Job Title         : Project Officer – MEAL

Department : Programs

Supervisor      : Project Manager – MEAL

Grade             : 7

Position Type: Full Time

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Country/Location: Uganda/Kampala

About Catholic Relief Services:

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) supporting relief and development work in over 100 countries around the world. CRS carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. CRS’ Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations, serving people on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs.

CRS has worked in Uganda since 1965, initially providing emergency assistance to Sudanese refugees living in the north. Over the years, CRS has expanded its programming to also address development needs in western, central, and eastern Uganda. CRS’ projects in Uganda currently include agriculture, health, microfinance, peacebuilding, and youth. CRS Uganda implements its programs through partnerships with local organizations, including the Catholic Church, other faith-based organizations and community entities for maximum impact and sustainability. CRS Uganda employs around 190 staff and has its main office in Kampala, with sub-offices in Moroto, Yumbe, and Kyangwali. With our more than 30 partners, we served over 1.2m Ugandans in 2020.

Project Summary:

The Vines Project, implemented by CRS Uganda, is a five-year, $13 million Food for Progress project that will make Uganda the world’s next leading supplier of high-quality vanilla. Vines will leverage the expertise of CRS and its partners to enhance the production of safe, pure vanilla and develop sustainable market links with US vanilla companies, directly transforming the lives of 16,200 farmers, 836 supply chain actors and create 15,820 new jobs to reach 32,856 vanilla stakeholders. The Vines strategy reflects best practices in sustainable development and will leave Uganda with a robust vanilla farming community resilient to the boom/bust nature of the market and a cadre of private sector agricultural extensionists to support more sophisticated production, processing, and marketing needs.

 

Job Roles and Responsibilities:

 

The Project Officer-MEAL will support the implementation of MEAL activities, including tool and formats development, timely collection of quality data, maintenance of databases, facilitation of participatory reflection on monitoring results and preparation of progress reports. He/She will work in close coordination with the program team in conducting the Vines project baseline survey and implementation of the vines project feedback and response mechanisms. The person will report to Program Manager & CRS MEAL team as per need. S/He will be responsible to implement and assist/facilitate the following activities in close coordination with related project staffs: development plans, and complete performance assessment for direct reports. Developing staffing plans for projects and contribute to the recruitment process of senior project staff.

 

Monitoring:

  • Support to develop/review Monitoring Checklist and tools based on the result framework and project activities.
  • Organize regular field visit to monitor program activities/interventions as described in the detailed implementation plan.
  • Support program staff to strengthen joint planning and monitoring with stakeholders.
  • Technical support in collecting quality data and analysis against the performance indicators and targets on periodic basis.
  • Collect and document MEAL capacity/ technical assistance needs of partner organizations and monitor MEAL capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact.

Evaluation:

  • Support to conduct the Vine project evaluation surveys, and other assessments.
  • Support/coordinate for filed visit and logistic arrangement of evaluation team, if required.

Accountability:

  • Take lead in the implementation of the projects feedback complaints response mechanisms (FCRM)
  • Ensure the mechanisms are functional and accessible to beneficiaries.
  • Develop regular trend analysis of feedback/complaints and share it with program team as per protocols.
  • Timely response of participants feedback coming through feedback and response mechanisms.
  • In close coordination with Line Manager on quality and accountability issues, Share all information (monitoring reports, databases, preliminary inquiry reports) with CRS MEAL Officer.
  • Share MEAL findings & issues in each monthly meeting as defined in the MEAL Guideline.

 

Learning:

  • Support the Vines project program team in developing quality reports.
  • Generate periodic reports and document the key learning from the MEAL system.
  • Ensure the key learning’s are incorporated in upcoming plan.

 

 Documentation:

  • Managing proper documents regarding total reach (direct and indirect reach) update as per need.
  • Managing training, orientation, workshop, meeting details by collaborating with program and update as per need.
  • Managing community and district level stakeholders and update as per need.
  • Ensure that all the Monitoring and Evaluation data is entered into the project data base in a timely manner.
  • Compile at least one success story for USDA biannual and annual reporting.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

 

Education and Experience:

  • Bachelor’s degree in development studies, population studies, social sciences, statistics, or a related field (Post graduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation preferred).
  • Minimum of four (4) years of relevant work experience in MEAL, preferably with an international NGO and on agriculture related projects.

 

Job Competencies:

  • Experience in MEAL system planning and implementation at district level in governmental and nongovernmental organizations
  • In depth knowledge of MEAL sector and its working modality in the country both government and non-government sector.
  • Strong communication, documentation, and dissemination skills
  • Basic competency in Analysis, Critical Thinking, learning and Accountability.
  • Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, data management systems, knowledge-sharing networks
  • MEAL skills and work experience in advocacy, lobbying and networking.
  • Technical skills and work experience on designing and applying MEAL tools and statistical analysis (quantitative and qualitative) packages and report generation.

 

Desirables: 

  • A strong commitment to MEAL and Human Rights is essential along with ability to represent at various levels
  • Highly motivated, flexible, capable of working both independently and as part of a team

 

Personal Skills: 

 

  • Strong analytical skills with focus on detail
  • Ability to work effectively under stressful conditions
  • Good technical writing skills
  • Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
  • Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

 

Travel Required: Must be willing and able to travel up to 50% in country

 

Required Languages: Oral and written English fluency is required

 

Key Working Relationships: 

Supervisory: 

Internal: Vines MEAL Manager, Chief of Party, all project staff and other CRS MEAL staff.   External: Partner staff, MEAL staff from other peer agencies

 

Agency-Wide Competencies (for all CRS staff)

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

  • Serves with Integrity
  • Models Stewardship
  • Cultivates Constructive Relationships
  • Promotes Learning

 

DISCLAIMER CLAUSE:

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

 

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

 

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.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer 

NOTE: To apply, please follow these instructions exactly otherwise your application will NOT be considered:

  • Email a cover letter and CV only to ug_recruitment@crs.org by May 3rd, 2021 at 5:00pm.
  • Large files and/or scans of documents will lead to rejection of your application, in the subject line of the email, copy and paste – PROJECTOFFICERMEAL only
  • All applications that do not contain this exact subject line will be rejected and not read

ONLY SELECTED CANDIDATES THAT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE NOTIFIED. EOE/M/F/D/V

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