Technical Associate II MEAL Officer at Catholic Relief Services

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. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

At the invitation of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), CRS commenced its operations in Malawi in 1997 and with offices in Lilongwe and a sub office in Blantyre.  Main areas of focus include Food Security, Health and Nutrition, HIV/AIDS prevention and Justice and Peace Building.

The role aims to provide monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) support to CRS operations in order to ensure that projects and humanitarian responses are implemented in line with CRS MEAL Policies and Procedures (MPP) and thus ensuring the achievement of CRS Mission.

Primary Responsibilities

The MEAL Officer provides technical and strategic support to CRS/Malawi project managers and CRS partners in establishing and operationalizing effective MEAL systems and supports the development of integrated MEAL systems for CRS/Malawi and Partners implementing humanitarian response and projects. S/he works closely with the MEAL Coordinator and Project Managers in conducting assessments, real time evaluations, after action reviews and collection of monitoring data for projects e.g. post emergency assessments and market assessments, baselines, midterm-evaluations, operations research studies and innovating and application of ICTs in MEAL and programming in general. The position works with the project managers to ensure compliance to MEAL Policies and Procedures for excellency and quality reporting as well as documentation of project achievements, success stories etc. The officer promotes data utilization by periodically producing tailor made data visualizations and dashboards for specific data users. The officer also ensures integration of ICTs in MEAL and programming in order to improve efficiency and strengthen evidence-based reporting.

Project Design and Development

• Develop MEAL systems and tools in consultation with Project Managers, CP MEAL Coordinator and CRS partners based on project management information needs, CRS/Malawi information needs and community information needs.

• Keep abreast of and serve as a resource person for MEAL Policies and Procedures and best practices and with emphasis of developments and innovations in use of ICTs in programming.
• Work with project management teams to match results frameworks and indicators to CRS Malawi’s Strategic Plan, CRS/CP wide indicators and donor required indicators.

Program Quality, Monitoring and Evaluation

• Review existing project MEAL plans, make necessary updates in consultation with the Project manager, MEAL Coordinator and partners
• Ensure ICT needs and ICT4D plans are incorporated in humanitarian projects in consultation with MEAL Coordinator and Program Mangers
• Monitor MEAL systems functionality for on-going humanitarian programs with emphasis on use and application of ICTs: analyze strengths and weaknesses in relation to objectives with an aim to improve program quality and MEAL Policies and Procedures compliance
• Develop electronic data management systems in line with prevailing agency standards and practices in data management
• Innovate and develop ICT solutions in MEAL and programming in liaison with MEAL Coordinator, Program Managers and other stakeholders
• Develop MEAL tools and guidelines and promote the use of these references
• Facilitate planning and participate in the implementation of project surveys, evaluations and other data collection and analysis.
• Guide management, analysis and reporting of data.
• Develop and maintain management information systems with effective tools and systems for timely flow of information from field/partners to CRS offices.
• Provide support to Project Managers on the compilation of monitoring reports to external donors.

Other Functions

• Assist humanitarian program/project managers/officers with reports, success stories, publications or other information for public outreach and CRS Visibility.
• Participate in efforts to strengthen institutional capacity of partners in MEAL skills.
• Assist with research studies or other initiatives involving CRS Malawi or its partners

Preferred Qualifications

· Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, knowledge-sharing networks

Required Languages – English

Travel – include percentage of required travel, if applicable. Could be stated as Must be willing and able to travel up to 50 %.

Supervisory Responsibilities: none

Key Working Relationships

Internal – CRS Malawi MEAL Officers, Humanitarian Program Managers, Humanitarian Project Officers, Head of Programs, Partner Safeguarding Officer, SARO/HQ Technical Advisors for emergency programming and MEAL, SARO ICT Solutions Architect, CRS MEAL resource persons in other country programs.

External – Implementing partners; Local Government officials and structures; Community structure and beneficiary households and other NGOs.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience

• At least Bachelor’s degree in social sciences with emphasis in rural development, agriculture economics, public health, computer sciences, statistics or a development related-fields.
• At least three years of professional experience implementing MEAL for programs related to emergency response programming and/or DRR. Experience with USAID supported emergency programs is an added advantage
• Demonstrated skills in MEAL design with previous experience in application of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
• Experience in designing multi-sector integrated computer databases, mobile application and or use of web-based MEAL systems
• Demonstratable computer literacy in MS Office – Excel, Power Point, Access and Word, SPSS, STATA. Or any other statistical packages
• Experience in writing publications such as newsletters, success stories, brochures etc.
• Ability and proven experience transferring knowledge through formal and informal training
• Fluency in English and at least one locally spoken language; excellent writing and editing skills
• Ability to work well with people of diverse backgrounds, use good judgment and commit to CRS’ mission.
• Willingness to travel approximately 30% of the time to remote areas of the country to interact with CRS/Malawi partners.

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 is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

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 welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, 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.