Job Vacancy: Project Officer, Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Published · Updated

Reports To:                      Senior Project Officer – MEAL (CTWWC)

Length of Contract:        2 years

About Catholic Relief Services:

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) 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.

CRS has worked in Kenya since 1965. Over the years, CRS’s focus shifted from direct relief and food distributions to a comprehensive development program that works with partners and enhances the local capacity. CRS Kenya programs now support care reforms, children affected by HIV, and community-based efforts to increase household incomes, improve family health and sanitation, and enhance agricultural livelihoods

Background of the project:

Changing the Way We Care (CTWWC), a partnership of CRS and Maestral International, is a global initiative designed to promote safe, nurturing family care for children; demonstrating how to enable children to stay in or return to families who are able to care for them with support of governments that promote family care; and influencing national, regional and global bodies, donors and faith-based actors toward a shifting of commitment, practices and resources to family care.  CTWWC is demonstrating care reform and family care in Kenya, Guatemala, Moldova, India and Haiti, and is sharing out and supporting the use of learning from these countries to influence children’s care and family strengthening in the surrounding regions, including East and Southern Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and India.

Job Summary:

The MEAL officer will provide technical support to a range of MEAL activities for CTWWC in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices. The MEAL Officer will be responsible for the organization and updating of CTWWC data as per the established procedures and providing technical support to the local implementing partners (LIPs). The MEAL officer will lead in the monthly collation of data from the LIPs, verification of results reported, analysis and presentation and use of findings; building the capacity of CTWWC LIPs’ staff on MEAL; lead the review and strengthening capacity of LIPs to effectively collect, store, retrieve, use, and transmit data to inform program decisions.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

  • Review and where necessary provide guidance on improvement of LIPs MEAL operating manual.
  • Effectively manage all activities related to the collection, management, analysis, reporting, storage, and backup of project data from all sources and in prescribed formats and reporting platforms.
  • Support LIPs to implement activities according to annual detailed implementation plans (DIPs) and ensure compliance with CRS MEAL Policies and Procedures (MPPs) and donor MEAL requirements.
  • Conduct data analysis using appropriate statistical package and share findings for use in decision making.
  • Review and where necessary improve current practices, tools and guidance to ensure optimal project data quality, authenticity, and accuracy including periodic data quality assessments, data cleaning, and verification before reporting within the CTWWC initiative, amongst partners and to donors.
  • Provide MEAL technical support to LIPs especially as it relates to case management monitoring systems, contributions to CPIMS, and regular tracking of CTWWC indicators.
  • Work with the LIPs’ staff to oversee LIP rollout, linking and management of Feedback Complaints and Response Mechanisms (FCRM).
  • Develop and implement a mentorship program for LIPs on available databases and CTWWC reporting tools.
  • Support the use of technology for monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning.
  • Foster respectful relationships with community members and stakeholders including LIPs and Government of Kenya stakeholders including Department of Children Services (DCS) and promote honesty and integrity between CRS and partner staff in MEAL work.
  • Participate as a member of the Global CTWWC MEAL team, including attending monthly meetings
  • Support the SPO MEAL with planning, facilitation and reporting on quarterly and annual reporting and reflection activities
  • Support SPO MEAL with evaluation and learning activities, including outcome level data collection, analysis and use, case file reviews and KAP surveys

Required/Desired Foreign Language

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, able to write reports

Travel Required

  • Up to/approximately 50% of the time

Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory: None internal, possible supervision of external enumerators and data clerks

Internal: Project technical advisors, Project Officers, CTWWC Global MEAL team, Other CP MEAL and M&E staff

External: Community members, partner staff, other local stakeholders, MEAL staff from other peer agencies

QUALIFICATIONS

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in Demography, Statistics, Data management or any other MEAL-related field
  • Three years of relevant professional experience in project-level data management, including the development of data flow maps, data collection tools, reporting forms, and project databases.
  • Knowledge of technical principles, concepts, and current approaches in MEAL.
  • Experience in the use of key qualitative and quantitative evaluation tools and techniques.
  • Excellent knowledge of statistical analysis software (SPSS, Epi-Info, STATA, R, etc.)
  • Experience in using mobile-data collection and management software (e.g. ODK, CommCare, I-form builder, Kobo Collect, etc.)
  • Knowledge of data visualization and business information software such as Tableau and Power BI will be an added advantage.
  • Excellent analytic and computer skills; skilled in MS Office Suite including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Access.
  • Knowledge of national government bodies engaged in childcare and protection and policies related to child protection and alternative care.
  • Demonstrated ability to maintain positive relationships and work in a participatory and empowering manner with diverse actors at all levels including government officials, local implementing partners, and community members.
  • Experience in programming related to child protection or allied fields (education and health)

Personal Skills

  • Ability to learn, active listening, and analysis skills with the ability to make a sound judgment.
  • Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members.
  • Presentation, facilitation, training, and mentoring skills.
  • Attention to detail, accuracy, and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities with minimal oversight.
  • Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills.
  • Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.
  • Observation, active listening, and analysis skills with the ability to make a sound judgment.
  • Strong communication using both formal and informal approaches.
  • Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality.

MEAL Competencies:

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

Agency REDI 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.

  • Personal Accountability
  • Acts with Integrity
  • Builds and Maintains Trust
  • Collaborates with Others
  • Open to Learn
  • Strategic Mindset
  • Develops and Recognizes Others
  • Leads Change

Disclaimer:  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.

CRS’ emphasis on family values supports benefits, including maternity and paternity leave, policies that promote exclusive breastfeeding, the availability of a baby room at the office, and flexible working hours where possible.  Women are highly encouraged to apply.

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.

ABOUT US

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.

ABOUT THE TEAM

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Application: https://eipn.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/3000086?

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