Senior Project Officer - M & E at Catholic Relief Services
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. CRS has been working in Ethiopia for nearly 60 years, responding to natural and man-made disasters affecting Ethiopia's most vulnerable communities. Moving beyond emergency response, CRS' disaster mitigation and recovery projects in drought and flood-prone areas have rebuilt individual and community assets through non-food aid in the form of agriculture, livestock, health, nutrition, and water and sanitation assistance. With funding from USAID Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), CRS has been providing life-saving food assistance to millions of Ethiopians across the country for over a decade through the Joint Emergency Operation Program (JEOP).
JEOP is an emergency food assistance mechanism which targets transitory food insecure households through a participant targeting process led by the Government of Ethiopia’s (GoE) National Disaster Risk Management Commission (NDRMC). JEOP complements emergency needs outlined in the GoE’s Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and has been operational for a decade with a caseload that fluctuates from 1.5 to over 6 million people annually. Led by CRS, JEOP consortium includes CARE, Food for the Hungry Ethiopia (FHE), Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA), Relief Society of Tigray (REST), and World Vision Ethiopia (WV); CRS implements through local Catholic Church partners, Hararghe Catholic Secretariat (HCS) and Meki Catholic Secretariat (MCS). CRS and partners are implementing JEOP across woredas in Amhara Oromia, SNNPR, Sidama, Tigray and Dire dawa City Administration.
Job Title: Senior Project Officer - M & E
Job grade: 8
Required number: One
Department: JEOP Program Quality
Employment Term: Definite Term (i.e. till April, 2027)
Reports To: JEOP Program Quality Manager - MEAL
Country/Location: CRS Ethiopia/Addis Ababa
Deadline: April 8, 2024
Job Summary:
CRS is seeking a M&E Senior Project Officer (SPO) based in Addis Ababa, to support quality and consistent implementation of JEOP MEAL system across consortium partners and quality and timey data collection analysis and reporting. The M&E SPO will join JEOP program quality team based in Addis, working alongside the JEOP consortium partner.
Under the direct supervision of the MEAL Program Manager II, the M&E SPO will effectively implement MEAL activities including post distribution monitoring, periodic assessment. The role will include field monitoring for quality checking, data quality assessment and supporting line manager for data analysis, and period report preparations. As part of the MEAL technical unit, s/he will facilitate the achievement of all project objectives responsible for planning for delivery of high-quality interventions, coordinating with partners to advance JEOP’s work serving the vulnerable. Her/his coordination and relationship management skills will ensure that best practices are applied and JEOP constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
The M&E SPO will be responsible to achieve the key objectives and detailed activities as following:
1. Monitoring
- Ensure availability of all standardized, approved M&E tools, checklists, questionnaires, and formats to collect real time data.
- Oversee continuous post distribution monitoring as the scaled-up distribution is rolled out.
- Ensure consistent use of tools and procedures shared by the JEOP MEAL PM to implement household surveys and focused group discussions.
- Monitoring visit project participants and communities jointly with partners and writing visit reports.
- Undertake routine data quality assessments.
- Recruit and train data enumerators as required,
- Support joint beneficiary targeting, verification and validation processes and ensure inclusion of the most vulnerable groups.
- 2. Evaluation
- Support JEOP annual result survey, assessments and evaluation undertaken by an external consultancy firm including dissemination of results.
3. Accountability
- Ensure that appropriate FRM channels are operational.
- Ensure that the JEOP CFRM are functional, and community are aware of the CFRM including channels, process, confidentiality, and progress of feedback.
- Oversee adherences of JEOP food distribution to Do Not Harm (DNH) principles and Protection from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
4. Learning
- Supporting partner MEAL teams to develop and revise monthly MEAL implementation plan and ensure proper documentation.
- Support lessons learned capture and events as/when the situation permits.
- Ensuring that all Partner’s MEAL team collect and write valid and quality lessons learned in each quarter and submit with quarterly update and semiannual and annual report as an Annex.
- Facilitate PDM data reflection sessions with consortium partner.
- Facilitate quarterly technical working group meetings and documents and track action points
5. Partnership
- Build strong professional relationship and support to the JEOP consortium partners.
- Sharing learning of MEAL activities with other Partners MEAL team for replicating learning and better harmonization
- Work hand in hand with the Risk Management and Compliance Monitoring Unit to harmonize efforts, avoid duplication and ensure streamlined logistics.
Job Requirements:
Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:
Education and Experience
- University degree, or equivalent, in Community / International Development, Economics, Social Work, Rural Development, or other related field.
- At least five years of relevant experience project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, partner relations, and donor relations preferred, ideally with USAID.
- Previous experience in project implementation and reporting, with INGO preferred.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook email essential, experiences on virtual communications platforms (Microsoft teams, skype, Zoom); experience in Commcare or any other electronic data collection sytems strongly desired.
- Extensive experience working with communities
- Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data related to food security.
- Ability to deliver training and capacity building and oversee assessments.
Personal Skills
- Ability to work under pressure as part of the team in fast-paced emergency environment according to CRS Standard Operating Procedures and CRS MEAL Policies
- Strong understanding of accountability, data and information requirements
- Experience with qualitative and quantitative monitoring approaches and tools.
- Proficient in using statistical analysis software such as SPSS, and STATA.
- Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.
- Proactive, results-oriented, problem-solving, and service-oriented.
- Attention to detail, accuracy, and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
Language
- Fluency in written and spoken English and Amharic
- Tigrinya and/or Afan Oromo desirable.
Key Working Relationships:
Supervisory: M&E project officers and interns
Partner: peer working relationship with JEOP consortium MEAL Lead
Internal: CRS/JEOP program quality (ICT4D, EW, nutrition, Cross cutting) and operation team
External: JEOP consortium partners other INGOs & NGOs.
Travel: The role is based in Addis Ababa but must be willing and able to travel up to 40%.
Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. 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.
- Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
- Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
- Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
- Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
- Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.
Agency Leadership Competencies:
- Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
- Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
- Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
How To Apply:
If you are ready to take on this rewarding opportunity and make a difference in the lives of others, you may fill the application form through this link:
https://form.jotform.com/240891079511559 and attach your up-to-date CV on / before the application
deadline
April 8, 2024. You will be contacted only if selected for written exam/interview. Phone solicitations will not be accepted.
These job opportunities are open to Ethiopian nationals only.
***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.
What we offer:
CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, generous retirement savings plan and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.
CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking.
** Qualified women & persons with disability are highly encouraged to apply**
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.