MEAL Officer - (Field Only) at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works tosave, protect, and transformlives 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.

We are recruiting to fill the position be:

Job Title: MEAL Officer - (Field Only)

Job ref.: 200000PX
Location: CARO-NG-Borno
Job Type: Full-time
Shift: Standard
Schedule: Regular
Travel: Yes, 20 % of the Time
Employee Status: Entry Level
Job: Program Management
Required Languages - English Language and Hausa Language
Travel - Travel up to 20% at the time as needed

Job Summary

• Since the crisis in Northeast Nigeria escalated in 2013, the food security situation has continued to worsen. Emerging data of June 2016 has revealed that the severity of the food and nutritional crisis is well beyond emergency thresholds in Borno State.
• The Federal Government has declared a food and nutritional crisis in Borno, where over 750,000 people are severely food insecure; including 180,000 in Maiduguri’s outskirts, 120,000 camp residents and approximately 275,000 IDPs in newly reopened areas. A growing number of people are in urgent need of food assistance, and alarming rates of acute malnutrition have been reported.
• The re-opening of Local Government Areas (LGAs), many which have been inaccessible for an extended period of time, has led to the identification of new IDP locations in Borno State, while ongoing conflict between the military and Boko Haram has resulted in the influx of more IDPs into Maiduguri metropolis and the establishment of several spontaneous camps. The number of IDPs in both Maiduguri, Jere and other LGAs continue to increase – with the current reports indicating a total of 1.6 million IDPs in Borno State alone.
• In this emergency context, IDP households are among the worst affected populations as displacement has resulted in the loss and destruction of key assets and the interruption of livelihoods. Furthermore, in Maiduguri center, the majority of IDPs families have found refuge with host families, with whom they share already scarce natural resources such as shelter and water. As per CRS’ needs assessments, these communities are in immediate need of food, WASH, emergency shelter, NFIs save lives and restore dignity. CRS has also identified agriculture and livelihoods as a key need and gap in the ongoing humanitarian response.
• In order to effectively respond to the crisis, CRS Borno’s emergency and early recovery programs are focused on food security, NFI, WASH and shelter, and Agriculture Livelihoods for both IDPs and host families. Where possible, CRS will seek to maximize project impact, efficiency and effectiveness by adopting market-based approaches - through e-vouchers and the RedRose OneSytem platform - privileging integrated programming and empowering targeted communities through participatory approaches

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• With technical assistance from the Borno MEAL Coordinator, the MEAL RTA and the MEAL Manager, conduct a SMILER workshop at the project start
• Track the project performances vs. project indicators
• Create and manage databases to ensure the traceability of the project beneficiaries and assistance provided
• Conduct a household level baseline study at the start of the project
• Regularly conduct on-site monitoring and post-distribution surveys
• Carryout market assessments for new project sites
• Regularly collect and analyze market price data
• Review, clean and analyze all project data, including but not limited to: beneficiary registration, baseline study, onsite monitoring, post-activity monitoring, price data, final evaluation.
• Ensure that the project mid-term evaluation and project’s Real-Time Evaluation are conducted in a timely manner and as per donor’s regulations.
• Ensure the project final evaluation is timely conducted.
• Elaborate, review, and test all M&E tools.
• Promote the use of Information Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) solutions throughout the project including for the registration of beneficiaries, the registration of traders/vendors, the monitoring of the project activities, the post-distribution household surveys, the post-distribution market surveys, the baseline study, and the mid-term and final evaluations.
• Establish and manage a system to track beneficiary and non-beneficiary’s feedbacks and complaints management.
• Ensure a timely submission of the baseline study report, post-distribution monitoring reports, market monitoring reports, feedbacks and complaints management reports, and evaluations reports.
• Support the development and testing of electronic data entry questionnaires using the iFormBuilder (or other software as needed) during periodic surveys and data analysis using an appropriate statistical package.
• Train enumerators and daily workers on data collection tools and on the utilization of iPads and/or android devices.
• Supervise data collection exercises.
• In coordination with the Database Officer, maintain the project’s stock of IT equipment (including vendor phones, program phones, solar panels, Bluetooth printers, etc.)
• Collect and share lessons learned, best practices, success stories and innovations stemming from program implementation.
• Formulate and share clear recommendations for improved programming implementation
• Compile yearly beneficiary data.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
• Thorough technical knowledge and experience in MEAL.
• Demonstrated experience in database management
• Demonstrated appropriateness of quantitative statistical management programs including ACCESS, SPSS, EPI-INFO, STATA and EXCEL
• High degree of competency and comfort with information and communication technology used for MEAL
• Strong group process design and facilitation skills, including developing and leading workshop
• Demonstrated commitment to gender responsive programming.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, oral and written communication skills.
• Team-oriented and strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and to organize and prioritize a variety of initiatives
• Demonstrable experience working with Information and Communication Technologies (software and hardware)

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Key Working Relationships:

• Internal: Other Emergency MEAL Officers, MEAL Manager, NE MEAL Coordinator, Emergency Program Officers, Database Manager, Database Assistance, Operations Staff and Program Managers
• External: Local partners, Red Rose team, enumerators, external consultants and other key stakeholders

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor or Master’s degree or Engineering Degree in Information and Technology Management, Statistics or any other relevant equivalent degree
• At least 3 years’ full-time experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning, preferably with an international NGO

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:

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.