Job Title: Program Manager II MEAL – Resilience Food Security Activity
Reports to: Chief of Party
Department: CRS Niger – Programming
This post is contingent on donor funding and donor approval of the candidate.
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 agriculture, livelihoods, emergency response, HIV, health, education and peacebuilding programming.
Job Summary:
As Program Manager for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) of the Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA), you will manage and provide technical oversight of the development and implementation of the MEAL system of a Resilience Food Security Activity.Your technical skills and knowledge will ensure the delivery of high-quality programming and continuously work towards improving the impact of its multi-sectoral programming.
The Program Manager II – MEAL (MEAL Manager) will ensure that the project Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) plan adheres to CRS’ MEAL Policies and Procedures and donor requirements. The Program Manager II – MEAL will be responsible for designing and implementing the high-quality MEAL System that meets stakeholder information needs and will inform adaptive management and project and agency learning. He/she will work closely with the Strategic Learning Advisor (SLA) to ensure data is used for learning and continuous adaptive management.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
- Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight for MEAL activities throughout the project cycle to ensure project design, start-up, implementation and close-out of the RFSA project are in line with CRS quality principles and standards and MEAL policies, procedures, and practices, donor guidelines, and industry best practices. Oversee and manage MEAL system of a complex multi-sectoral program.
- Strengthen the capacity of Project MEAL staff and partners by providing and supporting regular coaching, supervision, performance appraisal and capacity building to enhance their skills and professional development. Champion the development of program learning – identify opportunities for learning, research and publications and implementation of MEAL policy. Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency knowledge management agenda. Promote the application of learning to improve program quality and to strengthen agency influence among external stakeholders. Ensure integration of MEAL-related innovations and best practices.
- Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight for the development and implementation of high-quality MEAL systems and processes, including ICT4MEAL and the application of responsible data principles as per agency and donor requirements.
- Promote MEAL policies and industry good practices, champion the analysis and use of project performance data to inform decision-making and identify lessons learned. Facilitate connections between colleagues and peers to generate and share evidence-based learning.
- Provide management, guidance and technical oversight for project or program evaluation events and research, including the development of terms of reference or study protocols that include evaluation/learning questions, a balance of qualitative and quantitative methods, appropriate consideration of ethical and data protection standards, and the necessary technical rigor.
- Lead and oversee the quality of evaluation data through good data management. Support the identification, recruitment, and management of external evaluators or research partners to ensure high quality evaluation, research, and learning.
- Oversee MEAL-related technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities for staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact.
- Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to MEAL and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
- Oversee timely and appropriate project MEAL expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.
- Provide technical lead for analysis of MEAL data, qualitative and quantitative, for use in learning and adaptive management.
- Ensure USAID’s best practice guidelines on Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) are applied.
Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:
Education and Experience
- Master’s degree in international development, International Relations or in the field of Monitoring and Evaluation, in economic sciences, in social sciences or Statistics required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
- Minimum of 7years’ experience in relevant field-based project management experience required, with preferably at least 5 years working in MEAL.
- Experience in managing MEAL for complex projects preferably with an international NGO and preferably with RFSAs or similar resilience and food security programming.
- Experience in MEAL management, including MEL Plan design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USAID AMELP.
- Experience of working with stakeholders at different levels and of strengthening community engagement in the project MEAL system.
- Extensive experience in using USAID MEL approaches and Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) guidelines
- Proven MEAL experience in resilience food security, agriculture and livelihoods. Knowledge of methodological approaches to measuring Graduation outcomes to target households is an asset.
- Proven experience in quantitative and qualitative research methods, designing and conducting surveys and analyzing statistical data.
- Proficiency in ICT4MEAL tools for data collection (Commcare, Kobo), analysis (R, or SPSS, STATA or equivalents) and data visualization (Power BI, Excel Dashboard etc..).
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions,
- Results/impact oriented, with the ability to analyze and report beyond process/output results.
- Strong relationship management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
- Good presentation and facilitation skills.
- Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.
- Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
- Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.
Required Languages: French. Professional proficiency in English an asset
Travel Required: Position based in Niger. 35-40% travel to project sites anticipated.
Key Working Relationships:
- Supervisory: Project MEAL staff
- Internal: Chief of Party, Head of Programming, Deputy Head of Programming, Country Program staff (MEAL, accountability, ICT, others), Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality, Regional Technical Advisors
- External: Partner MEAL staff
MEAL Competencies (for CRS MEAL Program Staff)
Each staff member in this position is expected to have advanced knowledge and ability and can apply the following competencies in new or complex situations. Guides other professionals:
- MEAL in Design
- Monitoring
- Evaluation
- Accountability
- Learning
- Analysis and Critical Thinking
- Management in MEAL
- ICT4MEAL
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
- Accountability and Stewardship
- Build Relationships
- Develops Talent
- Continuous Improvement and Innovation
- Strategic Mindset
***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. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. This position is contingent upon award of the funding opportunity to CRS and USAID’s approval of the proposed candidate.
CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.
CRS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. CRS does not unlawfully discriminate in any aspect of the employment process on the basis of race, color, ancestry or national origin, religion, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability or handicap, medical condition or pregnancy, protected veteran status, or genetic information and any other non-merit-based status protected by Country law. We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities.
More Information
- Job City Niger
