MEAL Coordinator

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to serve those in need, CRS operates in more than 100 countries, providing relief and development assistance without regard to race, religion, or nationality. The organization focuses on various sectors including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. CRS is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, and it welcomes individuals from diverse faiths and secular traditions who share its values and commitment to humanitarian service. The agency emphasizes the importance of integrity, accountability, and respect in its operations, and it actively seeks to recruit candidates from the regions in which it operates, ensuring that its workforce reflects the communities it serves.

Job Overview:
The coordinator" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">MEAL Coordinator will lead the design, implementation, and strengthening of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) system for emergency projects. This role involves monthly reporting on project progress according to donor requirements and guidelines, coordinating the collection, consolidation, analysis, and dissemination of information from community levels to technical and managerial levels. The coordinator will supervise the design and use of data collection instruments, ensuring the quality, consistency, and timeliness of information. Additionally, the role requires ensuring compliance with the Monitoring Plan and the indicators required by CRS and the donor. The MEAL Coordinator will also lead and coordinate baseline and final evaluations in accordance with CRS MEAL policies and donor requirements, ensuring the technical quality of evaluation reports and promoting the use of results for decision-making.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The MEAL Coordinator will be responsible for the following duties:

• Monitoring: Lead the design and implementation of the MEAL system for emergency projects, ensuring timely reporting of project progress. Coordinate data collection and analysis, ensuring quality and compliance with CRS and donor requirements.
• Evaluation: Oversee baseline and final evaluations, ensuring adherence to MEAL policies and quality standards. Develop and supervise terms of reference and evaluation processes.
• Accountability: Implement feedback mechanisms for participants, ensuring timely responses to complaints and promoting transparency and integrity in information management.
• Learning: Facilitate analysis meetings and document lessons learned and best practices throughout the project cycle. Ensure that learning informs strategic adjustments and continuous improvements in humanitarian response.
• Management and Supervision: Supervise and enhance the capacities of MEAL and ICT4E staff through training and performance evaluation. Ensure proper execution of the MEAL budget.
• Coordination and Representation: Collaborate with CRS technical teams and external stakeholders, representing CRS in technical spaces related to MEAL as required.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a professional background in economics, statistics, agronomy, or related social sciences. Candidates should have demonstrable experience of 3 to 5 years in project planning, information systems, and monitoring and evaluation. Experience in emergency contexts and working with local partners is desirable, along with experience in supervising staff. Additional education may substitute for experience, and vice versa.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a professional degree in economics, statistics, agronomy, or related social sciences. Advanced knowledge of MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) is essential, along with familiarity with planning methodologies, logical frameworks, and project management. Experience in designing and implementing MEAL tools and information systems is also required, as well as proficiency in Information and Communication Technologies in emergencies (ICT4E).

Experience:
Candidates should have 3 to 5 years of relevant experience in planning, information systems, and monitoring and evaluation of projects. Experience in emergency contexts and with local partners is preferred, as well as experience in supervising personnel.

Languages:
A high level of proficiency in English is mandatory. Knowledge of additional languages may be beneficial but is not specified as a requirement.

Additional Notes:
The position may involve frequent travel to field locations. CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff, and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse. The successful candidate will be expected to sign and adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct. The job description is not exhaustive and may be modified according to organizational needs. Candidates must meet the legal work eligibility requirements for the location of the position.