MEAL Senior Project Officer (SPO) (Geneina) – CRS

Job Description

Organization	Catholic Relief Services
Job Title:	MEAL Senior Project Officer
Supervisor	MEAL Program Manager II
Duty Station	Sudan, West Darfur Geneina
Closing Date:	28 Oct 2024

About CRS:

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. 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.

Duties and responsibilities:

Background:

CRS Sudan will be implementing an emergency food security program to address acute food security shocks in Sudan. The project will serve as a food pipeline for affected populations in Central and West Darfur.

Job Summary: 

The MEAL Senior Project Officer (SPO) will support and provide technical guidance for MEAL in the development and implementation of the Country Program’s (CP) Food security activity in West and Central Darfur. Support to effective MEAL systems and processes are in place that support high-quality programming. Your MEAL-related management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving its impact.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Support the comprehensive MEAL systems’ design, development, and maintenance. 
• Support essential evaluations, needs assessments, annual surveys, and other evaluation efforts. Include leading the entire Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM) process, ensuring timely evaluations of distributions, and analysing feedback.
• Update the project MEAL operation manual to ensure its relevance and quality. Ensure it encompasses tools, data flow maps, and analysis plans essential for program quality and donor reporting. Oversee agency-driven CRS MEAL policies and procedure implementation. 
• Collaborate with the MEAL team to prepare, review, and optimize MEAL calendars, ensuring timely evaluations and assessments.
• Collaborate with the MEAL PM II and other project team to design and co-facilitate MEAL workshops for staff and partners. 
• Organize and conduct orientations introducing new MEAL and program staff to essential CRS systems and resources. Provide consistent mentoring to CRS and partner staff, enhancing their capacity to fulfill annual performance and development plans.
• Regularly conduct field monitoring visits in collaboration with project teams and implementing partners, ensuring on-ground effectiveness.
• Support and implement robust feedback mechanisms prioritizing beneficiaries, ensuring their voices are central to program adjustments and refinements.
• Implement strict measures to protect the personal data of beneficiaries, ensuring that their privacy is respected and that data is only used for intended purposes.
• Partner with MEAL and IT teams to optimize the application of Information and Communication Technologies for MEAL (ICT4MEAL) initiatives, maximizing their utility and impact.

Minimum Qualification, Skills and Experience Required:

Basic requirements

• MA/MSC degree or BA/BSC degree in International Development, International Relations or in the field of MEAL required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in relevant field-based project management experience is required, with preferably at least 2-3 years of experience working in the area of MEAL. 
• Experience in managing moderately complex projects, preferably with an international NGO.

Required Languages – Excellent command of English and Arabic is required.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 50% of the time to remote project sites.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound judgments and decisions and offer innovative solutions
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels, internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Good presentation and facilitation skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented
• Competency in MEAL components and MEAL in design, Management in MEAL, and ICT for MEAL, including experience with Commcare, Kobo, ArcGIS, and PowerBI is a plus.
• Strong experience in MEAL in an emergency context and experience in use of remote monitoring techniques

Preferred Qualifications:

• Good project grant management experience, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USAID.
• Demonstrated ability to write high-quality technical proposals.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations
• MEAL skills and experience required. Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, and information management systems.
• Strong technical skills with the ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings
• Good technical writing skills
• Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Key Working Relationships: 

Supervisory: TBD

Internal: MEAL PM II, Deputy Chief of Part Quality, Technical Advisors, Risk and compliance Manager, MEAL-PQ unit, other programming and operations colleagues

External:Peer agencies, Partners, private sector, project participants

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.

If applicable: Work Conditions/Environment Conditions

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

 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. 

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

CRS’s emphasis on family values supports benefits, including maternity and paternity leave, policies that promote exclusive breastfeeding, the availability of a crèche at

the office, and flexible working hours where possible.

(The position is contingent on donor funding).

How to Apply

Submission location: – 

If interested, please submit cover letter, resume and copies of your education and work certificates to CRS– El Geneina Office. Ensure that your cover letter or resume has a phone number here you can be reached.