Program Manager I – Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning- Somalia (Ref.2019/008) 82 views1 applications

Department: Somalia Programs

Band: 10

Reports to: Emergency Coordinator

Based in: Mogadishu, Somalia

About Catholic Relief Services

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an International non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 99 countries around the world. CRS carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Through its programs, CRS assists poor and vulnerable persons based on need, and, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. It works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs, therefore, strengthening and building the capacity of these partner organizations is fundamental to programs in every country in which CRS operates.

CRS has a long history of supporting local civil-society organizations in Somalia and has implemented development and emergency programming in multiple sectors, primarily supported by United States Agency for International Development’s Office of Foreign Disaster (USAID/OFDA) and Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP). CRS’ programs in Somalia are currently focused in South Central Somalia, supporting integrated health, nutrition, protection and WASH interventions for IDPs and other vulnerable populations.

Job Summary:

The primary role of the Program Manager I – MEAL will be to provide technical support to a range of program/project design and implementation issues for Somalia Country Program as assigned from time to time in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. The incumbent’s MEAL knowledge and support will contribute to determining how effective, adaptive and innovative CRS Somalia’s programming is.

Job Responsibilities:

· Oversees and manages MEAL implementation at country level

· Builds capacity of MEAL officers and agents, partners to address their job requirements

· Provides technical lead for quality MEAL design, including tools and methods, appropriate to scope, context, and technical requirements of a project

· Provides technical lead for analysis of MEAL data, qualitative and quantitative

· Ensures quality of data and data management practices

· Integrates data analysis, reflection and interpretation and use with ongoing project activities

· Ensures compliance with donor and agency MEAL requirements

· Communicates agency approach to MEAL and key findings, as appropriate, among CP colleagues and partners

· Cultivates relationships with community members and stakeholders

· Shares MEAL learning and experiences in broader regional discussions

· Plans and budgets appropriately for quality MEAL activities

· Ensure quality management practices of MEAL activities

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements

Education and Experience

· Bachelor’s degree in demography, sociology, statistics or any other MEAL-related field.

· Minimum of three years of relevant, progressive work experience in MEAL, ideally with an international NGO.

· Knowledge of technical principles, concepts and current approaches in MEAL.

· Experience in the use of key qualitative and quantitative evaluation tools and techniques.

· Experience in designing and overseeing implementation of program studies and evaluation, and use of findings to support adaptive management.

· Experience and skills in partner relationship management and development project support is a plus.

· Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.

· Experience in using data analysis software (SPSS, STATA, EpiInfo, Nutrisurvey).

· Experience in using mobile-data collection and management software (e.g. ODK, Commcare, I-form builder, Kobo)

MEAL Competencies

· MEAL in Design: Demonstrates basic knowledge and ability to develop project-level Theories of change, results frameworks, Proframe, related MEAL system tools and competencies, and accompanying MEAL narratives.

· Monitoring: Demonstrates solid knowledge and ability in Implementing monitoring activities, including timely collection of quality data, set up and maintenance of databases, facilitation of participatory reflection on monitoring results, and submission of timely progress reports.

· Evaluation: Demonstrates basic knowledge and ability in supporting project and program evaluations and reviews by ensuring the quality of evaluation methods, tools, and data and facilitating the use of evaluation results to inform decision-making and enhance learning.

· Accountability: Demonstrates solid knowledge and ability in improving our accountability to a range of stakeholders through increased participation, transparent communication, responsive feedback mechanisms, and adherence to internal and external quality standards and requirements

· Learning: Demonstrates basic knowledge and ability to promote excellent knowledge management and collaborative learning processes at the project, program and institutional levels, generating robust evidence for project and programmatic learning that leads to action, decision-making and influence

· Analysis & Critical Thinking: Demonstrates basic and ability to engage with data, challenging biases and assumptions, posing thoughtful questions, pursuing deeper understanding of evidence through reflection and perspective-taking, and making informed programming decisions.

· ICT for MEAL: Demonstrate solid knowledge and ability in applying knowledge on information and communication technologies (ICT), both hardware and software, for opportune and accurate data collection, database management, conducting analyses, and making information easily accessible

· MEAL in Management: Demonstrate basic knowledge and ability in managing financial and human resources in a way that optimizes the quality, effectiveness, and utility of MEAL systems.

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

· Honesty and integrity in work and communication

· Presentation, facilitation, training, and mentoring skills

· Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities

· Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills

· Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented.

Required/Desired Foreign Language: Fluent Somali and English

Travel Required: 50% to project sites outside Mogadishu (currently Cadaado, Baidoa, Luuq, Dollow, Belet Hawa, Garbahaarey); some travel to Nairobi

Key working relationships

Supervisory: Strong Dotted Line Partner MEAL Staff

Internal: Somalia Country Manager; Emergency Coordinator; Senior Program Officer; Project Managers; MEAL Manager; Somalia Risk and Compliance Officer;

External: Partner Staff, community members, partner staff, other local stakeholders, MEAL staff from other peer agencies, Donor MEAL contacts, Professional Associations (e.g. Evaluation Society of Kenya) and Partner Staff and other MEAL consultants in the country and region.

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 & Stewardship

· Builds Relationships

· Develops Talent

· Continuous Improvement & Innovation

· Strategic Mindset

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