Senior Project Officer, MEAL - Catholic Relief Services

As a lead for implementing monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) initiatives for the Agriculture and Livelihoods and Youth Programs Units, you will be tasked to consult with project team(s) to develop and achieve project-level learning objectives; ensure projects meet MEAL policies and procedures; and develop action plans to raise the bar of project level MEAL performance. The Senior Project Officer-MEAL’s role includes but is not limited to: the development of standardized data collection tools and database systems, frequent data collection, verification of results reported, analysis and presentation of findings and project progress, implementation of project accountability mechanisms, and the provision of feedback to partners. The Senior Project Officer-MEAL will ensure that systems are in place to measure programs’ impact and progress, and that data is readily available to be used as a foundation for programmatic adjustments and evidence-based decision-making.

Key Working Relationships

• Supervisory: Program Manager – Agriculture
• Internal: Youth/Migration Project Manager, Head of Programming, Country Representative, other CRS staff
• External: District Assemblies, Decentralized relevant state departments, ministries and agencies, Catholic Diocesan Church Partners and Caritas Ghana, I/NGO partners, Government partners, technical partners, consultants, research and academic institutions, Local Government Units

Job Responsibilities

• Project MEAL System Design
  • Work with Program Manager- Agriculture (PM-Ag) and Program Quality Manager (PQM) for project MEAL system design, including drafting results framework, Proframe, accompanying MEAL narrative, and operating manual
  • Lead development and standardization of forms and tools to collect data on project monitoring indicators, results, effects and impacts (Simple Measurement of Indicators for Learning and Evidence-based Reporting, also known as SMILER) to comply with donor and CRS standards
  • Promote the use of ICT4D and assist in developing digital data collection systems
  • Ensure that all project monitoring arrangements comply with project and donor agreements

• Project Monitoring
  • In coordination with the Program Manager- Agriculture (PM-Ag) and Youth Project Coordinator, lead all project level data collection exercises
  • Conduct quarterly field visits to monitor the implementation of program activities
  • Lead annual project level beneficiary and service delivery indicator (BSDI) data according to agency standards, definitions and processes
  • Initiate annual data quality assessments for all projects over two years
  • Validate all collected data, to ensure it is accurate and of the highest quality
  • Analyze data collected using available ICT4D tools and software (I-form builder, CommCare, etc.)
  • Ensure all data is recorded in relevant project databases in a timely and accurate manner
  • Initiate thinking on innovative ways to collect and present data using ICT4D
• Project Evaluations
  • Lead data collection for baseline, midline and endline values for all projects as outlined in MEAL Policies and Procedures
  • Initiate terms of reference for all required evaluations
  • Lead efforts to coordinate final evaluation or after-action review as outlined in MEAL Policies and Procedures
  • Lead organization of participatory events with partners and beneficiaries to reflect on project monitoring data, identify learning and recommendations as a part of all evaluations and reviews
  • Lead all aspects of realizing project studies and evaluations, which includes but is not limited to: planning and arranging logistical arrangements for field research, overseeing sampling strategies, attending research and tool training workshops, leading quantitative, qualitative and participatory data collection efforts in the field, supervising the execution of field studies and ensuring the reliability and validity of data collected therein
• Budgeting 
  • Draft budget for all project-level MEAL activities and support budgeting during design phase of proposal development
• Accountability
  • Adopt best practices for including beneficiary input into all major monitoring, evaluation and learning activities
  • Reporting and Learning for Improving Program Quality
  • Draft documentation of results and other evaluation findings to key stakeholders, as requested
  • Highlight areas of concern in project quality as shown in data analysis
  • Assist in knowledge management initiatives, including leading in the completion of past performance reference for each project and maintaining an updated Gateway system
  • Ensure project documentation of activities is complete with all required documents and is filed per agency and donor requirements. Assist with preparation of trends analysis reports and documentation of case studies and promising practices

• Other
  • Review data collection systems as implemented by partners, to ensure rigor and appropriateness of practices
  • Lead formal training events for partner MEAL staff, to enhance their capacity for sound MEAL implementation
  • Accompany and mentor partners after MEAL trainings, to ensure knowledge retention and address concerns which may emerge
  • Facilitate the work of counterparts assigned to other projects, or complete assessments related to business development, to bolster in house MEAL technical support to all CRS projects and programs

Required Skills or Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in agriculture, development studies or social sciences required. Master’s degree in Agriculture (Economics, Extension, Agribusiness), Statistics or in the social sciences would be a plus.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of work experience in project support, ideally in the field of monitoring and evaluation and for an NGO with a background in agricultural and youth programming.
• Experience with digital data collection systems and tools required
• Experience working with international, national or local partners in participatory action planning and community engagement activities.
• Staff supervision experience a plus.
• Excellent understanding of local NGOs and government systems
• Knowledge of participatory and rural development processes
• Strong skills in assessing and developing partner capacity including institutional strengthening in MEAL
• Experience using statistical analytical software/tools, SPSS, MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Proficiency in English; other local languages a strong advantage

Personal Skills 

• Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities

Travel Required:

Willing to travel 50% of the time to project sites

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