MEAL Officer

Job Title: MEAL Officer

Department: Programming

Band: 7

Reports To: STRONG Project Manager

Country/Location: Rwanda (Kigali) with Field Trips

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.

Background: CRS is preparing to implement a global project that will address critical nutrition needs of adolescent girls and young women, with an emphasis on a multi-regional perspective and incorporating a significant goods delivery component. This five-year program will be implemented across seven countries including: Guatemala, India, Liberia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Timor Leste, and Zambia. Activities in the seven countries will contribute to the achievement of global results, targets, and indictors under one global award managed by a central Senior Management Team. In Rwanda, this program will be implemented in five districts with the highest anemia rates amongst women  (DHS 2020). namely Kayonza, Rwamagana, Nyarugenge, Rulindo, and Nyamasheke districts.

Job Summary:

As a member of the Sustainable, Targeted, Responsive approach to Optimize Nutrition and Growth (STRONG) for Adolescent Girls and Young Women project team, you will monitor and report on all project activities in support of Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your thorough and service-oriented approach will ensure that the project consistently applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure proper use of monitoring tools and supervision checklists, for monitoring all aspects of the STRONG project.
• Implement the monitoring and evaluation program plans as stated in the Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) and MEAL plan.
• Take the lead in supporting the line manager in reports writing including small survey reports, field monitoring reports, etc..
• Support the project with the completion of the baseline, mid-line and end-line surveys and all other relevant data collection processes.
• Manage the minimum reporting package for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) databases.
• Prior to entering the data information in the system, ensure accuracy and consistency.
• Perform other monitoring and documentation duties as required.
• Document challenges/issues, best practices, lessons learnt, case studies and success stories in STRONG programming.
• Review, compile and submit to the program coordinator data and narrative reports of STRONG (frequency to be determined) program focusing on major achievements against the targets.
• Take the lead in writing annual narrative program reports focusing on the major achievements against targets or objectives including the impact of the intervention, constraints and other relevant information.
• File and manage both the soft and hard copies of all program training and other activities reports.
• Be fully aware of and share with concerned staff the national policies, strategies and other initiatives by government and other stakeholders in monitoring, documentation and evaluation.
• Lead the writing and documentation of the STRONG success stories and/or web articles.
• Represent CRS in technical district and national meetings related to monitoring and evaluation when necessary.
• Through support & mentorship, strengthen the capacity of program staff to effectively collect and use relevant program data.
• Lead on collection and analysis of FCRM data for STRONG project
• In collaboration with partners and professionals at the district level, participate in and contribute to activities related to monitoring and evaluation of program activities, including organizing feedback meetings to discuss program data.

Basic Qualifications

• High School diploma required. Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years of work experience in MEAL. Experience in the field of nutrition and for an NGO would be a plus.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.

Required Languages – Oral and written fluency in English and Kinyarwanda. French is a plus.

Travel – The position is Kigali based. Must be willing and able to travel to the field, in five target districts, up to 50 % of the time.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgement.
• 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 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data preferred.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. 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.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: None 

Key Working Relationships: STRONG PM, STRONG PO, INECD teams in concerned districts

Internal: STRONG PM, STRONG PO, INECD teams in concerned districts

External: Government and district authorities, INECD IP teams

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. 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 protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

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. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourages women and young people to apply. We offer gender friendly recruitment and employment conditions.

How to apply

Interested and qualified candidates should complete the attached application form, Self -Declaration Clause and submit them together with one page Cover letter plus updated CV (maximum three pages) all in/as one document – via email only to: RW_HR@crs.org no later than Friday August 11^th, 2023, at 5:00pm.

Please, include below statement in your cover letter:

“By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.”

Also include your full names and title “MEAL Officer” in the subject line. Due to anticipated high interest in this post and the expected number of applicants, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.