MEAL Coordinator - Catholic Relief Services

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 Description

• Reports to:  Head of Programming
• Department:   Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning and Knowledge Management (MEAL)    
• Salary Grade: 9
• Location: Tamale, Ghana

Job Summary:

The purpose of this position is to manage, strengthen, and provide strategic leadership and direction to the Ghana Country Program MEAL systems and processes, ensuring cross-learning in MEAL among projects, and build capacity of MEAL staff. The MEAL Coordinator will work closely with CRS program teams and partner staff to develop high quality monitoring systems and tools which address indicators set out in project proposals. She/he will ensure that learning from projects is systematically captured and used throughout the country program. She/he will also take learning needs into account and develop and conduct capacity building for MEAL and program staff, with support from the Head of Programs (HoP) and the Regional Technical Advisor for MEAL.  
 
The MEAL Coordinator is expected to have a high level of self-initiative and use critical thinking skills to identify and fill gaps. The MEAL Coordinator will also work closely with the HoP to ensure that the Ghana Country Program complies with agency MEAL policies and procedures and actively promotes use of Information and Communications Technologies for Development (ICT4D). The MEAL Coordinator should have the ability to work sensitively and positively with programming teams and promote a learning environment.

Strong project management skills and knowledge of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning will ensure that the Ghana Country Program delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of this project. Awareness of community-based accountability systems to ensure beneficiary feedback mechanisms is also important.  

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Oversees and coordinates all MEAL-related activities at the Ghana Country Program-level
• Leads the design and implementation of assessments, gender analysis, stakeholder analysis, organizational capacity assessments, and other pre-program data collection and analysis, including tools and methods, appropriate to scope, context, and technical requirements of a project
• Supports all aspects of realizing studies and evaluations, including overseeing and defining sampling strategies; attending research and tool training workshops; leading quantitative, qualitative and participatory data collection efforts in the field; supervising the execution of field studies and ensuring the reliability and validity of data collected therein
• Provides technical leadership to ensure the quality of data and data management practices
• Oversees the integration of data analysis, reflection and interpretation, and use with ongoing project activities
• Provides strategic leadership and direction for the development and maintenance of MEAL systems, and the roll-out of new initiatives
• Builds capacity of MEAL Project Officers and partners to ensure quality data collection and monitoring, and identifies methods for increased partners involvement
• Ensures compliance with donor and agency MEAL requirements
• Cultivates strong, collaborative relationships with donors, Church partners, government officials, local organizations, communities and other stakeholders
• Provides mentoring and coaching, along with technical support to all MEAL Project Officers
• Provides management, guidance, and technical oversight for the, integration of ICT4D for improved data collection, analysis, reporting and decision making
• Ensures integration and the dissemination of MEAL-related innovations, promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the Country Program, Region and agency
• Reviews and ensures appropriate budgeting and human resources for MEAL activities for current and new project budgets 

Key Working Relationships:

• Supervisory: N/A
• Internal: Country Representative, Head of Programs, Unit Heads (Health, Agriculture, etc.), Project Coordinators, Project M&E Officers, MEAL RTAs, CRS MEAL Team
• External: Donors, international and local partners, National Catholic Secretariat, Government partners, program beneficiaries

Required Skills or Experience

• Master’s degree in a directly related field, such as Social Sciences, Statistics, International Development etc. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 5 years of work experience in MEAL/M&E and at least 3 years of Coordinator-level experience with an NGO. Experience working with an INGO preferred.
• Experience using ICT for data collection highly desired; proficiency in Microsoft software and database development/management, SPSS, EPI-Info, Access, Excel and skills in analyzing, interpreting and communicating information to various stakeholders

Required Languages - Fluency in English.

Travel - Willingness to travel up to 20%

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Experience working with large donors i.e.: USAID, UN, BMGF, etc.
• Ability to write proposals for financing and reports meeting donor requirements
• Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring, and other formal and non-formal methods
• Cultural sensitivity, patience and flexibility
• Commitment to CRS’ mission, personal accountability and drive to serve others

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