Project Officer - MEAL at Catholic Relief Services (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 are accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

CRS has been supporting program activities in Nigeria for over 30 years and has long-standing relationships with Church and non-Church partners and communities throughout the country. The Nigeria country program has a diverse funding base with projects in health, nutrition, food security and agricultural livelihoods, microfinance (SILC), emergency response and peacebuilding. CRS/Nigeria currently has over 210 national and 8 international staff. With an FY22 annual budget of over USD $100 million, coupled with strong donor interest in supporting CRS’ work in the country, significant growth opportunities exist for the CP. The CP has been supporting emergency activities in the NE states since 2015 with offices in Damaturu, Maiduguri and Yola.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Project Officer - MEAL

Job ID: 2200003J
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Job Type: Full-time
Shift: Standard
Schedule: Regular
Job Level: Day Job
Travel: Yes, 50 % of the Time
Job: Program Management
Employee Status: Individual Contributor

Job Summary

• Under the direction of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Manager, the MEAL Officer will be responsible for all MEAL related activities including, but not limited to: monitoring progress on project indicators, elaboration of M&E tools, conducting needs/market/post activity assessments, beneficiary database management, recalibration of beneficiary targeting at project mid-point, development and implementation of accountability mechanism as well as compilation of monthly, bi-monthly, and quarterly reports.
• The MEAL officer will be based in Maiduguri with frequent trips to the project area and will report to the MEAL Manager but will also work closely with the CRS Emergency MEAL Coordinator for technical support.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• With technical assistance from the Emergency MEAL Coordinator and the MEAL RTA, facilitate 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 monitoring surveys
• Carryout market assessments for new and existing 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 Commcare, Red Rose collect, Kobo collect, (or other software as needed) during periodic surveys and data analysis using 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 ICT4D Specialist, 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.

Key Working Relationships:

• Internal: Other Emergency MEAL Officers, Program Managers, MEAL Manager, MEAL Coordinator, Emergency Program Officers, ICT4D Specialist, Operations Staff.
• External: Local partners, Red Rose team, enumerators, external consultants and other key stakeholders.

Basic Qualifications
Education and Experience:

• Bachelor or Master’s Degree in Information and Technology Management, Statistics or any other relevant equivalent degree.
• 4 to 6 years full time experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning, preferably with an international NGO.
• Thorough technical knowledge and experience in MEAL.
• Demonstrated experience in database management.
• Demonstrated appropriateness of quantitative statistical management programs including Microsoft Access, SPSS, EPI-INFO, STATA, and Microsoft Excel. Knowledge of Microsoft Power BI will be an added advantage.
• Familiarity with GIS and GPS technology.
• 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 workshops.
• 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).
• Fluency in English and Hausa Language is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data preferred.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent interpersonal skills must be able to interact in a mature, professional, and friendly manner with local and international colleagues of differing religious and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and privacy.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and to organize and prioritize a variety of initiatives.
• Demonstrated commitment to gender-responsive and safe/dignified programming.
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
• Proactive, results-oriented and service and customer-oriented.
• Understanding of NGOs’ and other entities responsibility to protect beneficiaries from sexual exploitation and abuse.

Required Languages:

• English and Hausa language required. Proficiency in other local languages will be an added advantage.

Travel:

• Must be willing and able to travel up to 40% of the time to field locations.

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
1st March, 2022.