About CRS
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.
Job Summary
As a monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) lead for CRS’ Gaza Emergency Response, you will facilitate the achievement of project objectives through coordinating and reporting on all project MEAL activities and providing MEAL-related technical guidance and advice to staff and implementing partner(s) advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your coordination and relationship management skills will ensure that the project for which you are responsible applies best practices in MEAL and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.
Roles and Key Responsibilities
- Organize and lead the implementation of all assigned project MEAL activities related to CRS’ Gaza Emergency Response portfolio as outlined in the response strategy and activities covered under a diverse portfolio of donors in line with CRS program quality principles, standards and MEAL policies, procedures, and practices; donor MEAL requirements, and industry good practices.
- Ensure learning properly accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle. Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and guiding partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences. Analyze implementation challenges and report any inconsistencies and gaps to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
- Support the roll-out and implementation of the project’s feedback, compliant, and response mechanism (FCRM) specific to the Gaza Emergency Response. Support actively seeking and responding to feedback from all members of targeted communities and other stakeholders as defined by the FCRM.
- Implement monitoring activities and processes according to the Gaza Emergency Response’s Detailed Implementation Plan across multiple donor funded projects and MEAL system. Ensure the quality of monitoring data through annual data quality assessments.
- Coordinate and oversee MEAL-related working relationships with all local project stakeholders and serve as the liaison between them and the project team to mobilize local actors and promote project activities and impact. Identify and respond to key stakeholders’ information needs in MEAL activities, using a range of appropriate communication methods.
- Supervise and perform ad hoc inspections of various MEAL processes and resources at project sites to ensure timely project activities implementation and adherence to established process standards and procedures. Ensure proper tracking of resource use for project MEAL activities through periodic budget reviews and follow-up with and assistance to implementing partner.
- Support and coordinate MEAL capacity building and technical support activities to ensure assigned project MEAL activities are implemented per project guidelines and standards. Optimize partner participation and capacity development in the implementation of MEAL systems.
- Coordinate provision of any MEAL-related logistical and administrative support to staff and partners.
- Ensure timely, project documentation for assigned MEAL activities is complete with all required documents and is filed per agency and donor requirements. Assist with preparation of trends analysis reports and documentation of case studies and promising practices.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree required. Degree in International Relations or in the field of MEAL would be a plus.
Minimum of 4 years of work experience in project support, ideally in the field of MEAL and for an NGO.
Additional experience may substitute for some education.
Required Languages
Fluent Arabic and English.
Travel
To be determined based on the selected candidate.
Location: Position can be based in Gaza, Ramallah, Bethlehem, or Jerusalem.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment
Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners
Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working with partners, participatory action planning and community engagement.
Staff supervision experience a plus.
Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data.
Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
Integrity
Continuous Improvement & Innovation
Builds Relationships
Develops Talent
Strategic Mindset
Accountability & Stewardship
Supervisory Responsibilities
Accountability Field Officers (2); Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Officers (2)
Key Working Relationships
Internal: Meal Manager, MEAL Officers (project and field), Head of Programs, Regional MEAL Technical Advisor
External: Partner MEAL staff, MEAL staff in other INGOs.
MEAL Competencies (for CRS MEAL Program Staff)
Each staff member in this position is expected to have solid knowledge and ability and can apply the following competencies with minimal or no guidance, in the full range of typical situations, while requiring guidance to handle novel or more complex situations:
Monitoring
Accountability
Learning
In addition, each staff member in this position is expected to have basic knowledge and ability and, with guidance, be able to apply the following competencies in common situations that present limited difficulties:
MEAL in Design
Evaluation
Analysis and Critical Thinking
ICT4MEAL
Management in MEAL