Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Technical Advisor – Catholic Relief Services

Job Description

CRS has been operational in Malawi since 1997 beginning with addressing food security, collaborating with USAID on the country’s first food aid programs. For over two decades, CRS program has expanded to include food security, agroforestry, land restoration, emergency response, livelihoods, education, health, nutrition, early childhood development, microfinance, WASH, and private-sector engagement. All CRS programs integrate gender, youth, people living with disability, safeguarding, and partners’ capacity strengthening to address the evolving needs of the Malawian people. CRS expertise allows to tailor projects that foster long-term resilience through a multi-sectoral approach. CRS implements its programs through partnerships with the Church, local organizations, and community entities for maximum impact and sustainability.

CRS Malawi is preparing a response an upcoming USAID/BHA Malawi ER4 Graduation Activity. The proposed activity will apply a Graduation Approach with a gender focus to increase food and economic security of vulnerable households in Chikwawa and/or Nsanje districts in southern Malawi, enabling them to better manage shocks and stresses. The activity design will prioritize psychosocial wellbeing, market integration, and linkages to complementary programs and resources.

Job Summary: 

As MEAL Technical Advisor, you will work as part of a team on a large project and provide oversight of MEAL functions of the Malawi ER4 Graduation project to serve the poor and vulnerable. Your management and technical knowledge will ensure the delivery of high-quality programming. As a senior leader you will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Manage a key aspect of the development, implementation, and consolidation of the MEAL portfolio of the Malawi ER4 Graduation project. Serve as a contact on responsibility to USAID/BHA and public, private, and non-government stakeholders, when needed.
• Manage key MEAL functions of the project to meet donor expectations in terms of timely and quality results and budget. Contribute to ensuring coordination between program and operations leads. Contribute to ensuring the CRS program quality standards are adhered to per MEAL policy and procedures.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage MEAL team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching. Strategically tailor individual development plans and complete performance assessments for direct reports. Contribute to the development of MEAL staffing plans and the recruitment process of senior MEAL staff.
• Manage and mitigate risk through monitoring national and regional issues that may impact MEAL staff and programming. Ensure all staff understand and adhere to CRS staff safety and security policies and plans.
• Promote, uphold, and model a commitment to the efficient use of agency and donor resources. Help ensure compliance with USAID/BHA grant, including financial tracking and oversight of partner budgets, finance, administration, and reporting to USAID/BHA.
• Maintain relationships with key MEAL staff of consortium partner organizations in regard to area of responsibility. Contribute to coordination of the MEAL roles and activities of staff from other consortium member organizations in implementation in line with CRS partnership principles.
• Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to deficiencies. Identify performance gaps and training opportunities for CRS and partner staff and recommend training and technical assistance.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Very good strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Very good relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships.
• Experience implementing USAID-funded Early Recovery, Risk Reduction, and Resilience (ER4) is preferred.
• Demonstrated application of technical principles and concepts of the graduation approach, cash and voucher assistance, and social protection and their intersection with climate change, natural resource management, risk reduction, positive youth development, conflict sensitivity/social cohesion, and gender transformative approaches.
• Experience working in an advisory and/or management role on the implementation of cash assistance in humanitarian and/or development programming, specifically in relation to poverty alleviation, food and economic security, risk reduction, financial inclusion, health, nutrition, education, and/or child protection.
• Experience in Commcare, GIS, ARCGIS, MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.

Required Languages – Professional proficiency in English.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 30%-40% with most of the travel in program field sites.

Supervisory Responsibilities: RFSA Strategic Learning Advisor and Senior MEAL Team

Key Working Relationships: 

Internal: CRS Malawi MEAL Manager, CRS Southern African Regional MEAL Technical Advisor, and relevant HQ MEAL Technical Advisors

External: Local/regional governments, partners, USAID, and other relevant stakeholders

Qualifications#

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant technical area.
• Minimum of five years relevant international working experience in an advisory or management role with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with a minimum of three years working for programming interventions in food and economic security and emergency programs.
• Previous experience providing technical assistance and developing successful proposals for external donor funding is required.
• Demonstrated application of technical principles and concepts in monitoring and evaluation. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure a proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Experience in mentoring, coaching, facilitation, and training applying adult learning principles and practices.
• Experience with program monitoring and evaluation, including applying data collection tools and methodologies, data analysis, and data presentation.
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, and knowledge-sharing networks.
• Strong knowledge of USAID regulations and experience implementing USAID programming is required.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• 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.

What we offer

CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, generous retirement savings plan and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

About Us#

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  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 safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

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 committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

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.

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

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.