization of forms and tools to collect data for project monitoring indicators, results, effects and impacts (Simple Measurement of Indicators for Learning and Evidence-based Reporting, also known as SMILER) to comply with donor and CRS standards.
  • Promote the use of ICT4D and assist in developing digital data collection systems.
  • Ensure that all project monitoring arrangements comply with project and donor agreements.

  Project Monitoring

  • In coordination with the HOPE-MCH Project Manager, lead all project level data collection exercises.
  • Conduct quarterly field visits to monitor the implementation of project activities.
  • Lead annual project level beneficiary and service delivery indicator (BSDI) data according to agency standards, definitions, and processes.
  • Initiate annual data quality assessments for the project.
  • Validate all collected data, to ensure it is accurate and of the highest quality.
  • Analyze data collected using available ICT4D tools and software (CommCare, PowerBI, 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 Evaluations

  • Support the consortium partners and the Project Management Unit (PMU) for data collection for baseline, midline and endline values for the project as outlined in MEAL Policies and Procedures.
  • 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

  Budgeting

  • Draft budget for all project-level MEAL activities and support budgeting during design phase of proposal development

  Accountability

  • Adopt best practices for including beneficiary input into all major monitoring, evaluation and learning activities.
  • Support country program MEAL Coordinator to set-up project feedback, complaint, response mechanism system for project, and assist with regular monitoring.

  Reporting and Learning for Improving Program Quality

  • 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.
  • 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.

  Other

  • 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.
  • Facilitate the work of counterparts assigned to other projects, or complete assessments related to business development, to bolster in house MEAL technical support to all CRS projects and programs.

  Required Languages -English

  Travel - include percentage of required travel, if applicable. Could be stated as Must be willing and able to travel up to 40%.

  Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • 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.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports
  • Good presentation and facilitation skills
  • Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented

  Preferred Qualifications

  • MEAL-related project management experience in health is highly desirable.
  • Experience engaging with partner organizations.
  • Experience contributing to the development of technical proposals.
  • MEAL skills and experience preferred.
  • Experience using statistical tools for data collection and analysis (Stata, Power bi, CAPI, CommCare etc.)
  • Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

  Supervisory Responsibilities: None

  Key Working Relationships:

  Internal: Health Program Director, HOPE-MCH Project Manager, Technical Advisors, CP MEAL Manager and other line specialists

  External: Ghana Health Service, National Ambulance Service, District Assemblies, Local Leaders/Chiefs, Regional/District Director of Health Service

  Qualifications

  Basic Qualifications

  • Master's Degree in statistics, M&E, International Development, International Relations or in other field of MEAL required.
  • Minimum of 5 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing light to moderately complex projects required, preferably with an international NGO.
  • Additional experience may substitute for some education.

  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

  MEAL Competencies (for CRS MEAL Program Staff)

  Each staff member in this position is expected to have solid knowledge and ability and can apply the following competencies with minimal or no guidance, in the full range of typical situations.

  • MEAL in Design
  • Monitoring
  • Evaluation
  • Accountability
  • Learning
  • Analysis and Critical Thinking
  • ICT4MEAL
  • Management in MEAL

  ***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.

  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.

  CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Female candidates/Persons Living With Disability meeting position requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.

• About the company

  Catholic Relief Services is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States.

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