Job Title: Program Manager I- Regional ACCESS-SMC Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Coordinator
Location will be one of these five: Bamako, Mali; Banjul, The Gambia; Conakry, Guinea; Dakar, Senegal; Niamey, Niger;
Reports To: Deputy Project Manager for ACCESS-SMC project based in Dakar, Senegal
Length of Assignment: Two (2) Years
About CRS: Catholic Relief Services 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 seeks a Regional MEAL Coordinator for a large scale Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention program in the Sahel region of West Africa funded by UNITAID. CRS is working together with a consortium headed by Malaria Consortium (an international NGO dedicated to the comprehensive control of malaria and other communicable diseases) on rolling out market-focused innovations for malaria prevention and control, including bringing new products to market, with a focus on Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention. With a consortium of experienced national and international partners, the project will have a wide and lasting impact on this complex and challenging logistical environment. Whilst, Malaria Consortium (MC) is the Prime Recipient of funding and CRS is the Lead Subrecipient. MC manages the overall project consortium and leads implementation in 3 of the 7 countries. CRS manages two sub recipients and leads implementation in 4 of the 7 countries (Guinea, Mali, Niger, The Gambia). The Regional MEAL Coordinator, a CRS employee, will be based either in CRS’ regional office in Dakar, Senegal, or one of the four operational areas (the decision is left with the candidate) with frequent travels to all 4 countries. The Regional MEAL Coordinator will work closely with the Deputy Project Director to whom she will report, and the ACCESS-SMC MEAL offices in each of the 4 countries.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
The Regional MEAL Coordinator will be responsible in supporting the work of each country program ACCESS-SMC MEAL activities to achieve strategic objectives, intermediate results, and performance expectations through adherence to high standards of programmatic and management quality in CRS’ four countries of operations. The Regional MEAL Coordinator is expected to have a high level of self-initiative and use critical thinking skills to identify and fill gaps.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
• Participate in ACCESS-SMC MEAL working group as determined by the Deputy Project Director and Regional Technical Advisor for MEAL
• Monitor both indicators and overall impact of the ACCESS-SMC project and provide recommendations to the Deputy Project Director and country teams to adjust activities and targets.
• Provide mentoring/accompaniment to CRS MEAL staff to increase capacity and to achieve regular performance objectives
• Ensure that each of the 4 Country Programs’ MEAL systems are in compliance with CRS’ global and regional MEAL policies and procedures, and strategic initiatives
• Ensure an effective data management system in each country
• Ensure the learning feedback loop is functional and that teams are analyzing lessons learned and adapting interventions and approaches based on data generated, supervision visits made, analysis and evaluative thinking, and beneficiary feedback received.
• Support country teams to document and incorporate lessons learned locally and from elsewhere into program implementation
• Leverage lessons learned, best practices, program data, evaluations, and other information to generate communication pieces, success stories, case studies, and other high-quality, results-based documentation
• Conduct project monitoring visits events frequently with project teams and implementing partners
• Provide feedback to MEAL staff to improve the overall MEAL system and ensure quality implementation of MEAL activities
• Work with the program managers in each country to ensure that implementation plans are adequately rolled out.
• Use appropriate project management tools to plan, review and track progress on project implementation and utilization of project resources;
• Establish and maintain good working relations with country program teams, local partner organizations, and provincial and local government offices;
• Facilitate person-to-person and virtual exchange of information and experiences;
• Conduct trainings, lead workshops, and facilitate group interaction as part of project execution toward specific outputs and objectives.
• Work with MEAL and IT staff to optimize the value and utility of ICT4D initiatives such as CRS’ eValuate platform via iFormBuilder.
CRS MEAL Competencies
• Monitoring: 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: 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: 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: Promoting 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.
• MEAL in design: Developing project-level Theories of Change, Results Frameworks, related MEAL system tools and components, and accompanying MEAL narratives.
• Analysis and Critical Thinking: Engaging 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: Applying knowledge on information and communication technologies (ICT), both hardware and software, for opportune and accurate data collection, database management, conducting
CRS Agency-wide Competencies
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.
• Serves with integrity;
• Models stewardship;
• Cultivates constructive relationships;
• Promotes learning.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Internal: ACCESS-SMC Program Managers in each of the 4 country programs, ACCESS-SMC Deputy Project Director, ACCESS-SMC Regional Grants Manager, Regional Technical Advisor for MEAL, Regional Technical Advisor for Health Products and Supply Chain Management, Senior Technical Advisor for Malaria, Technical Advisor for Health Research and Evaluation, Country Representatives, Heads of Programs, Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality.
External: CRS’ project sub-recipients (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and their affiliates in countries, and Speak Up Africa), National Malaria Control Programs, UN agencies, local/international NGOs, and local and international Catholic agencies.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Graduate degree in a field related to international development (international health is a plus).
• Minimum 3-5 years’ experience working in the field of international public health, preferably with malaria experience in Africa, in addition to MEAL experience
• Familiarity with principles and current approaches to MEAL of development programs, including Theory of Change models, and using both quantitative and qualitative methods
• Experience with participatory MEAL systems
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with partners and communities as well as transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through day-to-day interactions, workshops, training and meetings using participatory methods.
• Ability to represent CRS with local governments.
• Demonstrated experience in addressing gender equity in programming.
• Excellent analytic, organizational and computer skills; skilled in MS Office including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Proficiency in database development/management, statistical analysis software such as SPSS, EPI-Info, and/or STATA, and skills in analyzing, interpreting and communicating information to various stakeholders
• Experience using ICT for data collection preferred
• Ability to work both independently and in a team
• Willingness to travel approximately 40% of time, or more during peak activity, to the four countries (Guinea, Mali, Niger, The Gambia)
• Professional proficiency English and French oral and written communication skills required
• Ability to work with a multi-cultural team with a high level of respect for local culture.
Travel: 40% of time, or more during peak activity, to the four countries (Guinea, Mali, Niger, The Gambia)
Language: Professional proficiency English and French oral and written communication skills required
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
NOTE: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
