Chargé(e) de programme senior MEAL

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 saving, protecting, and transforming lives through various programs, 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 all faiths and secular traditions who share its values and commitment to service. The agency's processes and policies reflect its dedication to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people, especially those most vulnerable. CRS also emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion within its workforce, actively seeking candidates from the regions in which it operates.

Job Overview:
As a Senior MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) Officer, you will play a crucial role in the monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning aspects of the project to support the work of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in serving poor and vulnerable populations. Your rigorous and service-oriented approach will ensure that the project systematically applies best practices and continuously strives to enhance the impact of its benefits for the people we serve. This position will be based in Bunia and is contingent upon project approval by funders. You will be responsible for coordinating and implementing all MEAL activities assigned to the project, as outlined in the detailed implementation plan, in accordance with CRS's MEAL quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices. You will monitor and report any challenges and/or gaps identified in MEAL to adjust implementation plans and timelines accordingly. Additionally, you will assist partners in reflecting on project experiences and coordinate project evaluation activities while helping partners collect and analyze project data according to specified mechanisms and tools.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Your key responsibilities will include coordinating and implementing all assigned MEAL activities for the project, as described in the detailed implementation plan, ensuring adherence to CRS's MEAL quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and best practices. You will monitor and report any challenges or gaps identified in MEAL to adjust implementation plans and timelines as necessary. You will assist partners in reflecting on project experiences and coordinate project evaluation activities, helping partners collect and analyze project data according to specified mechanisms and tools. You will lead field MEAL activities and support project team members in their efforts to collect and ensure timely analysis of project data. Collaborating with team members, you will prepare MEAL-related aspects of reports according to the established schedule. Training partners, enumerators, or any other individuals collecting data for the project will also be part of your responsibilities. You will analyze project progress against indicators and present results in narrative and visual formats using pivot tables and PowerBI. Regular qualitative and quantitative data analyses will be conducted within the team based on project needs, and results will be shared with the project team for learning and adaptive management.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Bachelor's degree in statistics, database management, international development, international relations, or a relevant technical field. You should have 3-5 years of professional experience in project support, with at least one year in the MEAL field for an NGO or international organization. Required competencies for all CRS staff include personal accountability, integrity, trust, collaboration, and openness to learning. You should consistently take responsibility for your actions, demonstrate integrity, and respect the values of CRS's guiding principles and mission. You must work effectively within diverse and intercultural teams and seek experiences that may change your perspective or offer opportunities to learn new things.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor's degree in statistics, database management, international development, international relations, or a relevant technical field is required for this position. This educational background is essential to ensure that the candidate possesses the necessary analytical and technical skills to effectively contribute to the MEAL functions of the project.

Experience:
Candidates should have 3-5 years of professional experience in project support, with a minimum of one year specifically in the MEAL field for an NGO or international organization. This level of experience is crucial to ensure that the candidate is well-versed in the principles and practices of monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning, and can effectively contribute to the project's success.

Languages:
Fluency in French is required, and proficiency in Swahili is also necessary. Knowledge of English is considered a plus, which would enhance communication and collaboration with international partners and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position requires a willingness and ability to travel up to 50% of the time. Candidates should be proficient in MS Windows and MS Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Strong observational, active listening, and analytical skills are essential, along with the ability to make informed judgments. Attention to detail, accuracy, and adherence to deadlines in task execution are critical. The role demands proactivity, results orientation, and a service-oriented mindset. There are no supervisory responsibilities associated with this position. Key internal working relationships include coordination with the country MEAL team, project implementation teams, emergency coordinators, program teams, and operations. External relationships involve community members, partner staff, the humanitarian community, and other local actors. The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct, and the agency's talent acquisition procedures reflect its commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people, especially children and vulnerable adults.