Monitoring Evaluation Accountability Learning (MEAL) Manager required at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Reports To: Chief of Party
Length of Contract: 5 years

Please note that this position is contingent upon award of the funding opportunity and the USAID’s approval of candidacy.

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 worked in Kenya since 1965. Over the years, CRS’ focus shifted from direct relief and food dist ributions to a comprehensive development program that works with partners and enhances local capacity. CRS Kenya development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.

Sustainable, Transformative, Accessible, WASH Innovations (STAWI) Project:
Sustainable, Transformative, Accessible, WASH Innovations (STAWI) project aims to build resilience and expand economic opportunities in Kenya ASAL counties through better management of water resources, expansion of water and sanitation services and improved use of water for domestic and productive purposes. The goal of the project is to 1) Improve governance of water resources and water services, 2) increase sustainability of water services delivery, 3) Improve management and efficiency of water use for productive purposes and 4) Change behaviors related to water use, sanitation and hygiene.

Job Summary:
The MEAL Manager will design, manage, strengthen, and provide technical Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) oversight for the USAID Sustainable, Transformative, Accessible, WASH Innovations (STAWI) project, ensuring effective systems and processes that generate and use quality evidence and data through monitoring, assessments, research, learning events and evaluations to support high-quality programming and advance project goals. You will produce data-driven analyses and products to inform project design and implementation, maintain a performance management system, and support data reporting and dissemination. You will promote coordination, collaboration, continuous learning, and adaptive management across project objectives and partner activities to allow for agility and adaptability.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

1. Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight for MEAL throughout the STAWI project cycle to ensure project design, start-up, implementation, and close-out are in line with CRS quality principles and standards, MEAL policies, procedures, and practices, donor MEAL guidelines, and industry best practices.
2. Lead the design and implementation of the project MEAL plan, ensuring monitoring and evaluation methodologies and data collection systems are appropriate and practical.
3. Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight for the development and implementation of high-quality MEAL systems and processes, including data quality assurance and assessments, ICT4MEAL and the application of responsible data principles as per agency and donor requirements.
4. Guide the design and implementation of assessments, gender analysis, stakeholder analysis, organizational capacity assessments, and other data collection and analysis.
5. Provide management, guidance and technical oversight for project evaluations and research, including the development of terms of reference or study protocols that include evaluation/learning questions, a balance of qualitative and quantitative methods, appropriate consideration of ethical and data protection standards, and the necessary technical rigor.
6. Identify opportunities for learning, research, and publications, ensuring promising practices, lessons learned, and recommendations are identified, documented, disseminated, and used to improve program quality.
7. Oversee effective implementation of beneficiary accountability mechanisms, ensuring beneficiary feedback is documented, acted upon, analyzed, and used to inform project decisions.
8. Support learning-to-action events and reflection sessions to systematically analyze and apply project performance data and lessons learned to promote adaptive management during project implementation.
9. Leverage lessons learned, best practices, project data, evaluations, and other information to generate communication products, including progress reports, success stories and case studies for the donor and other stakeholders.
10. Coordinate the integration of ICT4D in project MEAL activities to optimize efficiency and effectiveness in data collection, management, and use.
11. Effectively recruit, manage, and supervise the MEAL team and external evaluators or research partners to ensure high quality data collection, management, and use in routine monitoring, evaluations, assessments, and studies.
12. Oversee MEAL-related technical assistance and capacity strengthening for staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact.
13. Oversee timely and appropriate project MEAL expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project resources.

Required Languages– Excellent verbal and written communication in English.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 40% as needed.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions and offer innovative solutions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with culturally diverse groups at all levels internally and externally, conducive to a learning environment.
• Good presentation and facilitation skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented.
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality.

Supervisory Responsibilities: MEAL Team

Key Working Relationships:
Internal: Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, STAWI MEAL and Programming, Country Program MEAL Team, EARO and HQ Technical Advisors
External: Community members, Partner staff, MEAL staff from peer agencies, County government staff

Basic Qualifications:
Education and Experience

• Master’s Degree in International Development, Social science, Public health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Statistics or other relevant field is required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• 10 years’ experience working in a development setting preferably with an international NGO, with at least seven years of experience working in MEAL and at least four years of experience as a supervisor.
• Familiarity with principles and current approaches to MEAL of development programs including data quality assurance, data utilization, data protection, gender integration in MEAL, Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA), evaluative thinking and adaptive management.
• Experience establishing, maintaining, and using MEAL systems from project design to implementation and close-out (including developing theories of change, results frameworks, logic models, M&E plans, learning and accountability plans) as well as building staff capacity to utilize the systems.
• Demonstrated leadership, technical and management expertise, and supervisory experience.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative analysis experience, with proven ability to use data collection, analysis and visualization software (e.g., Commcare, ODK, SPSS, STATA, Zoho reports, PowerBi)
• Strong oral and written communication with demonstrated ability to articulate technical information clearly and effectively, verbally and in reports.
• Experience in facilitating groups, meetings, and events (both online and in-person), resulting in collaborative decision-making, and agreed upon action items/ priorities.
• Experience in managing MEAL for moderately complex projects preferably with an international NGO.
• Experience working with large donors, including USAID.
• Experience engaging with and building the MEAL capacity of staff and partner organizations.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

MEAL Competencies

• Demonstrates advanced knowledge and ability and can apply MEAL in Design, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning, Analysis and Critical Thinking, MEAL in Management competencies in new or complex situations. Guides other professionals.
• Demonstrates solid knowledge and ability, and can apply, ICT4MEAL competency with minimal or no guidance, in the full range of typical situations. Would require guidance to handle novel or more complex situations.

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

This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

What we offer:
CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.
*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.

CRS Kenya strives to be a place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and work , stay, and do their best.

CRS provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability or handicap, medical condition and any other status protected by law. As an equal opportunity employer, CRS will recruit, hire, train and promote persons solely on their qualifications and abilities.
*By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.*

Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.