Monitoring and Evaluation Director - SHARE Program at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 99 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs, therefore, strengthening and building the capacity of these partner organizations is fundamental to programs in every country in which CRS operates. CRS re-established presence in Nigeria in 2000 and currently focuses on vulnerable children, agriculture, health and HIV, extractives and governance, and peace building programming.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Monitoring and Evaluation Director, SHARE Program

Reports To: SHARE Chief of Party
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Duration: July 2016 (with possibility of extension)

Project Background
CRS Nigeria is leading an exciting and innovative project designed to develop sustainable approaches to lift some of the most vulnerable households in Nigeria out of poverty.This USAID-supported project called SHARE (Support to Vulnerable Households for Accelerated Revenue Earnings) is implemented by a consortium consisting of MercyCorps, the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria and the Federation of Muslim Women Associations of Nigeria.

SHARE is based in rural communities in Northern Nigeria's Sokoto and Kebbi states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and is using a multi-sector approach that will help 42,000 very poor households (HHs) grow their agriculture production, incomes and improve nutrition. The SHARE consortium works closely with multiple stakeholders within government at different levels and amongst private sector. The project partners with eight local civil society organizations and incorporates a focus on local capacity building for sustained service delivery in project locations. The foundation of SHARE's approach is agricultural-led growth.

SHARE improves agricultural practices, including post-harvest storage for nutrient rich crops/livestock already being produced; and promotes a market-oriented approach to diversify production. This is accomplished by ensuring that all agricultural activities are adapted to specific agro-ecological and cultural contexts. SHARE helps very vulnerable families to diversify their income and implement strong and comprehensive nutrition activities in communities.

To help some of the most vulnerable families move along the Pathway to Prosperity, SHARE distributes cash transfers to help meet nutritional needs, recover assets and overcome barriers to income-generating activities.To support sustainability, SHARE strengthens the institutional capacity of government systems to implement poverty reduction programs and reinforce accountability between the government and citizens.

The role aims to provide technical and management program support to SHARE project operations in order to ensure program objectives are implemented and thus ensuring the achievement of CRS Mission.

Primary Responsibilities

• The Monitoring and Evaluation Director-MED SHARE will provide leadership in ensuring high quality monitoring and evaluation of the SHARE project while liaising with the technical programming staff of SHARE and sub-recipients.
• The MED reports to the Chief of Party for SHARE and is accountable for all the monitoring and evaluation, administrative and technical project management related activities, results and program quality.
• The MED will provide specific monitoring and evaluation leadership to the SHARE program to ensure that the program is able to document progress, achieve its stated objectives and report to USAID and relevant entities of the Government of Nigeria (GON) in an accurate and timely manner.
• The MED takes the lead in liaising with the World Bank on an impact evaluation contracted by USAID as well as the project internal evaluation processes such as annual surveys, mid-term and final evaluations.
• The MED leads in developing and managing an effective monitoring system with training, mentoring and on-the-job support to SHARE M&E staff and CSO implementing partners.
• The MED liaises with USAID-funded Monitoring and Evaluation Management Systems in managing quality input into USAID information systems and ensuring data quality.
• The MED is responsible for the roll-out and functionality of information and communications for development (ICT4D) solutions which ensure participant tracking in all SHARE activities and monitoring of household trends. This includes development of forms for devices, training of staff and project field agents in device use and overall device management.
• The MED leads in routine data analysis and liaises with technical program staff to identify and address issues in a timely manner.
• The MED works closely with the technical program staff in knowledge management by documenting processes, successes and lessons learned throughout project implementation.
• The MED provides direct guidance and oversees the day-to-day project management activities that support the implementation of SHARE activities according to the detailed implementation plan and tracks progress and monitors project work plans of all consortium partners.
• The MED is accountable for and responsible to oversee the development, implementation, and adherence of monitoring and evaluation systems put in place, work plans, technical program quality standards (including processes, procedures and reporting), and adherence to USG and CRS regulations and best practices for all SHARE sub-recipients, CRS and individual consortium member organizations of SHARE project.
• The MED will supervise the SHARE M&E staff.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities Program Quality, Systems and Capacity Development

• Facilitate the consortium to achieve high levels of program quality through technical service provision work in close collaboration with SHARE Technical Director to re- lign and harmonize SHARE targeting strategies for effective integration and implementation of project activities (periodically review jointly for relevance and effectiveness).
• Support and work closely with the SHARE Technical Director, technical leads, and program management staff as well as other relevant technical and grant management staff from SHARE in order to:
• Assist consortium partners and especially SHARE sub-recipients in developing organization specific SHARE targeting and implementation strategies.
• Contribute in the development of technical guide lines and standards for performance excellence.
• Train and provide technical assistance in relation to monitoring and evaluation to all sub-recipient project management teams implementing SHARE program.
• Provide guidance and technical assistance to SHARE sub-recipients, local governments and staff to facilitate institutional capacity assessment to identify major challenges and develop effective capacity building plans and documentation of results.
• Lead SHARE consortium partners and all sub-recipients to support the tracking and achievement of SHARE targets and in close collaboration with the SHARE M&E Associates develop a comprehensive M&E system, tools and plans for measuring performance at partner and consortium level.
• Supporting SHARE CoP and Technical Director in planning, guidance and coordinate with the key program staff in the consortium as well as relevant stake holders to ensure that planning and monitoring is grounded on the program's strategic objectives and results area.

Promote Innovation Across Consortium:

• Work with SHARE Technical Director and technical leads, SMILE and SMILE CoP as well the HoP to identify, design and/or integrate additional “wrap around services.
• Promote and facilitate innovation through capacity building and motivation of implementing staff.
• Along with the CoP, periodically review progress, integration with other USG funded partners and achievements of SHARE program to identify bottlenecks and recommend appropriate actions to maintain the program on target.

Technical Leadership:

• Provide technical leadership and specific directions to design and implement a streamlined M&E system that enables staff and volunteers to collect data to capture project performance and results in accordance with FGN and USAID/Feed the Future standards.
• Oversee the establishment and functioning of the M&E system and solve implementation issues.
•  Ensure that the M&E system provides accurate and timely data for quarterly, semi-annual and annual project reports to USAID and the GON.
• Lead the development and management of the SHARE Performance Management Plan (PMP) working in close collaboration with the CoP and Technical Director; liaise with USAID as appropriate.

Ensure that the following tools are established and being used to monitor program results and lessons learned:

• Standard tools for routine field monitoring - management and technical - and reporting
• Annual results reviews conducted at the end of each fiscal year to inform the development of annual work plans
•  Learning activities that will be an integral part of the M&E system and allow regular identification of challenges, lessons learned and best practices
• Document the SHARE M&E system design in a project specific M&E manual for use by project staff and sub recipiencts; update manual as needed and ensure updates are adopted by sub recipients.
• Provide leadership in work with partners and ensure mutually beneficial collaboration.
• This includes, but is not limited to:
• Monitoring and Evaluation Management Services (MEMS) in managing SHARE input into USAID information systems and data quality.
• World Bank in design and implementation of the impact evaluation in Kebbi state.
• Target local governments and CSO partners for tracking progress against capacity strengthening objectives and plans.
• Develop and oversee training  program for sub-recipients (including retraining, ongoing support, and stationary supplies) for
• Staff responsible for M&E in relevant GON entities
• Staff responsible for M&E in CSOs
• Community level participatory planning and monitoring
• Ensure SHARE reporting system is correctly used by CRS and CSOs: correct data entered into the system so that accurate reports are generated for the USG, FGN and States. 
• Lead in the roll-out of ICT4D solutions and ensure effective training and use amongst sub-recipients and field volunteers.
• Ensure excellent, productive use of the data by:
• Leading the development of the results for report to the donor by providing written documentation on M&E, detailed implementation plan  (DIP) activities and indicator performance tracking tables (IPTT) for quarterly and annual progress reports,
• Working with the program technical staff, identify and document programmatic successes, best practices, challenges, and lessons learned
• Working with SHARE technical team to identify opportunities for learning, formative, special studies and operational research.
• Identifying the need for and lead the implementation of special studies; oversee work of consultants
• Respond to data requests from USAID, FGN or States and other M&E partners such as MEMS; maintain excellent relationship to ensure that program reporting complies with all standards and requirements.
• Lead the M&E components of the annual work planning process in close collaboration with the CoP and the SHARE management and technical staff.

Facilitate learning and Knowledge Management:

• In close collaboration with  the SHARE Technical Director and M&E staff promote identification, documentation and exchange of lessons learned and best practices among the SHARE consortium partners and sub-recipients
• Identify other international and local programs with similar interventions to SHARE and  assist SHARE CoP to facilitate linkages and  exchange of experience with such  programs to enhance adoption of innovative approaches among SHARE consortium partners and sub-recipients
• Provide inputs into developing communications and networking systems,events with Government and other stakeholders
• Identify and design appropriate studies and prepare abstracts to participate and represent if required the SHARE program on national, regional and global forums

Contracting and Management of External Services:

• Identify gaps and develop strategy and resources to address the gap by contracting appropriate services from technical institutions and individuals.
• Establish linkage and develop framework for collaboration with local and National and international institutions of research and higher learning.
• Develop scopes of work and manage consultants as required

Reporting:

• Support and develop guidelines to accompany the data collection and analysis tools for reports in consultation with SHARE M&Estaff and respective SHARE technical and program staff
• Analyze and interpret data from surveys and sub-recipient reports
• Fulfill donor's reporting requirements in a timely manner in coordination with Technical Program Director.
• Work with the SHARE M&E staff and technical and program staff to develop and implement a score card system to appraise performance in relation to quality of performance by consortium partners and sub-recipients

Representation and Advocacy:

• In consultation with the CoP,represent the consortium on relevant technical forums (GoN,USAID,UN and others).
• Liaise with the SHARE Technical Director and respective technical program staff and strengthen linkages with technical persons from the relevant state and federal ministries to provide support to the SHARE staff and sub-recipients achieving their goals.
• Monitor and support sub-recipients strategy to maintain and strengthen collaboration with their respective LGA’s and States.
• Maintain technical linkages with region and HQ and while involving CoP, CR and HoP
• Supervision:
• Supervise M&E Associates based in state offices.

Key Working Relationships
Internal:

• All SHARE staff as well as relevant technical advisors from CRS regional and headquarters offices; Head of Programs; MEAL Coordinator.

External:

• Senior managers of SHARE sub-recipients, technical team of USAID, technical resource persons in relevant GoN line ministries and USAID funded partners

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.

• Serves With Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning

Qualifications

• M.SC or PhD degree in agriculture, economics, social science or related technical field with a minimum of 7 years experience on technical and managerial positions.
• Previous field work experience working through partner organizations
• Proven experience managing USAID/USG reporting, budgeting, procurement, and project management procedures and at least three years of management experience with USG funded and! or PEPFAR program in Nigeria and/or Africa.
• 3 to 5 years of supervisory experience, excellent partnership and interpersonal skills to work in a team environment with dependable ability to dialogue, network, and work effectively with senior managers of local and international institutions
• Excellent communication and writing skills in English; fluency in Hausa is desirable
• Proven ability to work independently, plan strategically and analyze situations critically
• Experience with implementing ICT4D solutions a plus.
• Computer proficiency in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.
• Travel more than 60% of the time

Application Closing Date
Not Stated.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to download CRS Application Form

All filled application forms with detailed resume should be sent as attached MS word Document to: [email protected]

Click here for more information

Note:

• Interview will be conducted on a rolling basis up to Wednesday 28th February, 2015.
• Only applications sent in the required format will be considered.
• CRS does not accept any form of fees for recruitment.