Senior Project Officer – Monitoring & Evaluation (Isiolo) at Catholic Relief Services
About the job
Job Description
Reports To: M&E Manager (Nairobi)
County Head of Office (Isiolo) – administrative
Length of Contract: One year with annual renewal subject to availability of funds
About CRS
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) carries out the commitment of the Catholic 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 is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) supporting relief and development work in over 100 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity, race or nationality. CRS works through local church and non-church partners, including the Government to implement its programs.
CRS opened operations in Kenya in 1965. For over 50 years, we have worked throughout the country to implement programs in agriculture, livelihoods, health and nutrition, water, sanitation, emergency relief and peace building. We have built deep relationships with the Government of Kenya and the Catholic Church through ongoing collaboration and support.
Background
CRS is leading the Nawiri Project, a consortium of international non-governmental organizations, local implementing partners and international/ national research institutions to implement a multi-year USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA). Our partner agencies include Isiolo and Marsabit county governments, Isiolo and Marsabit Caritas, JSI, Village Enterprise, Concern Worldwide, Tufts University and Kenyatta University. The overarching goal of this multi-sectoral activity is to sustainably reduce levels of Persistent Acute Malnutrition (PAM) in Marsabit and Isiolo Counties of Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). Following completion of Phase 1 (Oct. 2019 – Feb. 2022), the project is now in its implementation phase, focused on systems and institutional strengthening. An extension period means the project will now run until 2027, but with less presence over time as local actors including county governments increasingly take over.
Job Summary
The Senior Project Officer (M&E) herein referred to as the M&E SPO oversees all M&E related activities in the county (Isiolo) and works closely with the Nawiri M&E Manager in developing, testing, and refining data collection tools, systems and processes for program monitoring and evaluation, in line with the required CRS and USAID BHA guidelines. The M&E SPO directly supports Systems Strengthening, Social Behavior Change, Gender Youth and Social Dynamics crosscutting sectors and supervises the county M&E Officers and Nutrition Case Management M&E Officers. The M&E SPO works closely with consortium partner and county government M&E staff to ensure data is collected in a timely and accurate manner and entered to the data management platform, so it reflects on the Nawiri dashboards accurately and in a timely manner. As part of local capacity building, the incumbent will work closely with the Caritas and county M&E departments to strengthen the county M&E function. As part of the overall CP MEAL unit, the SPO contributes to learning with other CP MEAL staff during Pause & Reflect (P&R) sessions , catch-up meetings, and other learning events.
Roles And Key Responsibilities
- Oversees the M&E function in the county where they are based and works closely with the ICT4D team, Caritas, county government M&E department and other partner M&E staff in the county.
- Participate in the design, management, and strengthening of Nawiri M&E systems, ensuring cross-learning in M&E across consortium teams and CRS led-Nawiri partners.
- Participate in activity-level monitoring and verification of results in the field, including ensuring that data is timely, complete, accurate, and consistent across dashboards, databases, and reports.
- Work with the county government teams in the roll-out and implementation of the electronic County Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation System (eCIMES) which provides an integrated structure and process for counties to engage stakeholders, plan, govern, manage, and operate independently and in sync with one another.
- Conduct routine data quality checks with the M&E manager and internal annual data quality assessments and participate in external data quality assessments led by USAID BHA, including supporting the resolution of data quality issues within stipulated timelines.
- Participate in the implementation of internal surveys, namely but not limited to, participant based annual surveys (PaBS), post distribution monitoring (PDMs) amongst others.
- Recurrent Resilience Analysis (RRA),
- Liaise and collaborate regularly with Nawiri’s Accountability and Learning (A&L) SPO and POs, sharing project data and emerging trends, to help optimize project team use of M&E data and information for ongoing learning, adaptations and evidence-based decision making. Actively support both county M&E POs on the same, as fitting/ requested. E.g., through periodic P&R sessions (all sectors and levels), quarterly reflection and planning workshops, plus various learning, and dissemination events.
- Working with the county head of office and sector staff, contribute to the quarterly indicators monitoring report and share results of projects’ quality performance based on monitoring data findings.
- Help in troubleshooting ICT4D issues in the field and work with sector teams and ICT4D teams to formulate solutions and ensure seamless data collection.
- Coordinate management and use of ICT4D devices by CRS and partner staff in the implementation areas in line with CRS, USAID-BHA and industry standards.
Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities
- Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
- Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely, influence and get buy-in from staff and local partners.
- Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.
- Attention to details, accuracy, and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
- Presentation, facilitation, training, and mentoring skills.
- Proven team management experience, in complex programming contexts
- Strong active listening and communication skills using both formal and informal approaches.
- High integrity with ability to manage sensitive information professionally while maintaining confidentiality.
- Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Required Languages: Excellent verbal and written communication in English, with ability to write reports.
Travel: Must be willing and able to travel to the field up to 60% in the assigned county and sister county as needed.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Project Officers – M&E (Isiolo), Project Officer – M&E (Nutrition Case Management). Possible supervision of external consultants and enumerators.
Key Working Relationships
Internal: M&E Technical Lead, M&E Manager, A&L Officers, Project staff, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) staff.
External: Implementing partner M&E officers and consortium partner staff, peer agencies’ staff, and community members.
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications
- Master’s degree in International Development, Nutrition, Public Health, Demography, Social Sciences, Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation, or other MEAL related field is required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
- Minimum of four years’ NGO experience in designing and managing monitoring and evaluation systems for moderately complex projects, funded by USAID, preferably in food security and nutrition related projects.
- Knowledge of USAID MEL technical principles, guidance, and concepts and experience collecting USAID indicators a distinct advantage
- Experience and skills in partner relationship management, staff supervision, participatory action planning and community engagement 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 using data analysis software is preferred (SPSS, STATA, EpiInfo, Nutrisurvey).
- Experience in using mobile-data collection and management software (e.g. ODK, Commcare,I-form builder, Kobo)
- Demonstrated experience facilitating groups, meetings, and events (both online and in-person), resulting in collaborative decision-making with agreed-upon action items/ priorities.
- Experience working in Marsabit or Isiolo and/ or with county governments, with the ability to speak at least one local language, will be an added advantage.
MEAL Competencies (for CRS MEAL Program Staff)
Each Staff Member In This Position Is Expected To Have Solid Knowledge And Ability And Can Apply The Following Competencies With Minimal Or No Guidance, In The Full Range Of Typical Situations, While Requiring Guidance To Handle Novel Or More Complex Situations
- Monitoring
- Accountability
- Learning
In Addition, Each Staff Member In This Position Is Expected To Have Basic Knowledge And Ability And, With Guidance, Be Able To Apply The Following Competencies In Common Situations That Present Limited Difficulties
- MEAL in Design
- Evaluation
- Analysis and Critical Thinking
- ICT4MEAL
- Management in MEAL
Agency REDI 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 enhances team and agency performance.
- Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.
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 and persons with disabilities 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.
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.
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.
Organization
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
