Job Title: Sub-regional Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Program Manager II
Position Type: Full Time
Location: Based in Dili, Timor Leste (East Timor)
Band: D
Reports to: CRS/Timor Leste Country Manager
Length of Assignment: 3 years
Position Type: Full Time
Location: Based in Dili, Timor Leste (East Timor)
Band: D
Reports to: CRS/Timor Leste Country Manager
Length of Assignment: 3 years
About CRS:
Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of
the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our
Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We
welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and
secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving
those in need.
**
Background**:
MACF PAR Grant:
The Prepared and Resilient (PAR) grant will allow CRS to expand and deepen the successful Response, Recovery and Resilience (R3) models to increase community resilience to natural disasters in Central America and East and South Asia through key community-led integrated Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)/resilience projects to build capacities for long-term disaster risk reduction. Through DRR projects that build on people's existing resilience to disasters in multiple ways such as hazard analysis, early warning systems, developing disaster management/resilience plans, strengthening livelihoods, improving access to cash through savings and internal lending communities (SILC), small-scale infrastructure improvements and improving homes to make them disaster resilient, the PAR grant will affect the inter-related root causes of vulnerability in target communities and reduce disaster impacts. The PAR grant includes an explicit learning component focused on 1) identification of successful strategies for building capacity and social capital that promote resilience to natural disasters and 2) resilience measurement.
The MEAL Advisor from CRS' Humanitarian Response Department (HRD) ensures grant-level MEAL leadership and guidance for PAR. The sub-regional MEAL PM II will work closely with the HRD MEAL Advisor to ensure consistent, high quality MEAL-especially for the PAR learning component-across the three PAR projects in East and South Asia.
Timor Leste:
Timor Leste currently has one peacebuilding project in Liquica district, three agriculture and livelihoods projects in Baucau District, and a community driven nutrition program for a total country program budget of around $2.5 million from donors including USAID/OFDA, Foods Resource Bank and the World Bank. A self assessment of the MEAL capacity of the Country Program in April 2015 revealed overall insufficient knowledge in the various MEAL competencies. In response to this as well as the CRS Global rollout of MEAL policies and procedures, support is needed in ensuring high quality MEAL programming and to assist in building MEAL capacity of CRS TL staff.
Job Summary:
The role of Sub-regional PM II for MEAL has a two-fold purpose:
MACF PAR (50%):
In close collaboration and consultation with the HRD MEAL Advisor, the MEAL PMII will ensure the following for PAR projects in Timor Leste, Indonesia and Bangladesh:
Project Startup and MEAL Systems
Based on the MEAL Senior Technical Adviser's visit in April 2015, the self-assessments revealed that the MEAL capacity is quite low among CRS Timor Leste program and MEAL staff. Higher average capacity is noted among individual staff for the monitoring, evaluation and accountability competencies. Examining some of the specific MEAL-related skills and techniques assessed, three to six staff self-reported their capacity as proficient (i.e., a rating of 3) for the following:
Capacity building:
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.
MEAL in Design: Developing project-level Theories of change, results frameworks, Proframes, related MEAL system tools and competencies, and accompanying MEAL narratives.
Monitoring: Implementing monitoring activities, including timely collection of quality data, set up and maintenance of databases, facilitation of participatory reflection on monitoring results, and submission of timely progress reports.
Evaluation: Developing project-level Theories of change, results frameworks, Proframes, related MEAL system tools and competencies, and accompanying MEAL narratives.
Accountability: Improving our accountability to a range of stakeholders through increased participation, transparent communication, responsive feedback mechanisms, and adherence to internal and external quality standards and requirements
Learning: Promoting excellent knowledge management and collaborative learning processes at the project, program and institutional levels, generating robust evidence for project and programmatic learning that leads to action, decision-making and influence
Analysis & Critical Thinking: Engaging with data, challenging biases and assumptions, posing thoughtful questions, pursuing deeper understanding of evidence through reflection and perspective-taking, and making informed programming decisions.
ICT for MEAL: Applying knowledge on information and communication technologies (ICT), both hardware and software, for opportune and accurate data collection, database management, conducting analyses, and making information easily accessible
MEAL in Management: Managing financial and human resources in a way that optimizes the quality, effectiveness, and utility of MEAL systems
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS: Internal: ESA PAR project staff, HRD MEAL Advisor, ESA Regional Technical Advisor for MEAL, Timor Leste CRS Staff and especially MEAL Unit.
External: MACF, local partners, government, other NGOs
QUALIFICATIONS:
Professional Qualifications:
Normal office environment. Requires approximately 30-40% travel in Timor Leste (primary), Indonesia and Bangladesh
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
Equal Opportunity Employer
**
MACF PAR Grant:
The Prepared and Resilient (PAR) grant will allow CRS to expand and deepen the successful Response, Recovery and Resilience (R3) models to increase community resilience to natural disasters in Central America and East and South Asia through key community-led integrated Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)/resilience projects to build capacities for long-term disaster risk reduction. Through DRR projects that build on people's existing resilience to disasters in multiple ways such as hazard analysis, early warning systems, developing disaster management/resilience plans, strengthening livelihoods, improving access to cash through savings and internal lending communities (SILC), small-scale infrastructure improvements and improving homes to make them disaster resilient, the PAR grant will affect the inter-related root causes of vulnerability in target communities and reduce disaster impacts. The PAR grant includes an explicit learning component focused on 1) identification of successful strategies for building capacity and social capital that promote resilience to natural disasters and 2) resilience measurement.
The MEAL Advisor from CRS' Humanitarian Response Department (HRD) ensures grant-level MEAL leadership and guidance for PAR. The sub-regional MEAL PM II will work closely with the HRD MEAL Advisor to ensure consistent, high quality MEAL-especially for the PAR learning component-across the three PAR projects in East and South Asia.
Timor Leste:
Timor Leste currently has one peacebuilding project in Liquica district, three agriculture and livelihoods projects in Baucau District, and a community driven nutrition program for a total country program budget of around $2.5 million from donors including USAID/OFDA, Foods Resource Bank and the World Bank. A self assessment of the MEAL capacity of the Country Program in April 2015 revealed overall insufficient knowledge in the various MEAL competencies. In response to this as well as the CRS Global rollout of MEAL policies and procedures, support is needed in ensuring high quality MEAL programming and to assist in building MEAL capacity of CRS TL staff.
Job Summary:
The role of Sub-regional PM II for MEAL has a two-fold purpose:
- (50% Level of Effort/LoE) Provide MEAL leadership, coordination and ensure learning efforts for three projects in East and South Asia (ESA) implemented as part of the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation (MACF) funded Prepared and Resilient (PAR) grant. PAR projects in ESA region are located in Timor Leste, Indonesia, and Bangladesh.
- 50% LoE) Ensure the implementation of high quality MEAL across all CRS Timor Leste (CRS TL) projects and MEAL capacity strengthening for CRS TL staff.
MACF PAR (50%):
In close collaboration and consultation with the HRD MEAL Advisor, the MEAL PMII will ensure the following for PAR projects in Timor Leste, Indonesia and Bangladesh:
Project Startup and MEAL Systems
- Support the development of MEAL systems for the PAR projects, using CRS simple measurement of indicators for learning and evidence-based reporting (SMILER) approach.
- Review databases or other monitoring tools to ensure that they accurately capture required data and information.
- Assist in creation of MEAL Operating Manual for PAR projects.
- Conduct occasional monitoring visits to see project progress
- Assist with drafting TOR for Baseline and Evaluation as per PAR proposal
- Oversee Baseline and Evaluation rollout including coordinating activities and editing tools as well as final reports
- Support the dissemination of Baseline and Evaluation results and lessons learned
- Oversee the establishment of community feedback mechanisms in PAR projects
- Assist project teams to regularly monitor and respond to feedback and incorporate into lessons learned
- Support the development of PAR learning tools and guides
- Provide oversight to the implementation of learning activities to ensure consistent, high quality application of the learning methodology and tools across PAR projects in Asia.
- Organize exchange and learning events to share lessons learned and best practices throughout the project as well as share progress in answering learning questions
Based on the MEAL Senior Technical Adviser's visit in April 2015, the self-assessments revealed that the MEAL capacity is quite low among CRS Timor Leste program and MEAL staff. Higher average capacity is noted among individual staff for the monitoring, evaluation and accountability competencies. Examining some of the specific MEAL-related skills and techniques assessed, three to six staff self-reported their capacity as proficient (i.e., a rating of 3) for the following:
- MEAL in Design: developing detailed implementation plans (DIPs);
- Monitoring: conducting focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KII), using Excel, reporting project monitoring data, and facilitating the use of monitoring data during reflection events with partners or other stakeholders;
- Accountability: working with and developing partners capacity in MEAL and project activities, and respectfully involving community members in project activities;
- Learning: fostering an enabling environment for project learning, and facilitating reflections to identify gaps in knowledge and improve project performance;
Capacity building:
- On-site capacity building of Timor Leste program and MEAL staff, , including formal and on-the job staff training and co-facilitation of MEAL events;
- Provide coaching and accompaniment of Timor Leste MEAL staff through reviews, emails and conversations which provide tools, resources, and practical advice on assessments, MEAL system setup, and improvements to MEAL practices.
- For concept notes and proposals, lead development of the results framework, theories of change, Proframes, MEAL narrative and MEAL budgets.
- Provide leadership in project design assessments and data interpretation.
- Work with program and MEAL staff to improve project design assessment and analysis practices.
- Support programs to roll-out and comply with the CRS MEAL Policy & Procedures (MPP).
- Ensure the design of high quality MEAL systems for new projects in Timor Leste using the SMILER approach to MEAL system design.
- Review existing MEAL systems and practices and assist teams in setting up and/or strengthening appropriate MEAL structures and systems as per Country Program MEAL Capacity Strengthening Plan
- Support program staff with periodic reviews of MEAL Operating Manuals for selected projects, with a focus on completeness and quality.
- Accompany staff to program teams in designing simple, practical and relevant MEAL tools
- Working with the CDNIP project team to ensure efficient use of DevResults
- Assist in training and accompanying staff in development and use of databases or other ICT-related tools
- Oversee rollout of country program feedback and response mechanism
- Documenting experiences and developing tools as necessary
- Support CRS TL project teams to develop community-defined indicators as part of project MEAL systems;
- Provide feedback to ESA MEAL RTA on what works well for beneficiary accountability
- Lead project evaluation and learning events to ensure promising practices, lessons learned, and recommendations are identified, documented, and used to improve program quality.
- Develop Terms of Reference for evaluations and reviews which include evaluation and review questions, a balance of qualitative and quantitative methods, and the necessary level of technical rigor based on project duration and learning needs.
- Support project staff to use of evaluation and review results with partners, staff, and other stakeholders to inform decision-making and to identify lessons learned and promising practices.
- Facilitate reflection on key issues and themes to identify gaps in knowledge and to improve project and program performance and impact.
- Foster an internal enabling environment for learning and support key partners to establish enabling environments for learning
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.
- Serves with Integrity
- Models Stewardship
- Cultivates Constructive Relationships
- Promotes Learning
MEAL in Design: Developing project-level Theories of change, results frameworks, Proframes, related MEAL system tools and competencies, and accompanying MEAL narratives.
Monitoring: Implementing monitoring activities, including timely collection of quality data, set up and maintenance of databases, facilitation of participatory reflection on monitoring results, and submission of timely progress reports.
Evaluation: Developing project-level Theories of change, results frameworks, Proframes, related MEAL system tools and competencies, and accompanying MEAL narratives.
Accountability: Improving our accountability to a range of stakeholders through increased participation, transparent communication, responsive feedback mechanisms, and adherence to internal and external quality standards and requirements
Learning: Promoting excellent knowledge management and collaborative learning processes at the project, program and institutional levels, generating robust evidence for project and programmatic learning that leads to action, decision-making and influence
Analysis & Critical Thinking: Engaging with data, challenging biases and assumptions, posing thoughtful questions, pursuing deeper understanding of evidence through reflection and perspective-taking, and making informed programming decisions.
ICT for MEAL: Applying knowledge on information and communication technologies (ICT), both hardware and software, for opportune and accurate data collection, database management, conducting analyses, and making information easily accessible
MEAL in Management: Managing financial and human resources in a way that optimizes the quality, effectiveness, and utility of MEAL systems
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS: Internal: ESA PAR project staff, HRD MEAL Advisor, ESA Regional Technical Advisor for MEAL, Timor Leste CRS Staff and especially MEAL Unit.
External: MACF, local partners, government, other NGOs
QUALIFICATIONS:
Professional Qualifications:
- Three to five years of progressively responsible and directly relevant professional experience; including a management role in at least one baseline and final evaluation event; use of ICT4D for MEAL; and sectoral experience in health, nutrition, food security, and emergencies are preferred;
- Thorough familiarity with principles and current approaches to MEAL using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
- Demonstrated MEAL field experience; skilled in collecting, manipulating, synthesizing and analyzing data. Skill with SPSS or similar data analysis software highly preferred
- Understanding of donor expectations and trends for MEAL.
- Experience in one or more of the core programming sectors of the South Asia sub region.
- Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring, and other formal and non-formal methods.
- Excellent analytic and computer skills; skilled in MS Office Suite including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Access.
- Experience with management information systems.
- Prior experience in Asia preferred.
- Graduate degree in a development related field
- Skilled in influencing and obtaining cooperation of individuals not under supervisory control; able to work as member of multinational team and manage long-distance relationships to achieve results.
- Ability to engage and motivate staff and partners in a challenging new area.
- Demonstrated strengths in relationship management with a strong client service focus; able to work with diverse groups of people in multicultural, team oriented environment.
- Able to prioritize work, multi-task and meet deadlines
- Excellent organization and planning skills; self-motivated.
Normal office environment. Requires approximately 30-40% travel in Timor Leste (primary), Indonesia and Bangladesh
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
Equal Opportunity Employer
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