Senior Project Officer – MEAL – Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

 Job Description

Job Title: Senior Project Officer – MEAL
Department: Country Programming
Band: 8
Reports To: Emergency Program Manager
Country/Location: Mogadishu, Somalia
Length of Contract: 10 Months
About Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization supporting relief and
development work in over 100 countries around the world. Through its programs CRS assists poor and vulnerable
persons based on need, regardless of creed, ethnicity, or nationality. It works through partners to implement its
programs, therefore, strengthening and building the capacity of these partner organizations is fundamental to
programs in every country in which CRS operates.
CRS has a long history of supporting local civil-society organizations in Somalia and has implemented development
and emergency programming in multiple sectors, primarily supported by the United States Agency for
International Development. CRS’ work in Somalia supports populations across 5 regions of Somalia, with
emergency presence concentrated in the South-Central area.
CRS began working in Somalia in 1961 responding with food to assist flood victims and established its first office
there in 1964. Today, CRS continues to respond to the urgent needs of the Somali people through meeting their
immediate needs (food and water); providing essential services (health, nutrition, and protection); creating and
rehabilitating critical infrastructure (latrines and wells); restoring productive assets and purchasing power to build
resilience and promote long-term, sustainable solutions; and ensuring peacebuilding activities to transform
intercommunal conflict.
Job Summary:
As a member of the programming team, the Senior Project Officer – MEAL will be focused on monitoring and
reporting on all project activities, processes, outputs, outcomes and context in support of CRS’ work serving the
poor and vulnerable. S/he will be expected to approach this work with a thorough, service-oriented, capacity
strengthening approach and will ensure that the project consistently applies best MEAL practices, develops and
implements a strong MEAL system, which generates data that enables evidence-based decision-making and
adaptive management, and ultimately leads to high quality of the programming and increases impact on
beneficiaries’ lives.
Roles and Key Responsibilities
• Support the coordination and implementation of all Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning
(MEAL) project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation and MEAL plans, CRS program quality
principles and standards, CRS MEAL Policies and Procedures, donor requirements, and good MEAL
practices.
• Provide technical guidance and capacity building support to project implementing partners on data
quality, robust data collection, systematic analysis, high-quality reporting, feedback from participants,
and data use for decision-making.
• Conduct data verification and quality assurance exercise on both monitoring and non-sensitive feedback
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reported by implementing partners and support partner action planning to address any gaps or
weaknesses found.
• Systematically monitor, identify, and report on any challenges, gaps, or “surprises” in programming to
leadership and relevant program staff.
• Lead the rollout of accountability systems, including the feedback, complaints, and response mechanism
(FCRM) to ensure accountability across the programming portfolio
• Support the planning, implementation, and follow-up of regular reflection on project data and
experiences amongst program and partner staff.
• Support the Emergency Program Manager in timing and tailoring MEAL evidence and data to targeted
audiences for use, decision-making and adaptive management.
• Collaborate with local partner(s) to prepare high-quality performance and, as relevant, evaluation reports
per established reporting schedule and partner agreements.
• Assist with identifying and collecting information for case studies and briefs on promising practices and
learning.
• Closely work with partner MEAL team to keep project documents up to date, monitor project progress
and present to the project management for decision-making
• Carry out routine supportive supervision to project sites and prepare detailed field reports.
• Lead MEAL system digitalization and capacity building of field staff on digitalized system.
• Lead capacity building initiatives, remotely or on-site, to staff and partners to ensure efficient and
consistent adoption and use of ICT4D applications.
• Configure and maintain applications and user devices. Provide timely and quality service delivery,
technical support, and advice to user requests to ensure proper user access to agency business data and
information.
MEAL Competencies:
• Track project MEAL requirements – both CRS MEAL Policies and Procedures (MPP) and donor
requirements.
• Work with MEAL staff and partner staff to implement the MPP and donor MEAL requirements applicable
to your projects.
• Complete the annual MEAL procedure self-assessment for your project and develop action plan to
advance MEAL practice.

 Experiences and Qualifications

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements
Education and Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in demography, sociology, statistics, Development Studies, Economics, or any
other MEAL-related field.
• Minimum of four years of relevant, progressive work experience in MEAL, ideally with an
international NGO.
• Knowledge of technical principles, concepts and current approaches in MEAL.
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• Experience in designing and overseeing implementation of program studies and evaluation, and use
of findings to support adaptive management.
• Experience and skills in partner relationship management and development project support is a plus.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing

Applications, information management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.

• Experience in introduction, design, implementation, and adoption of relevant technology and data
management tools.
• Experience in using data analysis software (SPSS, STATA).
• Experience in using mobile-data collection and management software (e.g. ODK, Comcare, I-form
builder, Kobo, Power-BI, you track)
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity, and inclusion including gender equality.
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.
• Strong and proactive organizational and trouble-shooting skills required.
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
• Ability to promote honesty and integrity in work of MEAL Agents through training on field-based
activities
• Ability to provide input to MEAL system design and review discussions.
• Ability to supervise quality data collection and management activities.

• Ability to Lead simple analyses and reflective discussions on ongoing monitoring data.

• Ability to contribute initial findings and field-based insights to project discussions.
• Support compliance with agency and donor MEAL requirements
Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an
engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. 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 – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is

considered honest. Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.

• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn
new things.
Agency Leadership Competencies:
• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness,
and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance
team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy
and team priorities.
Required/Desired Foreign Language: Excellent verbal and written communication in English and Somali is
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required and ability to write reports in an understandable manner.
Travel Required: Up to 50% travel to support programming in Somalia.
Key working relationships
Supervisory: NONE.
Reports to: Emergency Program Manager.
Internal: Country Manager, Program Managers
External: Implementing Partners
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities
associated with the position.
What do 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.
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 Somalia 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 people solely with 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 safeguardingrelated topics.
The protection of your personal data is important to Catholic Relief Services. By submitting your application, you
consent to CRS using your personal data only for the recruitment process to have all the information and
documents necessary to proceed with the recruitment, validation of your application and selection of the most
suitable candidate. Your personal data will be treated confidentially. CRS will not use your personal data in any
other way other than for purposes of recruitment.