MEAL Officer

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established in 1943, CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need across more than 100 countries, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. The organization has been operational in Kenya since 1965, evolving from direct relief efforts to comprehensive development programs that enhance local capacities. CRS focuses on various sectors including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding, aiming to improve the lives of the poor and vulnerable populations.

Job Overview:
The MEAL Officer will be a vital member of the CRS Kenya Country Program Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) team, tasked with providing technical support to the Graduating Generation Project. This role encompasses a wide range of project implementation issues, ensuring that data is readily available for programmatic adjustments and evidence-based decision-making. The MEAL Officer will manage and implement all MEAL activities throughout the project lifecycle, from design to close-out, ensuring compliance with CRS program quality principles, standards, and donor requirements. The position requires a service-oriented approach to enhance the effectiveness and adaptability of CRS Kenya's Graduation programming, ultimately improving the impact of its benefits to the communities served.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The MEAL Officer will be responsible for managing and implementing all MEAL activities for the Graduating Generations Project, ensuring efficient and effective implementation in line with established guidelines. Key responsibilities include leading the development and implementation of MEAL systems, conducting field-level monitoring and evaluation activities, ensuring quality data collection and management, and guiding staff and partners in data analysis for adaptive management. The officer will also contribute to evaluation and research events, lead the implementation of the project's Feedback, Complaints, and Response Mechanism (FCRM), and promote documentation of lessons learned. Collaboration with local partners to prepare MEAL-related reports and supporting the Program Office and Regional reporting will also be part of the role. The MEAL Officer will serve as a resource for project design and proposal development, build MEAL capacity among project and partner staff, and foster respectful relationships with community members and stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in International Development, International Relations, Demography, Social Sciences, Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation, or a related field. A minimum of three years’ experience in an NGO setting, specifically in establishing and implementing MEAL systems for projects, is required. Experience in monitoring projects, data collection and analysis, and community engagement is essential. Proficiency in using mobile data collection applications and data analysis software is also necessary, along with strong skills in MS Office and web conferencing applications.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as International Development, International Relations, Demography, Social Sciences, Statistics, or Monitoring and Evaluation is required for this position. This educational background provides the necessary foundation for understanding the complexities of MEAL systems and their application in humanitarian and development contexts.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of three years of experience in the NGO sector, specifically in setting up and implementing MEAL systems for projects. Candidates should have experience in monitoring and evaluating projects, collecting and analyzing data, and engaging with community stakeholders. Familiarity with mobile data collection tools and data analysis software is also essential, as is experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.

Languages:
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English are mandatory, with the ability to write comprehensive reports. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not explicitly required for this position.

Additional Notes:
The MEAL Officer role does not involve supervisory responsibilities but requires a willingness to travel up to 60%. The position is full-time and may involve working with local partners and community members. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package and emphasizes a collaborative, mission-driven culture focused on improving the lives of the poor globally. The organization is committed to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly vulnerable populations, and candidates are expected to adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct.