MEAL Project Officer

[Mosul,Erbil,Iraq ]

Job Title: MEAL Project Officer	Reports to:  MEAL Program Manager
Department:  MEAL	Salary Grade: 7

 

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) 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.

 

Job Summary:

This position will support the USAID-funded Shared Future project, focused on youth livelihoods and social cohesion programming. The project seeks to build mutual understanding, tolerance, and trust among religious and ethnic groups in seven project locations in Ninewa: Bartella, Bashiqa, Qaraqosh, Telkeif, and Telskuf; along with Wanna and Nimrod, as well as supporting youth in achieving productive livelihoods.

 

As a member of the MEAL project team, you will monitor and report on all project activities in support of CRS’ work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your thorough and service-oriented approach will ensure that the project consistently applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

 

Under the direct supervision of the MEAL Program Manager, the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Project Officer (PO) is responsible for leading Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability processes throughout project activities. The PO will be responsible for field-level MEAL project needs and will compile findings based on process and performance monitoring and evidence-based data to show the project’s performance. The MEAL PO will serve as a key support in designing, implementing, and making timely adjustments to strengthen project MEAL systems based on best practices and CRS MEAL Policies and Procedures.

 

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Support coordination and implementation of assigned MEAL activities through the project cycle – design, start-up, implementation and close-out – in line with CRS program quality (PQ) principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Contribute to data analysis, management and interpretation, manage MEAL binder development and maintenance, periodic Data Quality Reviews, quarterly project reviews, and other activities, as assigned.
• Monitor and report any challenges and/or gaps identified to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
• Serve as a liaison to partner MEAL staff for Livelihoods and social cohesion activities, assisting staff and partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences and strengthen MEAL systems, policies, and approaches. Support partners’ implementation of data collection tools, data management, and analysis. Collaborate with local partner(s) to prepare reports per established reporting schedule.
• Lead project accountability approaches through coordinating project evaluation activities and assisting partners in their efforts to collect and analyze project data per specified mechanisms and tools.
• Oversee tool design and data collection and uphold data quality for key project deliverables (e.g., strategic objectives baseline, midline, and endline surveys, technical trainings, grant distribution and other post-distribution monitoring,).
• Oversee and support MEAL and project staff in timely implementation of monitoring framework and tools, to ensure quality and consistent information is available on program performance and impact.
• Collect information on staff capacity needs and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and monitor capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact.
• Collaborate with the MEAL Project Manager to organize regular learning activities that facilitate adaptive management for improved PQ and project outcomes. Ensure clear, consistent, and comprehensive project documentation for assigned activities; lead documentation of promising practices, lessons learned, and key MEAL adaptations.

Job Title: MEAL Project Officer	Reports to:  MEAL Program Manager
Department:  MEAL	Salary Grade: 7

 

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) 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.

 

Job Summary:

This position will support the USAID-funded Shared Future project, focused on youth livelihoods and social cohesion programming. The project seeks to build mutual understanding, tolerance, and trust among religious and ethnic groups in seven project locations in Ninewa: Bartella, Bashiqa, Qaraqosh, Telkeif, and Telskuf; along with Wanna and Nimrod, as well as supporting youth in achieving productive livelihoods.

 

As a member of the MEAL project team, you will monitor and report on all project activities in support of CRS’ work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your thorough and service-oriented approach will ensure that the project consistently applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

 

Under the direct supervision of the MEAL Program Manager, the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Project Officer (PO) is responsible for leading Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability processes throughout project activities. The PO will be responsible for field-level MEAL project needs and will compile findings based on process and performance monitoring and evidence-based data to show the project’s performance. The MEAL PO will serve as a key support in designing, implementing, and making timely adjustments to strengthen project MEAL systems based on best practices and CRS MEAL Policies and Procedures.

 

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Support coordination and implementation of assigned MEAL activities through the project cycle – design, start-up, implementation and close-out – in line with CRS program quality (PQ) principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Contribute to data analysis, management and interpretation, manage MEAL binder development and maintenance, periodic Data Quality Reviews, quarterly project reviews, and other activities, as assigned.
• Monitor and report any challenges and/or gaps identified to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
• Serve as a liaison to partner MEAL staff for Livelihoods and social cohesion activities, assisting staff and partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences and strengthen MEAL systems, policies, and approaches. Support partners’ implementation of data collection tools, data management, and analysis. Collaborate with local partner(s) to prepare reports per established reporting schedule.
• Lead project accountability approaches through coordinating project evaluation activities and assisting partners in their efforts to collect and analyze project data per specified mechanisms and tools.
• Oversee tool design and data collection and uphold data quality for key project deliverables (e.g., strategic objectives baseline, midline, and endline surveys, technical trainings, grant distribution and other post-distribution monitoring,).
• Oversee and support MEAL and project staff in timely implementation of monitoring framework and tools, to ensure quality and consistent information is available on program performance and impact.
• Collect information on staff capacity needs and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and monitor capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact.
• Collaborate with the MEAL Project Manager to organize regular learning activities that facilitate adaptive management for improved PQ and project outcomes. Ensure clear, consistent, and comprehensive project documentation for assigned activities; lead documentation of promising practices, lessons learned, and key MEAL adaptations.

Basic Qualifications

• High School diploma required. Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of two (2) years of work experience in project support, with at least one year of MEAL experience. Experience in an NGO would be a plus.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Experience using CommCare, and/or PowerBI a plus.

 

Required Languages – Spoken and written Arabic fluency and spoken/written English professional proficiency is required. Knowledge of Shabaki, Turkmen, or Kurdish is a plus.

 

Travel – The position is based in Erbil, Duhok or Mosul with up to 50% travel to project sites in Ninewa and Duhok, as allowed by local and national health regulations. Must be willing and able to travel domestically up to 50%.

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Observation, active listening and strong analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members
• Accuracy, attention to detail, and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities

• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented

 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) required; strong familiarity with data collection, analysis and visualization tools (i.e., CommCare, Kobo Toolbox, or similar) preferred.
• At least one (1) year of direct staff management experience.

 

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

 

Supervisory Responsibilities: MEAL Field Officer

 

Key Working Relationships

Internal: Program Manager; MEAL Project Manager; Senior Project Officer; MEAL Field Officer; MEAL & PQ Coordination and other MEAL Technical Support Unit (MSTU) staff

 

External: Caritas Iraq MEAL and projects staff; other operational partners and colleague organizations

 

***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.

 

Disclaimer:  This position is contingent upon donor funding.

 

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Please submit your CV as a PDF, other formats rather than PFD will consider corrupted and will lead to neglect application.

You can apply via the link below:

http://crsiraqcareers.crs.org/job.php?id=115