Senior MEAL Officer

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 programs that encompass emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The organization is committed to serving individuals without regard to race, religion, or nationality, and actively seeks to safeguard children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. CRS values diversity and welcomes candidates from various faiths and secular traditions who share its mission and values. The agency's policies reflect a commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly those who are most vulnerable. CRS also emphasizes the importance of ethical conduct and adherence to its Code of Conduct among its staff members.

Job Overview:
The Senior MEAL Officer plays a crucial role in supporting and guiding the McGovern-Dole project in alignment with the country program and educational needs. This position is responsible for ensuring that the project has a robust MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) system in place, developed according to the guidelines set by the CRS MEAL Policy. The officer will support various evaluation activities as needed, utilizing tools such as EGRA, ISELA, and ALIK. Field visits will be conducted to document results and share findings with relevant project teams. The Senior MEAL Officer is also tasked with coaching and supporting educational project teams, enumerators, and partners to ensure the quality of MEAL data. This role requires a proactive approach to developing tools for project monitoring, reporting, and data management, ensuring that all project activities are tracked and evaluated effectively across intervention areas, particularly in the North and Northeast regions of Haiti.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior MEAL Officer's duties include ensuring the application of CRS MEAL policies and procedures within projects, providing guidance to the McGovern-Dole project as needed, and participating in project proposal development. The officer will lead the implementation of SMILER workshops to design the MEAL system and provide technical assistance for baseline studies and evaluations. Responsibilities also include developing tools for project monitoring, ensuring regular follow-up on data collection, reporting, processing, management, and availability of project-related data. The officer will support field staff in mastering data collection tools, organize periodic meetings with partners to share feedback on the MEAL system, and participate in meetings with the World Food Programme to enhance project intervention quality. Regular updates to the project DIP (Detailed Implementation Plan) are required, along with the creation of dashboards to centralize and visualize raw data for informed decision-making. The officer will conduct field visits to monitor activity implementation and data collection quality, prepare and submit reports on monitoring, results, effects, and impact indicators, and support the implementation of the CRS accountability system to ensure project actions meet beneficiary expectations.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree, preferably in social sciences, statistics, economics, computer science, or a related field. A minimum of 2-5 years of experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) is required. Experience in conducting studies or evaluations using EGRA/ISELA tools (both quantitative and qualitative) is essential. Proficiency in MS Windows and MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) is necessary, along with a good understanding of CommCare and PowerBI tools. Familiarity with survey techniques and various sampling methods is expected, as well as proficiency in statistical software such as SPSS, SAS, or E-views. Candidates should demonstrate autonomy, teamwork, a strong sense of responsibility, results orientation, and adherence to professional ethics. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, along with the ability to make informed judgments, are crucial. Good relationship management skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with local partners are also important.

Educational Background:
A university degree is required, ideally in fields such as social sciences, statistics, economics, computer science, or a related discipline. This educational background is essential to equip the candidate with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform effectively in the role of Senior MEAL Officer.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2-5 years of relevant experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL). Candidates should have a proven track record in conducting studies or evaluations, particularly using EGRA/ISELA tools, and should be familiar with both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. Experience in the humanitarian or development sector is highly desirable, as is familiarity with the specific challenges and contexts of working in Haiti.

Languages:
Fluency in French and Haitian Creole is required, with the ability to express and write in English considered an asset. Proficiency in these languages is crucial for effective communication with project teams, beneficiaries, and stakeholders in the region.

Additional Notes:
This position requires approximately 50% field visits to project implementation areas. The role does not specify a seniority level but emphasizes the importance of collaboration with various internal and external stakeholders, including project teams, MEAL leads, project managers, and community representatives. CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants and community members from all forms of exploitation and abuse, and the successful candidate will be expected to adhere to the organization's Code of Conduct. The job description is not exhaustive and may include additional responsibilities as needed. CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries where CRS operates.