Job Title: Senior Project Officer-MEAL/ICT4D

Reports to:  Program Manager – MEAL

Band: 8

Job Summary

As a monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) senior project officer for the Country Program 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 Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your coordination and relationship management skills will ensure that the project for which you are responsible applies best practices in MEAL and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

Responsibilities

Device Management

• Ongoing support of devices to identify required improvements in the system and test when appropriate
• Device Management: Liaise with IT and procurement departments to ensure devices are purchased, registered, updated, allocated and stored properly, warranted and fixed when damaged.

Digitization of Monitoring and Survey Tools

• Manage form licenses, user profiles, allocation and identify any changes and needs.
• Provide assistance to country program staff in digitizing different survey tools by using different CRS standardized platforms; Provide protocol for data audit to program managers and ensure it is conducted and documented properly.
• Provide suggestions, feedback and corrections by standardizing different tools in relation to global library, database.
• Assist CRS MEAL and partner Staff in digitization and designing of different monitoring tools.

Database

• Serve as tech lead for the CP hotline establishment and implementation.
• Ensure data collection is carried out and quality data obtained in to system on time.
• Contribute to the MEAL team’s reporting effort periodically, according to the team and partners interest.
• Regularly revise work plans and project orientation with the ICT4D TA.
• Utilize appropriate Information Communication Technology for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning tools to track program performance innovatively using dashboard, regular data analysis, and undertake regular data quality assessments.
• Design custom reports and dashboards for different project activities to show the progress of the activities as well as the completed once; Ongoing support of database to identify and report glitches.

Other MEAL activities

Support ESA MEAL manager in:

• Managing the implementation of ESA MEAL system, 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.
• Ensuring 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. Analyze implementation challenges and report any inconsistencies and gaps to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
• Leading the roll-out and implementation of the project’s feedback and response mechanism (FRM). Support actively seeking and responding to feedback from all members of targeted communities and other stakeholders as defined by the FRM.
• Implementing monitoring activities and processes according to the project’s Detailed Implementation Plan and MEAL system. Ensure the quality of monitoring data through annual data quality assessments.
• 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 stakeholders’ information needs in MEAL activities, using a range of appropriate communication methods.
• Supervise and perform 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. Ensure proper tracking of resource use for project MEAL activities through periodic budget reviews and follow-up with and assistance to implementing partner.
• Support and coordinate MEAL capacity building and technical support activities to ensure assigned project MEAL activities are implemented per project guidelines and standards. Optimize partner participation and capacity development in the implementation of MEAL systems.
• Coordinate provision of any MEAL-related logistical and administrative support to staff and partners.
• Ensure timely, project documentation for assigned MEAL 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.
• Collaborate with ICT4D team for MEAL activities
• Support the country program with technical requests

About You

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

• MA/MSC degree or BA/BSC degree in Computer Science/Data base management, statistics and related field of study with 3 years relevant experience for MA/MSC or 5 years’ relevant experience for BA/BSC degree
• Knowledge of technical principles and concepts in ICT4D. General knowledge of other related disciplines like Statistics and humanity science to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Minimum of 6 years of work experience in MEAL project activities, MIS, Research.  NGO experience in NGO/s is preferred.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Experience using MS Windows, MS Office (Excel, Word, Power point), Statistical Software like SPSS, STATA, EPI Info…
• Experience in CommCare, Kobotool box and other digital data collection tools.
• Experience in working with relational database systems such as SQL, PostgreSQL, MSSQL or Oracle and a good working knowledge of SQL.
• Demonstrated experience in development and administration of a database.
• Proficiency in using MS PowerBI and other visualization software is an added advantage.
• MIS Experience

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• 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 responsibilities
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work successfully in multi-cultural environment

Required Languages

• English, Amharic, and one other local language is preferrable.

Travel

• Must be willing and able to travel up to 60 % of the time.

Personal Skills 

• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented

Supervisory Responsibilities

None

Key Working Relationships 

Internal: ESA COP, ESA technical Director and Policy Leads, ESA Seed System Advisor, ESA Animal feed and nutrition Advisor, ESA Market System Advisor, CP MEAL Program Manager, MEAL and Program Officers, Program Mangers, Regional RTA, MEAL Working Group

External: Partners, Donors, Peer Organization, Consultants 

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and are used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually look for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Required Skills

• Analytical skills
• Adaptability