Program Manager II – Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) 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, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. For nearly 60 years, CRS has taken the lead in responding to natural and man-made disasters affecting Ethiopia's most vulnerable communities. Moving beyond emergency response, CRS' disaster mitigation and recovery projects in drought and flood-prone areas have rebuilt individual and community assets through non-food aid in the form of agriculture, livestock, health, nutrition, and water and sanitation assistance. CRS's humanitarian work in Ethiopia also provides livelihoods support to farmers and entrepreneurs and promotes equality and inclusion. 

Background: The Joint Emergency Operation (JEOP) is a BHA/USAID funded emergency food assistance program that targets transitory or acute food insecure households through Vulnerability Based Targeting (VBT) processes led by JEOP consortium and accepted also by the government of Ethiopia Disaster Risk Management Commission (DRMC). Led by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the JEOP consortium includes CARE Ethiopia, FH Ethiopia, ORDA Ethiopia, GOAL Ethiopia, Relief Society of Tigray (REST), and World Vision (WV). CRS implements through Church partners, Hararghe Catholic Secretariat (HCS) and Meki Catholic Secretariat (MCS). JEOP is implemented in Amhara, Oromia, Southern Ethiopia, Tigray regions and Dire Dawa administration. 

Position: Program Manager II – Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) 

Job Grade: 10

Duty Station: CRS Ethiopia/Addis Ababa

Required number: 1

Employment term: Definite term (i.e. up to June 30, 2027)

Application deadline: August 29, 2024

Job Summary: 

As part of the JEOP MEAL team with a position titled Program Manager II – MEL, based in Addis Ababa, you will facilitate achievement of JEOP objectives by leading MEL activities and provide technical guidance to staff and implementing partner(s) advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the JEOP delivers high-quality program and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming. You will establish and manage all routine monitoring systems that are placed to track performance and program quality across all JEOP operation areas. You will ensure the timely delivery of monitoring reports to USAID/BHA through dynamic dashboards in collaboration with ICT4D team. Also, in collaboration with program staff, you will oversee the effective management of all issues and concerns raised through the monitoring process. you will ensure that the JEOP M&E team delivers high-quality analysis and reports which contribute towards improving the impact of our overall programming. You will ensure monitoring data is collected, analyzed and presented in useful ways that facilitate reporting and decision making at all levels. In addition, you will design and manage learning and adaptation strategy, system, and tools with a focus on promoting knowledge acquisition, management, documentation, dissemination and learning at multiple levels. You will lead the development and writing of performance reports as required by the donor and CRS. You will also serve as a key resource person in proposal development.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Analyze and evaluate project performance data following BHA/ USAID policy and guidance on M&E and CRS MEAL policy and procedures. Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes to overcome implementation obstacles to effective and efficient monitoring and reporting. 
• Lead and oversee all routine monitoring systems that track performance and program quality by facilitating data collection, data entry, analysis and visualization  
• Act as a key resource person in project design and proposal development in monitoring and reporting, gap-filling and taking on growth responsibilities, as needed.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, contribute to the recruitment process of project staff, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Coordinate the identification of staff capacity and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality project implementation. 
• Help identify, assess and strengthen partnerships relevant to Monitoring and Reporting, applying appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities for staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact.
• Contribute to knowledge management and learning through collecting and analyzing program data. Lead active, intentional, and adaptive learning within JEOP.  
• Support regular Theory of change assessment, review and revision exercises, ensuring that multiple levels of CRS and partner staff engage, contribute to, and understand the Theory of Change and how it guides programming.
• Contribute to capacity strengthening of project staff and partners through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums, conducting trainings and workshops, and mentoring and coaching to staff.

• Coordinate relationships with John Hopkins University (JHU) – JEOP’s research and learning partner. Act as the primary point of contact for JHU, as they design and implement research and learning activities. 

 Scope: Supervisees the Senior Project Officer – Routine monitoring systems.

Typical Background, Experience, and Requirements

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in international development, International Relations or in the field of Economics, Statistics, emergencies is required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in relevant field-based project MEAL systems management experience required, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in the area of emergencies. 
• Experience in managing moderately complex projects preferably with an international NGO.
• Strong understanding and exposure to qualitative and quantitative monitoring approaches and tools.
• Experience in analyzing and communicating quantitative and qualitative data. 
• Experience building the capacity of partner organizations
• Experience contributing to the development of technical proposals.
• Extensive M&E skills and experience
• Proficient in using statistical analysis software such as R Studio, SPSS, and STATA.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.
• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with culturally diverse groups.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.
• Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• M&E experience throughout the project cycle is highly desirable.
• Experience in emergency programs.
• Experience in ICT4D platforms.
• Experience in contributing to the development of technical proposals.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

Preferred Qualifications

Required/Desired Foreign Language: English 

Key Working Relationships:

• Supervisory: OneSenior Project Officer (SPO) – Routine monitoring systems and one Technical Advisor (TA) I - Research, Learning & Adapting. 
• Internal Collaborators:Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party -operations, Deputy Chief of Party Program Quality, MEAL PM II, CRS Regional MEAL Technical Advisor, JEOP sectoral technical managers.
• External Collaborators:Consortium partners MEAL leads and JEOP managers, JHU Principal investigator, research coordinator and research teams, Regional/Zonal/Woreda level GoE counterparts, relevant line Ministries and DRM committees, other related government bodies and authorities, and private sector service providers.

Travel Required: 50% by road and air across Amhara, Oromia, Southern Ethiopia, Tigray and Dire Dawa City Administration (subject to need and flexible to family commitments). 

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):  

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.
• 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. 

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.

How To Apply

If you are ready to take on this rewarding opportunity and make a difference in the lives of others, you may fill out the application form through this link:https://form.jotform.com/242321239139553and attach your up-to-date CV on/before the application deadline of August 29, 2024. You will be contacted only if selected for a written exam/interview. Phone solicitations will not be accepted. These job opportunities are open to Ethiopian nationals only