Program Officer – Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)
Position Title:Program Officer – Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)
Program: Somalia Program
Dept/Location: M & E
Reports To: Country Manager
Position Reference #: 2013/17
POSITION SUMMARY
The Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer will be responsible for all of the Country
Program’s Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning systems. The MEAL Officer will support in the
establishment and implementation of a comprehensive Monitoring, Evaluation Accountability and Learning system for
the county program including data management systems; guiding the overall monitoring, evaluation, accountability and
learning strategy; improve the quality of CRS Somalia’s interventions by strengthening institutional memory and lesson
learning through a systematized approach to researching, recording, documenting and internalizing experiences with
maximum participation of internal and external stakeholders.
The MEAL Officer will keep abreast of state of the art Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning approaches
to ensure the use of technically appropriate monitoring and evaluation models and information systems. Providing
M&E expertise in the core programming sectors of Humanitarian Response, Food Security, WASH, Health and Nutrition,
and Micro finance as well as Peace building, the MEAL Officer will assist the country program in producing, managing,
communication and using high quality information. Critical tasks for the MEAL Officer are to manage and enhance
the CRS Somalia Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning system, ensuring it is implemented effectively,
including data collection activities, survey work, analysis and M&E reporting. To accomplish these responsibilities the
MEAL Officer will work closely with all parties involved in the M&E design and implementation including: Program
Officer, RTA, representatives from partners and key stakeholders groups, external consultants and donors.
Primary Responsibilities:
The MEAL Officer will provide support, leadership and guidance in the country program in all matters pertaining to
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning. The MEAL Officer will build capacity in the country program and
the CRS Somalia partner base by identifying and supporting the implementation of program/project M&E models that
are effective and cost-efficient tools for institutional learning to support improved and more unified program quality.
The MEAL Officer will be responsible for ensuring that the M&E systems implemented by the sectoral programs within
the country program are providing the information needed for reports to donors and for informing management
decisions. The MEAL Officer will oversee the quality and timely implementation of M&E initiatives through provision of
leadership and technical guidance/assistance.
Specific Responsibilities:
The Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning Officer will work closely with the Country Manager and Program
Officer to provide technical systemic support to programs in order to yield timely and accurate data for on-going
managerial use. This includes:
1. Ensure effective Management of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning systems:
• Manage and oversee the collection and organization of information in accordance with CRS M&E System and M&E
Framework;
• Track performance on established input, activity, output, effect and impact indicators to measure achievement and
track progress towards intermediate results and overall program strategic objectives.
• Work closely with the Country Manager and Program Officer to process, analyze and use this information to improve
management, make necessary adjustments, and assess trends.
• Conduct spot checks at the individual site and community level to evaluate adherence to programming standards
and visually verify information reported through the normal reporting systems.
• Develop CRS and partner capacity building strategies for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning; and
oversee the production of regular reports to East African Regional Office.
• Design and implement annual M&E work plans that support the CRS Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning strategy.
2. Develop and Maintain Enabling Environment for MEAL:
• Develop good working relations with Country Manager and Program Officer to ensure that MEAL remains a high
priority in the country program
• Through regular liaison with and support to Country Manager and Program Officer, ensure that the Monitoring
Evaluation Accountability and Learning plan is implemented.
• Liaise with each partner to check progress on the implementation of M&E activities
• Develop an individual detailed M&E plan for each project and monitor for implementation and quality.
• Identify needs that each project has to support implementation of M&E activities, provide mentoring training to
teams in the field locations.
• Actively contribute to all aspects of the recruitment process for new program and M&E staff in the country program
to ensure that M&E perspectives are considered;
• Ensure M&E technical assistance is available to sectoral units;
• Provide hands-on technical assistance to staff in designing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting for both publicly –
and privately- funded projects.
3. Strengthen Management Information Systems:
• Support and contribute to the development of a Management Information System through documentation,
implementation and coordination of standardized M&E
• Collaborate with Country Manager and Program Officer to identify their M&E related needs and allocate resources
accordingly.
• Ensure the various program’s M&E systems provide timely and accurate information required by the donor and
other stakeholders:
• Develop and or revise appropriate M&E tools for Projects within the country program to capture information on
activities.
• Regularly audit M&E tools to ensure compliance with donor requirements.
• Ensure Program’s M&E systems are responsive to changing donor requirements.
• Facilitate the overall analysis, reporting, utilization and feedback of information generated through various M&E
activities;
• Facilitate the collection process of best practices, which is implemented by program staff’. The justification of this
would be that by engaging program staff and partners in the collection process, they are more likely to uptake that
change
4. Direct Technical Support
• Participate in the development of program/project proposals and planning the implementation of program/project
strategies.
• Coordinate the preparation of the programs/projects annual workplans and the preparation and implementation of
integrated monitoring, evaluation and learning plan.
• Coordinate the implementation of program evaluations/assessments e.g. baselines, mid-term, final evaluations,
operations research activities e.t.c
• Provide direct technical support to CRS Somalia and its partners in developing indicators and M&E plans
• Ensuring that monitoring visits are meaningful and capture data sought and feed into management decisions.
• Identify bottlenecks in the program M&E systems, recommend appropriate solutions and ensure follow-through.
• Work with CRS program staff and partners to develop a framework to monitor and evaluate the progress and impact
of all CRS Somalia’s programs.
5. Facilitate the identification of lessons learnt and best practices for dissemination
• Consolidate lessons learnt/best practices
• Ensure the documentation of lesson learnt/best practice related stories each quarter.
• Oversee the establishment of best practice model sites.
6. Coordinate the overall country learning systems
• Ensure that processes are in place for systematic and inclusive feedback is given to all concerned communities and
stakeholders on all evaluations undertaken
• As part of the learning function, seek to identify learning points across the range of work carried out and identify
opportunities to share this learning through meetings, workshops, reports etc.
• Where appropriate, share materials with CRS East African Regional Office and Headquarters.
• Design, implement case studies across programme
• Promote strengthened understanding and capacities within project and program teams on MEAL, and use and/or
analysis of MEAL systems at the project and partner levels.
5. Key Working Relationships:
Internal: EARO STA M&E, EARO RTAs, HRD
External: Partner M&E staff, other partner staff
Minimum Qualifications:
• Minimum 4 -5 years of experience working on M & E for a large program, preferable in the NGO setting.
• Masters degree in Statistics, Social Sciences, International Development, Public Health, or other related field.
• Possession of analytical, problem- solving and strategic planning skills
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational and written/verbal communication skills, including in cross-cultural settings.
• Proven familiarity with principles and current approaches to M&E using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Proficiency in SPSS, ACCESS, Visual Basics and other data management software ( MS Word, MS Excel, MS
PowerPoint, MS Project etc). Ability to develop a database and analyze data using various statistical software and
methods and present analysis in written and graphical forms.
• Previous experience working in a consortium; a team player with demonstrated professional maturity to work with a
multi-sector team to deliver combined results.
• Proven ability in establishing, maintaining and utilizing MEL systems as well as building staff capacity to utilize
systems.
• Excellent communication, advisory and training skills
• Ability to meet deadlines and deliver required results in a timely and quality manner.
• Previous experience in overseeing the implementation of program evaluations and utilization of evaluation results
to improve program performance.
• Willingness to travel to Somalia 25% of time.
• Fluent English (written and spoken) and Somali languages required
If you are interested in any of the above positions and meet these minimum qualifications, please submit your cover
letter and resume to:
The Human Resources Manager
Catholic Relief Services – Kenya Program
E-mail: hr@ke.earo.crs.org
Note:
Please indicate the Reference Number of the position you are applying for on the email subject. Only shortlisted
candidates will be contacted.
Program: Somalia Program
Dept/Location: M & E
Reports To: Country Manager
Position Reference #: 2013/17
POSITION SUMMARY
The Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer will be responsible for all of the Country
Program’s Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning systems. The MEAL Officer will support in the
establishment and implementation of a comprehensive Monitoring, Evaluation Accountability and Learning system for
the county program including data management systems; guiding the overall monitoring, evaluation, accountability and
learning strategy; improve the quality of CRS Somalia’s interventions by strengthening institutional memory and lesson
learning through a systematized approach to researching, recording, documenting and internalizing experiences with
maximum participation of internal and external stakeholders.
The MEAL Officer will keep abreast of state of the art Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning approaches
to ensure the use of technically appropriate monitoring and evaluation models and information systems. Providing
M&E expertise in the core programming sectors of Humanitarian Response, Food Security, WASH, Health and Nutrition,
and Micro finance as well as Peace building, the MEAL Officer will assist the country program in producing, managing,
communication and using high quality information. Critical tasks for the MEAL Officer are to manage and enhance
the CRS Somalia Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning system, ensuring it is implemented effectively,
including data collection activities, survey work, analysis and M&E reporting. To accomplish these responsibilities the
MEAL Officer will work closely with all parties involved in the M&E design and implementation including: Program
Officer, RTA, representatives from partners and key stakeholders groups, external consultants and donors.
Primary Responsibilities:
The MEAL Officer will provide support, leadership and guidance in the country program in all matters pertaining to
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning. The MEAL Officer will build capacity in the country program and
the CRS Somalia partner base by identifying and supporting the implementation of program/project M&E models that
are effective and cost-efficient tools for institutional learning to support improved and more unified program quality.
The MEAL Officer will be responsible for ensuring that the M&E systems implemented by the sectoral programs within
the country program are providing the information needed for reports to donors and for informing management
decisions. The MEAL Officer will oversee the quality and timely implementation of M&E initiatives through provision of
leadership and technical guidance/assistance.
Specific Responsibilities:
The Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning Officer will work closely with the Country Manager and Program
Officer to provide technical systemic support to programs in order to yield timely and accurate data for on-going
managerial use. This includes:
1. Ensure effective Management of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning systems:
• Manage and oversee the collection and organization of information in accordance with CRS M&E System and M&E
Framework;
• Track performance on established input, activity, output, effect and impact indicators to measure achievement and
track progress towards intermediate results and overall program strategic objectives.
• Work closely with the Country Manager and Program Officer to process, analyze and use this information to improve
management, make necessary adjustments, and assess trends.
• Conduct spot checks at the individual site and community level to evaluate adherence to programming standards
and visually verify information reported through the normal reporting systems.
• Develop CRS and partner capacity building strategies for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning; and
oversee the production of regular reports to East African Regional Office.
• Design and implement annual M&E work plans that support the CRS Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning strategy.
2. Develop and Maintain Enabling Environment for MEAL:
• Develop good working relations with Country Manager and Program Officer to ensure that MEAL remains a high
priority in the country program
• Through regular liaison with and support to Country Manager and Program Officer, ensure that the Monitoring
Evaluation Accountability and Learning plan is implemented.
• Liaise with each partner to check progress on the implementation of M&E activities
• Develop an individual detailed M&E plan for each project and monitor for implementation and quality.
• Identify needs that each project has to support implementation of M&E activities, provide mentoring training to
teams in the field locations.
• Actively contribute to all aspects of the recruitment process for new program and M&E staff in the country program
to ensure that M&E perspectives are considered;
• Ensure M&E technical assistance is available to sectoral units;
• Provide hands-on technical assistance to staff in designing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting for both publicly –
and privately- funded projects.
3. Strengthen Management Information Systems:
• Support and contribute to the development of a Management Information System through documentation,
implementation and coordination of standardized M&E
• Collaborate with Country Manager and Program Officer to identify their M&E related needs and allocate resources
accordingly.
• Ensure the various program’s M&E systems provide timely and accurate information required by the donor and
other stakeholders:
• Develop and or revise appropriate M&E tools for Projects within the country program to capture information on
activities.
• Regularly audit M&E tools to ensure compliance with donor requirements.
• Ensure Program’s M&E systems are responsive to changing donor requirements.
• Facilitate the overall analysis, reporting, utilization and feedback of information generated through various M&E
activities;
• Facilitate the collection process of best practices, which is implemented by program staff’. The justification of this
would be that by engaging program staff and partners in the collection process, they are more likely to uptake that
change
4. Direct Technical Support
• Participate in the development of program/project proposals and planning the implementation of program/project
strategies.
• Coordinate the preparation of the programs/projects annual workplans and the preparation and implementation of
integrated monitoring, evaluation and learning plan.
• Coordinate the implementation of program evaluations/assessments e.g. baselines, mid-term, final evaluations,
operations research activities e.t.c
• Provide direct technical support to CRS Somalia and its partners in developing indicators and M&E plans
• Ensuring that monitoring visits are meaningful and capture data sought and feed into management decisions.
• Identify bottlenecks in the program M&E systems, recommend appropriate solutions and ensure follow-through.
• Work with CRS program staff and partners to develop a framework to monitor and evaluate the progress and impact
of all CRS Somalia’s programs.
5. Facilitate the identification of lessons learnt and best practices for dissemination
• Consolidate lessons learnt/best practices
• Ensure the documentation of lesson learnt/best practice related stories each quarter.
• Oversee the establishment of best practice model sites.
6. Coordinate the overall country learning systems
• Ensure that processes are in place for systematic and inclusive feedback is given to all concerned communities and
stakeholders on all evaluations undertaken
• As part of the learning function, seek to identify learning points across the range of work carried out and identify
opportunities to share this learning through meetings, workshops, reports etc.
• Where appropriate, share materials with CRS East African Regional Office and Headquarters.
• Design, implement case studies across programme
• Promote strengthened understanding and capacities within project and program teams on MEAL, and use and/or
analysis of MEAL systems at the project and partner levels.
5. Key Working Relationships:
Internal: EARO STA M&E, EARO RTAs, HRD
External: Partner M&E staff, other partner staff
Minimum Qualifications:
• Minimum 4 -5 years of experience working on M & E for a large program, preferable in the NGO setting.
• Masters degree in Statistics, Social Sciences, International Development, Public Health, or other related field.
• Possession of analytical, problem- solving and strategic planning skills
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational and written/verbal communication skills, including in cross-cultural settings.
• Proven familiarity with principles and current approaches to M&E using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Proficiency in SPSS, ACCESS, Visual Basics and other data management software ( MS Word, MS Excel, MS
PowerPoint, MS Project etc). Ability to develop a database and analyze data using various statistical software and
methods and present analysis in written and graphical forms.
• Previous experience working in a consortium; a team player with demonstrated professional maturity to work with a
multi-sector team to deliver combined results.
• Proven ability in establishing, maintaining and utilizing MEL systems as well as building staff capacity to utilize
systems.
• Excellent communication, advisory and training skills
• Ability to meet deadlines and deliver required results in a timely and quality manner.
• Previous experience in overseeing the implementation of program evaluations and utilization of evaluation results
to improve program performance.
• Willingness to travel to Somalia 25% of time.
• Fluent English (written and spoken) and Somali languages required
If you are interested in any of the above positions and meet these minimum qualifications, please submit your cover
letter and resume to:
The Human Resources Manager
Catholic Relief Services – Kenya Program
E-mail: hr@ke.earo.crs.org
Note:
Please indicate the Reference Number of the position you are applying for on the email subject. Only shortlisted
candidates will be contacted.
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