Job Description

Job Title: Regional Technical Advisor for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning - Technical Advisor II

Department: East and South Asia Regional Office

Level of Effort (FLSA): Full-time - 100% LOE (Exempt) – Short-term Assignment

Reports To: Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality

Country/Location: International Telecommuting

CRS Background

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.

Regional Background

In East and South Asia (ESA) region, CRS operates country programs (CPs) or outreach offices in 12 countries (Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste and Vietnam) and implements a portfolio of over 100 projects and emergencies responses. ESA’s portfolio reflects multiple program areas including, but not limited to: agricultural livelihoods, emergency response, disaster risk reduction, education, health and nutrition, and peacebuilding. The regional program quality (PQ) team provides technical assistance across these multiple program areas and cross-sectoral areas including monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL). ESA’s PQ team is led by the Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality (DRD-PQ) and includes regional technical advisors (RTAs) for agricultural livelihoods, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, humanitarian response, business development, and a part-time technical advisor (TA) for MEAL.

Job Summary:

You will provide technical advice, guidance, and support for MEAL to a wide range of program design and implementation issues with a focus on larger projects in multiple program areas in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to regional and Country Program (CP) teams to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. Your technical knowledge, advice and guidance will contribute to determining how effective, adaptive and innovative CRS’ MEAL is across the globe.

Job Responsibilities:

• Support country programs with the quality implementation of and compliance to MEAL policies and procedures (MPP) and other agency-level MEAL initiatives. Ensure MPP-required regional MEAL reviews including: reviews of concept notes and proposals with a view to logical coherence of theories of change and results framework, appropriate outcome measurement and methods, and adequate budgeting for MEAL; and reviews of terms of reference for project baselines and evaluation events.
• Support projects in the design, implementation and maintenance of high quality MEAL systems. Provide on-site and remote support to projects for planning and conducting MEAL system development workshop(s) and periodic MEAL system reviews. Liaise with Regional ICT Manager and TA MEAL for the integration of user-centered ICT4MEAL solutions into MEAL systems.
• Provide technical solutions to regional and CP teams, remotely and on-site, for how to best apply MEAL-related program design and implementation standards, best practices, partnership principles, and tools including theory of change, ensuring high-quality implementation.
• Contribute to or support sub-regional staff to contribute to the design for large and/or complex proposals, including defining appropriate MEAL systems and indicators. Advise project teams on integrating donor MEAL strategies, priorities and technical requirements into CRS’ approach.
• Contribute or lead MEAL capacity strengthening initiatives along with the part-time ESA MEAL TA, for staff and partner through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums, conducting trainings and workshops, and mentoring and coaching to CP staff.
• Contribute to knowledge management and learning through collecting and analyzing program data, evaluating strategic projects, assisting with measuring program impact, capturing and sharing lessons learned and best practices, and research and internal reports.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in MEAL that effectively engage partners, donors and governments. Help ensure a cross-sectoral approach integrating gender, protection mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction.
• Contribute to regional and CP efforts to pre-position CRS for growth opportunities. Establish and maintain relationships with donors, peer organizations, research and other institutions. Participate in MEAL forums to collect and share best practices and promote CRS’ work.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Master’s Degree required in international development, statistics, or another related field.
• Minimum of five years relevant international working experience in an advisory or management role with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with minimum of three years supporting MEAL for programming interventions in two or more program areas.
• Previous experience providing technical assistance and developing successful proposals for external donor funding is required.
• Demonstrated application of technical principles and concepts in MEAL. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Experience in business development, project design and proposal development in MEAL, including technical writing.
• Experience in mentoring, coaching, facilitation and training applying adult learning principles and practices.
• Experience with program MEAL, including applying data collection tools and methodologies, data analysis, and data presentation.
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.

Personal Skills

• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
• Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Travel Required – This position requires travels for up to 30% time, primarily within the ESA region.

Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory: None

Internal: TA MEAL, Sectoral RTAs, Regional ICT Manager, Heads of Programming, Country Managers, Country Representatives, MEAL and non-MEAL program staff, global MEAL team (other RTAs MEAL and PIQA MEAL staff)

External: Consultants working in MEAL, professional associations, donors, other NGOs, partner organizations

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.

• Trusting Relationships
• Professional Growth
• Partnership
• Accountability

MEAL Competencies for Specialist Staff:

To fulfill the responsibilities and achieve the desired results of this position, staff is expected to have:

• At least advanced competence in Evaluation, Accountability, Learning, Analysis and Critical Thinking, and ICT for MEAL; and
• Expert competence in MEAL in Design, Monitoring, and MEAL in Management

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

NOTE: Applications will be accepted until the position is 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.