Monitoring & Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Program Manager

Job Description

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners, people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) supporting relief and development work in over 100 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons based on need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs.

The Resilience and Food Security Program (RFSP) is a Title II program working with communities affected by conflict in seven of the counties of Jonglei State, South Sudan. The overall goal of RFSP is to improve food security of conflict affected households in RFSP operational counties by September 2018.

CRS implements the program as the lead in a consortium with Save the Children (SC). The program implements activities in in four of CRS’s signature program areas: agriculture, emergency response and recovery, water and sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and microfinance (SILC). The RFSP is a follow up program to the five year Jonglei Food Security Program (JFSP) and was awarded non-competitively to CRS by USAID FFP starting in February 2017 and running until September 2018. The consortium partners implement the program directly in Jonglei in close collaboration with state and county level government stakeholders.

Specific responsibilities

MEAL strategy and design

1. Provide strategic high level feedback, analysis and interpretation throughout the program startup and implementation processes;
2. Ensure that the RFSP MEAL systems follow CRS’ global and regional policies, procedures, standards and strategic initiatives, and USAID/FFP MEAL and reporting policies and guidance;
3. Provide strategic direction for the development and maintenance of MEAL systems and the roll-out of new initiatives;
4. Support the project team and MEAL team in the design and implementation of assessments, gender analysis, stakeholder analysis, organizational capacity assessments and other pre-program data collection and analysis;
5. Ensure the consistency of indicators and tools across the consortium and all program sectors and maintain a bank of key program indicators;
6. Support program staff to incorporate participatory methods into community level MEAL systems and tools;
7. Collect and analyze lessons learned and best practices from previous and ongoing programs capturing the impact of activities to ensure they feed into the RFSP strategy as appropriate;
8. Leverage lessons learned, best practices, program data, evaluations and other information to generate donor communication pieces, proposal annexes, success stories, case studies and other high-quality, results-based documentation;
9. Work with the senior RFSP management team to identify and pursue strategic opportunities for program expansion.

MEAL implementation

1. Lead mandated evaluations, needs assessments, annual surveys, case studies and other research efforts;
2. Lead on conduct of mandatory bi-annual surveys (BAS) for RFSP and drafting of final report for the donor;
3. Coordinate with Program team and DCoP to develop detailed implementation plans (DIP for CRS and review and correct DIP for SC;
4. Contribute to the weekly, monthly and quarterly program review and planning meetings for the RFSP consortium and ensure that program targeting is on track and that over or under achievement is recorded and explained;
5. Develop RFSP MEAL operating manual using SMILER coaching methodology to ensure a complete, up-to-date, high quality MEAL system, containing essential data collection tools, data flow maps and analysis plans to address need to know information for program quality and donor reporting;
6. Manage agency level MEAL requirements (e.g. annual data quality assessments, beneficiary count reporting and MEAL policies and procedures self-assessments)’
7. Contribute to donor reports through high quality project data interpretation and report inputs;
8. Lead the project MEAL team to prepare and review MEAL calendars and work plans;
9. Support learning-to-action events and reflection sessions to systematically analyze data to promote adaptive management and to document and incorporate lessons learned into program design and implementation;
10. Ensure MEAL and program teams regularly review and adjust MEAL plans and tools as needed by the project context;
11. Ensure that transparent high quality accountability mechanisms, including beneficiary feedback and response mechanisms, are in place for the RFSP and are regularly discussed at the appropriate level with necessary responses and feedback documented;
12. Ensure that beneficiary feedback is adequately captured, addressed, analyzed and used by program team.

Capacity strengthening

1. Collaborate with the South Sudan Country Program MEAL Manager on the CP MEAL community of practice to share learning, resources, and support across offices and programs;
2. Develop and co-facilitate MEAL workshops and modules for staff and partners to share country program, regional and global MEAL tools, processes and best practices to cultivate a culture of learning;
3. Conduct orientation for new RFSP program staff on CRS systems and key MEAL resources;
4. Provide mentoring to RFSP (CRS and partner) staff to increase capacity and to achieve annual performance and development plans;
5. Remain updated with developments among the CRS MEAL community and worldwide MEAL trends and resources to ensure the RFSP MEAL team is applying CRS MEAL guidance and policies appropriately and in a timely manner;
6. Develop and implement a quarterly and annual plan for frequent and regular field monitoring visits to all program locations;
7. Provide feedback to senior RFSP program and MEAL staff to improve the overall MEAL system and ensure quality implementation of MEAL activities;

ICT for MEAL

1. Support the RFSP MEAL and program team to develop strong project tracking, record keeping and filing methodologies for all activities;
2. Work with MEAL, Program and IT staff to maximize the value and utility of ICT4D in MEAL initiatives;
3. In coordination with DCoP (Programs) develop and maintain a unified database for program sector results;

Supervision and coaching/mentoring responsibilities

The RFSP MEAL Manager directly supervises (technical) project-based MEAL staff and participates in the hiring and supervision either directly or indirectly of future MEAL staff. Additionally, s/he provides support in mentoring and providing technical supervision to all field based MEAL staff across the consortium.

Agency-wide competencies (for all CRS Staff)

These are rooted in the mission, values and principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.

1. Serves with Integrity
2. Models Stewardship
3. Cultivates Constructive Relationships
4. Promotes Learning

Program manager competencies

These are rooted in the mission, values and principles of CRS and used by each program manager to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.

1. Sets clear goals and manages toward them
2. Collaborates effectively with staff and stakeholders
3. Manages financial resources with integrity
4. Applies program quality standards to project design and organizational learning

Key MEAL competencies (specific for this position)

1. MEAL in design: Develop project-level theories of change, results frameworks and related MEAL system tools and components, and accompanying MEAL narratives.
2. Monitoring: Implement monitoring activities, including timely collection of quality data, set up and maintain databases, facilitate participatory reflection on monitoring results, and submit timely progress reports.
3. Evaluation: Support project and program evaluations and reviews by ensuring the quality of evaluation methods, tools, and data and the use of results to inform decision-making and enhance learning
4. Accountability: Improve accountability to a range of stakeholders through increased participation, transparent communication, responsive feedback mechanisms and adherence to internal and external quality standards and requirements.
5. Learning: Promote excellent knowledge management and collaborative learning processes at the project, program and institutional levels, generate robust evidence for project and programmatic learning that leads to action, decision-making and influence.
6. Analysis and critical thinking: Engage with data, challenge biases and assumptions, pose thoughtful questions, pursue deeper understanding of evidence through reflection and perspective-taking, and make informed programming decisions.
7. ICT for MEAL: Applying knowledge on information and communication technologies (ICT), both hardware and software, for opportune and accurate data collection, database management.

Key Working Relationships

Internal: CoP, DCoP (Programs), RFSP technical leads, consortium MEAL Officers, FACs CP MEAL Manager, MEAL Advisors (Regional and HQ), CRS MEAL community of practice

External: USAID

Qualifications, experience and skills required

1. Master’s degree in economics, agricultural economics, statistics, bio-statistics, nutrition or other relevant subject with strong quantitative background.
2. Eight years’ experience working in a development setting preferably with an international NGO, with at least six years of experience progressively increasing MEAL responsibility in international development projects and at least two years of experience as a supervisor;
3. USAID FFP Title II and ICT4D experience preferred. The candidate must have experience in leading the MEAL of a large field based project.
4. Strong conceptual knowledge about results frameworks, logic model, WASH, resilience, micro-finance, food and nutrition security indicators, M&E plan, data quality assurance, data utilization and gender integration into M&E.
5. Demonstrated experience and expertise in developing and operationalizing a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan; familiarity with FFP M&E and Reporting Policy and Guidance for the components of an M&E plan.
6. Demonstrated capacity in facilitation and training for non-technical staff on MEAL competencies and procedures;
7. Demonstrated expertise and experience in developing and operationalizing routine monitoring system designed to track both output and outcome indicators from project design to implementation (including work with results frameworks) as well as building staff capacity to utilize systems; experience with participatory MEAL system required.
8. Strong quantitative background and demonstrated expertise in designing annual monitoring surveys including probabilistic sampling strategy and estimating sample size, developing appropriate weights and analyze quantitative data; including previous experience with leading and managing studies and consultants.
9. Demonstrated expertise in designing qualitative studies, in-depth knowledge about qualitative sampling and experienced in using interview and interactive tools to generate qualitative information and analysis.
10. Experienced in developing data quality assurance strategies, data management and data visualization; including proficiency in database development/management, SPSS, Stata, EPI-Info, Access, Excel and skills in analyzing, interpreting and communicating information to various stakeholders.
11. Demonstrated expertise and experience in data utilization strategies and can creatively think about active data sharing techniques.
12. Knowledge of program quality standards, MEAL standards, Catholic Social Teaching and the justice lens preferred.
13. Experience with facilitation, capacity strengthening and partnership building through formal and informal training, with the capacity to empower staff through opportunities for professional growth and development.
14. Detail-oriented and excellent time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines and deliver required results in a timely and quality manner.
15. Cultural sensitivity, patience, flexibility and ability to work well in a multi-sectoral and multi-cultural team.
16. Ability to work in a challenging and stressful environment with unexpected challenges.
17. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English required.

Mental / physical requirements:

1. Must express thoughts and ideas by spoken and written word; listen effectively.
2. Must sit for prolonged periods of time; drive to various locations; work at a computer.
3. Ability and willingness to travel up to 40-60% of the time within Jonglei State; travel within or outside EARO and to HQ when requested.
4. The position is based full-time in Bor, South Sudan. This is a non-family post in location with limited amenities

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

Applications will be received until this position has been filled.

About the Organization

Catholic Relief Services was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States. Our mission is to assist the poor and disadvantaged, leveraging the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to alleviate human suffering, promote development of all people, and to foster charity and justice throughout the world. Working through local offices and an extensive network of partners, CRS operates on five continents and in 98 countries. We aid the poor by first providing direct assistance where needed, then encouraging people to help with their own development. Together, these approaches foster secure, productive, just communities that enable people to realize their potential. As the official international relief and development agency of the U.S. Catholic community, CRS is also committed to educating the people of the United States to fulfill their moral responsibilities toward our global brothers and sisters by helping the poor, working to remove the causes of poverty, and promoting social justice.