Job Title: Project Officer - MEAL
Department: Programming
Supervisor: Project Manager – Child Protection and Care
Direct reports: None
Work Location: Uganda/Kampala
About CRS
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) supporting relief and development work in over 100 countries around the world. CRS carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. CRS’ Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations, serving people based on need, regardless of creed, ethnicity, or nationality. CRS works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs.
CRS has worked in Uganda since 1965, initially providing emergency assistance to Sudanese refugees living in the north. Over the years, CRS has expanded its programming to address development needs in western, central, and eastern Uganda. CRS’ projects in Uganda currently include agriculture, health, microfinance, peacebuilding, and youth. CRS Uganda implements its programs through partnerships with local organizations, including the Catholic Church, other faith-based organizations, and community entities for maximum impact and sustainability.
Project Background:
As part of its Vision 2030 agency strategy, CRS is investing in six strategic change platforms to achieve results at scale. One of these key strategic change platforms is Strengthening Families for Thriving Children Strategic Change Platform 5 (SCP5). This Strategic Change Platform is a bold initiative to support vulnerable children to thrive in safe, healthy, and nurturing families, create more resilient and supportive communities, and work with our Catholic partners, civil society, and governments to establish policies and systems that strengthen families. SCP5 also aims to influence governments, donors, Catholic actors, and other regional and global stakeholders to redirect resources and support to strengthen families.
The platform is implemented across CRS country programs, one of which is Uganda. CRS Uganda is leveraging success from its protection-focused programs, 4Children and SOCY to achieve national care reform at scale in Uganda, by influencing other actors in the sector to change practices, policies, and resources in support of family strengthening and family care.
Job Summary:
The MEAL Officer will implement MEAL activities, provide MEAL technical support, and monitor and report on all project monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning activities in support of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. The role entails ensuring that the project has a robust MEAL system that meets CRS MEAL policies and procedures, CRS global results and other stakeholder’s information needs. Your MEAL knowledge and support will contribute to determining how effective, adaptive, and innovative CRS Uganda’s programming is and a 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.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
· Lead the development of project MEAL system design and data collection tools to measure program/project impact and progress.
· Support the coordination and implementation of all assigned MEAL activities as outlined in the Detailed Implementation Plan in line with CRS program quality principles, and standards and ensure compliance with the MEAL policies, procedures, and practices, and industry good practices.
· Monitor and report any MEAL-related challenges and gaps identified to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
· Lead the roll-out and implementation of the project’s feedback and response mechanism (FRM). Support actively seeking and responding to feedback from all members of targeted communities and other stakeholders as defined by the FRM.
· Lead knowledge management, evidence building, and learning efforts by collecting and analyzing program data, evaluating strategic project approaches, measuring program impact, capturing, and sharing lessons learned and best practices, to inform an evidence base for care reform practices in Uganda.
· Assist partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences, by planning, implementing, and documenting outcomes of pause and reflect events.
· Facilitate the development and finalization of learning products such as learning briefs, reports, and documentaries.
· Support program learning and decision-making by posing thoughtful questions, engaging with project data, and reflecting upon and sharing with project management the information gathered from community members and partners.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
· Observation, active listening, and analysis skills with the ability to make sound judgment
· Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members
· Attention to detail, accuracy, and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
· Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented
· Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.
· Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data preferred.
· Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
Required Languages - English fluency, including excellent oral and written skills, is required
Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 50%.
Supervisory Responsibilities: None
Key Working Relationships:
· Internal – CRS MEAL Manager, SCP5 MEAL Advisor, ICT4D Officer, project staff, and other CRS MEAL staff.
· External – Partner staff, MEAL staff from other peer agencies.
Basic Qualifications
· Bachelor’s degree in International Development, International Relations, or in the field of MEAL required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
· Minimum of 3 years of work experience in project support. Experience in the field of MEAL and for an NGO is preferred.
· Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.
· Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data preferred.
· Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
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
MEAL Competencies (for CRS MEAL Program Staff)
Each staff member in this position is expected to have basic knowledge and ability and, with guidance, be able to apply the following competencies in common situations that present limited difficulties:
· Monitoring
· Evaluation
· Accountability
· Learning
· Analysis and Critical Thinking
In addition, each staff member in this position is expected to have an elementary understanding of and demonstrate a willingness and potential to learn about:
· MEAL in Design
· ICT4MEAL
· Management in MEAL
***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.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
Note: All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside their home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical examination.
To ensure the safety of our staff, our partners, and the people we serve, CRS requires that staff be vaccinated against Covid-19. CRS complies with all local laws to allow for accommodations, as needed with supporting documentation. However, accommodations may limit the roles that candidates are eligible for based on role requirements (e.g., travel, meetings with staff, partner, donors).
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.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity EmployerApplication Procedure:
All suitably qualifying, and interested candidates are encouraged to apply following these instructions:
· Email a cover letter and CV only to ug_recruitment@crs.org by December 30th , 2022 at 5:00pm.
· Large files and/or scans of documents will lead to rejection of your application, in the subject line of the email, copy and paste – PROJECT OFFICER- MEAL only. All applications that do not contain this exact subject line will not be considered.
ONLY SELECTED CANDIDATES THAT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE NOTIFIED. EOE/M/F/D/V
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.
