Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, NE Resilience Project 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 person on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality 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 m 2000 and currently focuses on agriculture, HIV and health extractives and governance, and peace building programming.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, NE Resilience Project

Job Ref Code: MEM290419
Location: Abuja
Band: 9
Department: Agriculture Livelihoods Department
Reports To:  Chief of Party

Primary Responsibilities

• The Monitoring and Evaluation Manager (MEM) will provide leadership in ensuring high quality monitoring and evaluation of the NE Resilience Project while liaising with the technical programming staff of the project and sub-recipients.
• The MEM reports to the Chief of Party for NE Resilience Project and is accountable for all the monitoring and evaluation, accountability, learning and documentation of technical project related activities, results and program quality.
• The MEM will provide specific monitoring and evaluation leadership to the project to ensure that the program is able to document progress, achieve its stated objectives and report to the donor and relevant entities of the Government of Nigeria (GON) in an accurate and timely manner. 
• The MEM takes the lead on project internal evaluation processes such as annual surveys, mid-term and final evaluations.
• The MEM leads in developing and managing an effective monitoring system with training, mentoring and on-the-job support to project M&E staff and CSO implementing partners. The MEM liaises with donor-funded M&E service providers in managing quality input into donor information systems and ensuring data quality.
• The MEM is responsible for the roll-out and functionality of information and communications for development (ICT4D) solutions which ensure participant tracking in all project activities and monitoring of household trends. This includes development and updating of forms for devices, training of staff and project field agents in device use and overall device management.
• The MEM leads in routine data analysis and liaises with technical program staff to identify and address issues in a timely manner.
• The MEM works closely with the technical program staff in knowledge management by documenting processes, successes and lessons learned throughout project implementation.
• The MEM provides direct guidance and oversees the day-to-day project management activities that support the implementation of project activities according to the detailed implementation plan and tracks progress and monitors project work plans of all consortium partners.
• The MEM is accountable and responsible for overseeing 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 project sub-recipients, CRS and individual consortium member organizations of the NE Resilience Project.
• The MEM will supervise the NE Resilience Project 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 in close collaboration with the project Technical Program Director to re-align and harmonize the project targeting strategies for effective integration and implementation of project activities (periodically review jointly for relevance and effectiveness).
• Support and work closely with the Technical Director, technical leads, and program management staff as well as other relevant technical and grant management staff from the project to:
  • Assist consortium partners and especially the project sub-recipients in developing organization-specific NE Resilience Project targeting and implementation strategies.
  • Contribute in the development of technical guidelines and standards for performance excellence.
• Train and provide technical assistance in relation to monitoring and evaluation to all sub-recipient project management teams implementing the NE Resilience Project.
• Provide guidance and technical assistance to the project 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 the project consortium partners and all sub-recipients to support the tracking and achievement of the project targets and in close collaboration with the NE Resilience Project M&E Associates develop a comprehensive M&E system, tools and plans for measuring performance at partner and consortium level.
• Support the CoP and Technical Program Director in planning, guidance and coordination with the key program staff in the consortium as well as relevant stakeholders to ensure that planning and monitoring are grounded on the program's strategic objectives and results area.

Promote innovation across consortium:

• Work with the Technical Program Director and technical leads, other country programs as well the Deputy Country Representative for Agriculture and Livelihoods 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 the project 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 donor 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 project reports to donors and the GON.
• Lead the development and management of the project performance management plan working in close collaboration with the CoP and Technical Program Director; liaise with donor 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 project M&E system design in a project-specific M&E manual for use by project staff and sub recipients; 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:
  • 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 project 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 reporting 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, identifying and documenting programmatic successes, best practices, challenges, and lessons learned
  • Working with the project technical team to identify opportunities for learning, formative, special studies and operational research
  • Working with partners to inform operational research and ensure effective uptake of recommendations
  • Identifying the need for and lead the implementation of special studies; oversee work of consultants
• Respond to data requests from the donor, FGN or States and other M&E partners; 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 project management and technical staff.

Facilitate learning and Knowledge Management:

• In close collaboration with the project Technical Program Director and M&E staff, promote the identification, documentation and exchange of lessons learned and best practices among the project consortium partners and sub-recipients
• Identify other international and local programs with similar interventions to NE Resilience Project and assist the CoP to facilitate linkages and exchange of experience with such programs to enhance adoption of innovative approaches among project 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 by the project at 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 linkages and develop frameworks for collaboration with local, 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 the project M&E staff and respective technical and program staff
• Analyze and interpret data from surveys and sub-recipient reports
• Provide leadership support to all donor's reporting requirements (including quarterly, semi-annual and annual technical reports) in a timely manner in coordination with Technical Program Director
• Work with the project 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, Donor, UN and others)
• Liaise with the Technical Director and respective technical program staff to strengthen linkages with technical persons from the relevant state and federal ministries to provide support to the project staff and sub-recipients achieving their goals
• Monitor and support sub-recipients’ strategy to maintain and strengthen collaboration with their respective LGAs and States
• Maintain technical linkages with region and HQ and while involving CoP, Country Representative, and Deputy Country Representative of Agriculture and Livelihoods Unit
• Supervision:
• Supervise M&E Associates based in state offices

Key Working Relationships
Internal:

• All NE Resilience Project staff as well as relevant technical advisors from CRS regional and headquarters offices, Deputy Country Representative for Agriculture and Livelihoods, MEAL Coordinator.

External:

• Senior managers of the sub-recipients, technical team of Donor, technical resource persons in relevant GON ministries and other implementing 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.
  

Minimum Qualifications and Experience

• MSc or PhD in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Social Science or related technical field with a minimum of 7 years of experience on technical and managerial positions.
• A minimum of five (5) years of demonstrated experience in managing performance monitoring plans, evaluation, collaboration, learning, and adapting (CLA) approach (preferably with knowledge of USAID’s CLA approach), and an understanding of agriculture production, market systems and livelihood programming; and
• At least (5) years of practical experience in using monitoring, evaluation and learning activities to inform activity implementation and results.
• 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 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 50 % of the time

Application Closing Date
14th May, 2019.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their expression of interest (EOI) along with a detailed resume as a single attachment on MS word document to: tenders.ngr@crs.org indicating position being applied for and the Job Ref Code as the subject of the application (e.g. Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, NE Resilience Project, MEM290419).

Note:

• Use of incorrect email subject will lead to disqualification
• Only applicants who send in their application in the required format will be considered
• Multiple applications will be disqualified

Equal Employer Opportunity:

• “CRS is an equal -opportunity employer, does not discriminate based on race, color, religion and we are committed to gender sensitive programming and management’. etc.
• Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply”

Statement of Commitment to Protection:

• ‘’CRS’ recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation’