Technical Advisor II

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 99 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality and works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs.

Job Summary

The M&E Lead provides technical expertise and leadership to generate and analyze quality evidence and data through monitoring, assessments, and evaluations. The M&E Lead must have demonstrated experience in building or strengthening monitoring systems, quantitative and qualitative analysis, survey, and sample design and effectively promoting evidence-based program management.
The M&E Lead designs, manages, strengthens, and provides strategic direction to Nawiri’s Monitoring and Evaluation systems, ensuring cross-learning in MEAL among Kenya-based projects, as well as collaborating on learning across CRS food security and nutrition projects in the Horn of Africa and other RFSA initiatives within Kenya and in the region. The Lead works across CRS and consortium staff to build capacity of M&E and project staff.

Specific Responsibilities
M&E Strategy and Design

Provide leadership for the management and implementation of M&E activities throughout relevant project cycles to ensure efficient and effective implementation in line with CRS program quality principles and standards and MEAL policies, procedures and practices, USAID/BHA MEL and reporting policies and guidance, and industry good practices.
Ensure project team and partner staff use the appropriate M&E systems and tools.
Provide strategic direction for the development and maintenance of M&E systems and the roll-out of new initiatives.
Support programming staff to incorporate participatory methods into community level M&E systems and tools.
Work with the senior RFSA management team to identify and pursue strategic opportunities for program expansion.
Respond to any requests that may arise from the USAID BHA Nawiri project management team.

M&E Implementation

Lead mandated evaluations, needs assessments, annual surveys, and research.
Refine the MEAL operating manual annually using CRS’ SMILER coaching methodology to ensure a complete, up-to-date, high quality MEAL system, containing essential data collection tools, data flow maps and analysis plans to address needed information for program quality and donor reporting.
Ensure agency level MEAL requirements (e.g., annual data quality assessments, beneficiary count reporting and CRS’ MEAL Policies and Procedures (MPP) self-assessments) for Nawiri are implemented.
Develop strategies for ensuring the quality of collected data for the indicators and manage tools and methods for assessing data quality for all indicators.
Organize the planning for project data quality audits and monitor and coordinate routine data quality audits conducted in different sites, compile results at the level of a project and develop action plans to implement corrective measures.
Coordinate data gathering and data management of population-based surveys and surveillance activities.
Contribute to donor reports through high quality project data interpretation and report inputs.
Lead the project M&E team to strategically prepare and review M&E calendars and workplans.
Ensure the M&E team participates in Joint Monitoring Visits (JMVs).
Support learning-to-action events and reflection sessions to systematically analyze data to promote adaptive management and to document and incorporate lessons learned into program design and implementation with the Strategic Learning (SL) Lead.
Ensure M&E and program teams regularly review and adjust M&E plans and tools as needed by the project context.

Capacity Strengthening

Collaborate with the Kenya CP and EARO MEAL teams [MK1] on the MEAL community of practice to share learning, resources, and support across offices.
Develop and co-facilitate M&E workshops and modules for staff and partners to share country program, regional and global MEAL tools, processes, and best practices to cultivate a culture of learning.
Conduct orientations for new RFSA program staff on CRS systems and key M&E resources.
Provide mentoring to CRS and partner RFSA staff to increase capacity and to achieve annual performance and development plans.
Remain updated with developments among the CRS MEAL community and worldwide MEAL trends and resources to ensure the RFSA MEAL team is applying CRS MEAL guidance and policies appropriately and in a timely manner.
Conduct field monitoring visits events frequently with project teams and implementing partners.
Provide feedback to senior RFSA program and M&E staff to improve the overall MEAL system and ensure quality implementation of MEAL activities with the SL Lead.
Ensure the capacity building of County Governments M&E teams in Isiolo and Marsabit, for using data for decision making.

ICT for MEAL

Support the RFSA ICT4D team and program team develop and maintain accurate and up to date project tracking, record keeping and filing methodologies for all activities.
Ensure the Nawiri databases and dashboards are updated regularly and are accurate.
Help troubleshoot problems with Nawiri databases and dashboards, and ensure corrective action is taken where needs be in a timely manner.
Ensure learning from Nawiri ICT4D initiatives is documented and shared with other CP initiatives, RFSAs and agency wide.

Supervision And Coaching/Mentoring Responsibilities

The RFSA M&E Lead directly supervises the Nawiri M&E Manager, Nawiri Resilience Monitoring Manager, M&E Database Specialist and participates in the hiring and supervision either directly or indirectly of Nawiri M&E GIS Specialist, M&E Officers and assistants, and other future M&E related staff. The Lead also supervises, directly or indirectly, CRS TDYs, and external consultants conducting M&E related activities. Additionally, s/he will provide support in mentoring all MEAL staff across the consortium.

Program Lead Competencies
These are rooted in the mission, values and principles of CRS and used by each program Lead to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.

Sets clear goals and manages toward them.
Collaborates effectively with staff and stakeholders.
Manages financial resources with integrity.
Applies program quality standards to project design and organizational learning.

MEAL Competencies
Each Staff Member In This Position Is Expected To Have Advanced Knowledge And Ability And Can Apply The Following Competencies In New Or Complex Situations. Guides Other Professionals

MEAL in Design
Monitoring
Evaluation
Accountability
Learning
Analysis and Critical Thinking
ICT4MEAL
Management in MEAL

Key Working Relationships

Internal: COP, DCoPs (Programs, Systems strengthening and Institutionalization, Operations), Strategic Learning Lead, Program Quality Manager, Gender Youth and Social Dynamics Lead Technical Leads (e.g., WASH, Livelihoods, Nutrition, Health), Country Program MEAL Manager, ICT, and MEAL Advisors (regional and HQ), CRS’ MEAL community of practice.
External: USAID, USAID Learning Initiatives, international and local partners, other Kenya RFSA implementers.

Skills And Knowledge

Detail-oriented and excellent time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines and deliver required results in a timely and quality manner.
Cultural sensitivity, patience, flexibility, and ability to work well in a multi-sectoral and multi-cultural team and to work closely, understand and support local Church partners.
Ability to work in a challenging and stressful environment with unexpected challenges.
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English required.

Travel – Ability to travel for field missions for 30-50% level of effort as needed.
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications:

Master's degree in economics, agricultural/development economics, statistics, biostatistics, nutrition, applied sociology, anthropology, or other relevant subject with strong quantitative background.
Minimum of 5 years’ experience working in a development setting preferably with an international NGO, with at least 3 years of experience progressively increasing MEAL responsibility in international development projects and at least two years of experience as a supervisor; Title II and ICT4D experience preferred.
The candidate must have demonstrated experience leading the M&E of a large project.
Strong conceptual knowledge about theories of change, logic model, food and nutrition security indicators, M&E plan, data quality assurance, data utilization and gender integration into M&E.
Demonstrated expertise in developing and operationalizing a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan.
Demonstrated expertise and experience in developing and operationalizing routine monitoring system designed to track both output and outcome indicators from project design to implementation (including work with results frameworks and theories of change) as well as building staff capacity to utilize systems; experience with participatory MEAL system required.
Experience with facilitation, capacity strengthening and partnership building through formal and informal training, with the capacity to empower staff through opportunities for professional growth and development.

Preferred Qualifications

Eight years’ experience working in a development setting preferably with an international NGO, with at least six years of experience progressively increasing MEAL responsibility in international development projects and at least two years of experience as a supervisor; Title II and ICT4D experience preferred.
Experience working with large donors, (USAID/BHA and/or USAID/FTF preferred).
Demonstrated familiarity with BHA M&E and Reporting Policy and Guidance for the components of an M&E plan.
Demonstrated expertise and experience in data utilization strategies and can creatively think about active data sharing techniques.
Strong quantitative background and demonstrated expertise in designing annual monitoring surveys including probabilistic sampling strategy and estimating sample size, developing appropriate weights and analyze quantitative data, including previous experience with leading and managing studies and consultants.
Demonstrated expertise in designing qualitative studies, in-depth knowledge about qualitative sampling and experienced in using interview and interactive tools to generate qualitative information and analysis.
Experienced in developing data quality assurance strategies, data management and data visualization, including proficiency in database development/management, SPSS, Stata, EPI-Info, Access, Excel, and skills in analyzing, interpreting, and communicating information to various stakeholders