Project Officer - MEL

Job Summary

As a monitoring, evaluation, and learning project officer for CRS’s Gaza Emergency Response, you will facilitate the achievement of project objectives through monitoring and reporting on all project monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities and providing MEAL-related technical guidance and advice to staff and implementing partner(s) in support of Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your knowledge of Project implementation 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

• Support the coordination and implementation of all assigned project MEAL activities as outlined in the MEAL system and response strategy and activities covered under a portfolio of donors in line with CRS program quality principles, standards and MEAL policies, procedures, and practices; donor MEAL requirements; and industry good practices.
• Monitor and report any MEAL-related challenges and gaps identified to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. Assist partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences.
• Support in the roll-out and implementation of the project’s feedback and response mechanism (FRM) 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 JWBG FCRM Standard of Operation. 
• Support field-level project MEAL activities (including digital data collection) and assist partners in their efforts to collect and ensure timely analysis of project data per specified mechanisms and tools. Ensure the quality of monitoring data through support of annual data quality assessments. 
• Collaborate with local partner(s) and all local project stakeholders to prepare MEAL-related aspects of reports per established reporting schedule. Serve as liaison between local partners 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.
• Collect information on staff MEAL capacity needs and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and monitor MEAL capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact.
• Coordinate provision of any MEAL-related logistical and administrative support to staff and partners.
• Complete project documentation for assigned MEAL activities. Assist with identifying information for case studies and reports on promising practices.
• Support program learning and decision making by posing thoughtful questions, engaging with project data, reflecting upon and sharing with project management the information gathered from community members and partners.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree relevant to the area 
• Minimum of 2 years of work experience in project support.

• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data preferred.
• Experience in the field of Information Management, Data Analysis and Reporting and for an NGO would be a plus.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Experience working with and building the capacity of local partners.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Proficient in using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented

Required Languages: Fluency in Arabic, and in English.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 20 %. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: yes

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.