About CRS:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-profit organization which carries out the commitment of the 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.

Job Summary: The Project Officer – Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) will primarily oversee, strengthen, and provide strategic guidance to the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Uganda Country Program MEAL system, ensuring cross-learning in MEAL among projects, and to build capacity of MEAL staff. The MEAL Officer will be responsible for supervising MEAL activities, particularly during times of emergency, and assessments required for proposal development. The MEAL Officer will work closely with CRS program teams and partner staff to develop high quality monitoring systems and tools which address indicators set out in project proposals. He/she will ensure that learning from projects is systematically captured and used throughout the country program. He/ she will also take learning needs into account, and develop and conduct capacity building for MEAL and program staff, with support of the HoP and the RTA for M&E. The MEAL Officer will also work closely with the Head of Programs (HoP) to ensure that the Uganda program complies with the CRS’s regional and global MEAL systems and standards.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:
1. MEAL Strategy & Design:
· Ensure that the Uganda Country Program MEAL systems are in compliance with CRS’ global and regional policies, procedures, standards, and strategic initiatives
· Provide strategic guidance to the development and maintenance of MEAL systems, and the roll-out of new initiatives
· Assist the Program Managers and MEAL working group members in the design and implementation of assessments, gender analysis, stakeholder analysis, organizational capacity assessments, and other pre-program data collection and analysis
· Provide strategic high level feedback, analysis and interpretation throughout the proposal development process
· Develop and review Results Frameworks, ProFrames, M&E Plans, and Analysis Plans
· Ensure the consistency of tools and indicators across all offices, sectors, and programs as appropriate, maintaining a bank of key program indicators
· Technically support programming staff to incorporate participatory methods into community level M&E systems and tools
· Collect and analyze lessons learned and best practices from previous and ongoing programs capturing the impact of activities, and ensure that these are incorporated into the design of new projects
· Leverage lessons learned, best practices, program data, evaluations, and provide evidence based information, proposal annexes, success stories, case studies, and other high-quality, results-based documentation
· Ensure that all programs comply with the CRS accountability framework
· Work closely with senior management to identify and pursue strategic opportunities for program development expansion, etc.
2. MEAL Implementation:
· Manage emergency real-time evaluations, internal end-of-project evaluations, needs assessments, baselines, impact studies, case studies, and other evaluation efforts
· The incumbent will also steer project monitoring design initiatives including: tool design, data collection processes, and analysis methods using the SMILER method
· Manage agency driven MEAL inquiries, requirements i.e. end of year beneficiary counts, etc.
· Significantly contribute to donor proposals and reports, through high quality analysis of reports and interpretation of data, create a dashboard to review reports and data for specific projects.
· Render support to the MEAL team in strategically preparing and reviewing MEAL calendars
· Develop MEAL operation manuals to ensure that they are complete, up-to-date, high quality, and contain tools, dataflow maps, and analysis plans that address all information needed for program quality and donor reporting
· Support learning-to-action events and reflection sessions to systematically analyze data for programmatic use, and to document and incorporate lessons learned into program design and implementation
· Ensure that MEAL and program teams regularly review and accordingly adjust MEAL plans and tools in the light of changes and needs in the field context based on monitoring data and reflection sessions
· Ensure that transparent high quality accountability mechanisms are in place for all programs and are regularly monitored and evaluated
· Ensure that beneficiary feedback is adequately captured, addressed, analyzed, and utilized by program teams
· Lead CRS teams in conducting internal impact and sustainability evaluations, and supporting external impact and sustainability evaluation
3. Capacity Strengthening:
· Lead the CRS Uganda MEAL Community of Practice to share learning, resources, and support across offices
· Develop and co-facilitate MEAL workshops and modules for staff and partners to share country program, regional, and global MEAL tools, processes, and best practices to cultivate a culture of learning
· Carry out trainings and orientations for new MEAL and program staff on CRS systems and key MEAL resources
· Provide mentoring/accompaniment to CRS and partner staff to increase capacity and to achieve annual performance and development plans
· Remain updated with developments among the CRS MEAL community and worldwide MEAL trends and resources, and ensure that the Uganda MEAL team is applying CRS MEAL guidance and policies appropriately and in a timely manner
· Carry out field monitoring visits events frequently with project teams and implementing partners
· Send timely feedback to senior project and MEAL staff to improve the overall MEAL system and ensure quality implementation of MEAL activities
4. ICT for MEAL:
· Support MEAL and programming teams to develop strong project tracking, record keeping and filing methodologies for all activities
· Work collaboratively with MEAL and IT staff to maximize the value and utility of ICT4MEAL initiatives and/or the roll out of similar initiatives

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
· The ideal candidate for the CRS MEAL Officer opportunity should be a Graduate in a field related to international development
· A minimum of two years of managerial experience with an NGO (experience with INGO preferred); in addition to significant MEAL experience
· Prior exposure and experience working with large donors i.e. USAID, ECHO and MasterCard
· Familiarity with principles and current approaches to MEAL of development programs using past exposure and experience with participatory MEAL systems
· Computer literacy i.e. Proficiency in database development/ management, SPSS, Epi-lnfo, Access, Excel and skills in analyzing, interpreting and communicating information to various stakeholders
· Prior experience using ICT for data collection
· Significant experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative assessments and surveys (including sound understanding of sampling issues)
· Prior exposure and experience using appreciative inquiry and conflict sensitivity techniques
· Previous experience with leading and managing studies and consultants
· Experience with facilitation, capacity strengthening and partnership building, with the capacity to empower staff through opportunities for growth & development
· The MEAL Officer is expected to have a high level of self-initiative and use critical thinking skills to identify and fill gaps.
· The MEAL Officer should possess the ability to work sensitively and positively with programming teams and promote a learning environment – success of the post relies on this.
· Ability to transfer knowledge through formal and informal training
· Prior supervisory experience and management and team building skills
· Excellent planning and organization skills
· Flexibility to work both in a team and independently
· Cultural sensitivity, patience and flexibility
· Demonstrated personal accountability and driven to serve others
· Fluency in both written and spoken English
· Excellent oral and written communication skills, ability to work well with people, good judgment and commitment to CRS’ mission
· Willingness to travel 35% of time.

Personal Competencies (for all CRS Staff): These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.
· Serves with Integrity
· Models Stewardship
· Cultivates Constructive Relationships
· Promotes Learning

How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates are encouraged to send a cover letter, updated CV and three work references (names and contact information only) to: ug_recruitment@crs.org

Deadline: 8th September, 2015.