Job Description

Job Title: Program Manager II

Department: Programs

Band: 10

Reports To: Head of Programming

Indirect report to: Country Manager

Country/Location: Mogadishu, Somalia

Length of Contract: 12 Months

About Catholic Relief Services

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 100 countries around the world. Through its programs CRS assists poor and vulnerable persons based on need, regardless of creed, ethnicity, or nationality. It works through partners to implement its programs, therefore, strengthening and building the capacity of these partner organizations is fundamental to programs in every country in which CRS operates.

CRS has a long history of supporting local civil-society organizations in Somalia and has implemented development and emergency programming in multiple sectors, primarily supported by the United States Agency for International Development. CRS’ work in Somalia supports populations across 5 regions of Somalia, with emergency presence concentrated in the South-Central area.

CRS began working in Somalia in 1961 responding with food to assist flood victims and established its first office there in 1964. Today, CRS continues to respond to the urgent needs of the Somali people through meeting their immediate needs (food and water); providing essential services (health, nutrition, and protection); creating and rehabilitating critical infrastructure (latrines and wells); restoring productive assets and purchasing power to build resilience and promote long-term, sustainable solutions; and ensuring peacebuilding activities to transform intercommunal conflict.

Job Summary:

The MEAL Manager will manage and provide technical and management support for MEAL in the development and implementation of the Somalia Programs in line with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices. Your guidance to Country Program (CP) teams and partners will advance the delivery of high-quality programming particularly for large and complex projects, ensuring effective MEAL systems and processes are in place that support high-quality programming advancing CRS’ work in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your MEAL-related management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

•       Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight for MEAL in all new and existing projects within the CP in Somalia throughout the project cycle to ensure project design, start-up, implementation and close-out are in line with CRS quality principles and standards and MEAL policies, procedures, and practices, donor MEAL guidelines, and industry best practices.

•       Effectively manage MEAL talent and supervise MEAL staff, including team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports.

•       Champion the development of program learning – identify opportunities for learning, research and publications and implementation of MEAL policy and procedures, as well as relevant program quality

standards and benchmarks around learning. Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency knowledge management agenda. Work closely with program and project leadership to promote the application of learning to improve program quality and to strengthen agency influence among external stakeholders. Ensure integration of relevant innovations and best practices into MEAL systems and implementation.

•       Contribute to the proactive pursuit of opportunities for new funding to ensure growth of the CP portfolio in line with agency, regional, and CP strategic priorities. Serve as the MEAL technical lead and writer to ensure quality proposals in per agency and donor standards. Provide guidance and technical oversight for the design of project and sectoral theories of change, results frameworks, and Proframes, Contribute to MEAL budgeting and staffing plans and activities for proposals.

•       Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight for the development and implementation of high-quality MEAL systems and processes, including ICT4MEAL and the application of responsible data principles as per agency and donor requirements, across programming in the CP.

•       Champion the analysis and use of project performance data to inform decision-making and identify lessons learned. Facilitate connections between colleagues and peers to generate and share evidence-based learning.

•       Provide management, guidance and technical oversight for project or program evaluation events and research, including the development of terms of reference or study protocols that include evaluation/learning questions, a balance of qualitative and quantitative methods, appropriate consideration of ethical and data protection standards, and the necessary technical rigor. Oversee the quality of evaluation data through good data management. Support the identification, recruitment, and management of external evaluators or research partners to ensure high quality evaluation, research, and learning.

•       Oversee MEAL-related technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities for staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact. Ensure appropriate application of agency partnership concepts, tools and approaches

•       Oversee timely and appropriate project MEAL expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.

•       Engage and collaborate with other CRS Country Program MEAL leads in the East Africa Region, as well as with the Regional Technical Advisors-MEAL.

Experiences and Qualifications

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements

Education and Experience

•       Masters’s degree in demography, sociology, statistics or any other MEAL-related field.

•       Minimum of Five years of relevant, progressive work experience in MEAL, ideally with an international NGO and/or with USG funding.

•       Knowledge of technical principles, concepts and current approaches in MEAL.

•       Experience in the use of key qualitative and quantitative evaluation tools and techniques.

•       Experience in designing and overseeing implementation of program studies and evaluation, and use of findings to support adaptive management.

•       Experience and skills in partner relationship management and development project support is a plus.

•       Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.

•       Experience in using data analysis software (SPSS, STATA, EpiInfo, NVIVO, Nutrisurvey).

•       Experience in using mobile-data collection and management software (e.g. ODK, Commcare, I-form builder, Kobo, Power-BI)

MEAL Competencies

•       MEAL in Design: Demonstrates basic knowledge and ability to develop project-level Theories of change, results frameworks, Proframe, related MEAL system tools and competencies, and accompanying MEAL narratives.

•       Monitoring: Demonstrates solid knowledge and ability in 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: Demonstrates basic knowledge and ability in supporting project and program evaluations and reviews by ensuring the quality of evaluation methods, tools, and data and facilitating the use of evaluation results to inform decision-making and enhance learning.

•       Accountability: Demonstrates solid knowledge and ability in 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: Demonstrates basic knowledge and ability to promote 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: Demonstrates basic and ability to engage 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: Demonstrate solid knowledge and ability in 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: Demonstrate basic knowledge and ability in managing financial and human resources in a way that optimizes the quality, effectiveness, and utility of MEAL systems.

Personal Skills

•       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

•       Honesty and integrity in work and communication

•       Presentation, facilitation, training, and mentoring skills

•       Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities

•       Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills

•       Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented.

•       Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality.

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.

Required/Desired Foreign Language: Fluent Somali and English

Travel Required: 30% to project sites outside Mogadishu; occasional travel to Nairobi.

Key working relationships

Supervisory: MEAL Officer, Senior MEAL Officer, Senior Accountability Officer.

Reports to: CRS Somalia Head of Programming

Internal: Chief of Party, Country Manager; Program Managers, RTA MEAL, MEAL Manager Nabadoon; Deputy Chief of Party.

External: Partner Staff (especially MEAL-related staff), community members, MEAL staff from peer agencies, donor MEAL contacts, other MEAL consultants in the country and region.

What we offer:

CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

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.

CRS Somalia strives to be a place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and work, stay, and do their best.

CRS provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability or handicap, medical condition and any other status protected by law. As an equal opportunity employer, CRS will recruit, hire, train and promote persons solely on their qualifications and abilities.

CRS’ emphasis on family values supports benefits, including maternity and paternity leave, policies that promote exclusive breastfeeding, the availability of a baby room at the office, and flexible working hours where possible.

Women and persons with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.

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.

The protection of your personal data is important to Catholic Relief Services. By submitting your application, you consent to CRS using your personal data only for the recruitment process to have all the information and documents necessary to proceed with the recruitment, validation of your application and selection of the most suitable candidate. Your personal data will be treated confidentially. CRS will not use your personal data in any other way other than for purposes of recruitment.

Skills Required

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