Country MEAL Manager, Haiti

Job Title: Country MEAL Manager, Haiti

Job Location: Port-au-Prince or Les Cayes, Haiti. To be determined.

Reports to: Head of Programming

Salary Grade: 10

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services 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, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

Job Summary

You will manage and provide technical oversight for MEAL in the development and implementation of the Country Program (CP) programming, particularly for large and complex projects, ensuring effective MEAL systems and processes are in place that support high-quality programming advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (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.

You will manage, strengthen, and provide strategic direction to the Haiti CP MEAL system, ensuring cross-learning in MEAL among projects, and to build capacity of MEAL staff. The MEAL Manager is expected to have a high level of self-initiative and use critical thinking skills to identify and fill gaps and opportunities. The MEAL Manager will also work closely with the Head of Programs (HoP) to ensure that the Haiti program complies with the agency’s regional and global MEAL systems and standards. The MEAL Manager should have the ability to work sensitively and positively with programming teams and promote a learning environment.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

MEAL Strategy & Design

• Ensure that the Haiti CP MEAL systems are in compliance with CRS’ global and regional policies, procedures, standards, and strategic initiatives
• Provide strategic direction for the development and maintenance of MEAL systems, and the roll-out of new initiatives
• Support Program Managers and MEAL team/working group members in the design and implementation of assessments, gender analysis, stakeholder analysis, organizational capacity assessments, and other pre-program data collection and analysis
• Provide strategic high-level feedback, analysis and interpretation throughout the proposal development process
• Develop and review Results Frameworks, ProFrames, MEAL Plans, and Analysis Plans
• Ensure the consistency of tools and indicators across all offices, sectors, and programs as appropriate, maintaining a bank of key program indicators
• Support MEAL and programming staff to incorporate accountability mechanisms in all projects
• Collect and analyze lessons learned and best practices from previous and ongoing programs capturing the impact of activities, and ensure that these are incorporated into the design of new projects
• Leverage lessons learned, best practices, program data, evaluations, and other information to generate donor communication pieces, proposal annexes, success stories, case studies, and other high-quality, results-based documentation
• Ensure that all programs comply with the CRS Haiti accountability framework and CRS’ MEAL Policies and Procedures
• Work with senior management to identify and pursue strategic opportunities for program development, expansion, etc.

MEAL Implementation

• Lead emergency real-time evaluations, internal end-of-project evaluations, needs assessments, baselines, impact studies, case studies, and other evaluation efforts
• Lead project monitoring design initiatives including: tool design, data collection processes, and analysis methods using the SMILER method
• Manage agency driven MEAL inquiries, requirements i.e. end of year beneficiary counts, etc.
• Contribute to donor proposals and reports, through high quality analysis of reports and interpretation of data
• Support the MEAL team in strategically preparing and reviewing MEAL calendars
• Develop MEAL operation manuals to ensure that they are complete, up-to-date, high quality, and contain tools, data flow maps, and analysis plans that address all information needed for program quality and donor reporting
• Support learning-to-action events and reflection sessions to systematically analyze data for programmatic use, and to document and incorporate lessons learned into program design and implementation
• Ensure that MEAL and program teams regularly review and accordingly adjust MEAL plans and tools in the light of changes and needs in the field context based on monitoring data and reflection sessions
• Ensure that transparent high quality accountability mechanisms are in place for all programs and are regularly monitored and evaluated
• Ensure that beneficiary feedback is adequately captured, addressed, analyzed, and utilized by program teams
• Lead CRS teams in conducting internal impact and sustainability evaluations, and supporting external impact and sustainability evaluations

Capacity Strengthening

• Effectively manage talent for MEAL and supervise. Conduct regular reviews of staff capacity in accordance with CRS performance management system and coach/mentor staff to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity, and teamwork. Manage team dynamics and staff wellbeing.
• Lead the CRS Haiti MEAL monthly Community of Practice to share learning, resources, and support across offices
• Develop and co-facilitate regular MEAL workshops 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 MEAL and program staff on CRS systems and key MEAL resources
• Maintain an updated matrix of MEAL team capacities using the CRS MEAL core competencies, provide training and development as necessary to ensure CP maintains a full roster of skills
• Provide mentoring/accompaniment to CRS and partner 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, and ensure that the Haiti MEAL team is applying CRS MEAL guidance and policies appropriately and in a timely manner
• Conduct field monitoring visits frequently with project teams and implementing partners
• Provide feedback to senior project and MEAL staff to improve the overall MEAL system and ensure quality implementation of MEAL activities
• If selected candidate is international, will lead efforts to localize the position within two years. This involves identifying staff within the MEAL team across the country program who are ready for advancement, investing in their capacity strengthening with clear benchmarks in line with CRS’ Capability Learning Path for MEAL and working with the HoP and regional MEAL TA to organize capacity strengthening activities.

ICT4D

• Support MEAL and programming teams to develop strong project tracking, record keeping and filing methodologies for all activities
• Work with MEAL and IT staff to maximize the value and utility of ICT4D initiatives including the use of CommCare, PowerBi, and/or the roll out of new initiatives
• Analyze ways to effectively integrate new ICT4D methods into new and existing projects beyond just applications for M&E and data collection

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in International Development, Statistics, International Relations or in a MEAL-related field required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in relevant field-based project management experience required, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in the area of MEAL.
• Experience in managing moderately complex projects preferably with an international NGO.

Required Languages

• Fluency in French and English (written and spoken) required. Kreyol and Spanish a plus.

Travel

• Regular travel to CRS offices within Haiti and project locations, in line with the CRS Haiti annual MEAL action plan and other request from CRS (30-40%).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment 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.
• Ability to transfer knowledge through formal and informal training.
• Excellent planning and organization skills.
• Flexibility to work both in a team and independently.
• Demonstrated personal accountability and driven to serve others.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with large donors i.e.: USAID, EU, and IDB and proficiency in writing MEAL-related donor reports in English and French.
• Familiarity with principles and current approaches to MEAL of development programs and experience in using both quantitative and qualitative methods, especially those of USAID.
• Experience with participatory MEAL systems.
• Proficiency in database development/management, SPSS, EPI-Info, Access, Excel and skills in analyzing, interpreting and communicating information to various stakeholders.
• Experience using ICT for data collection.
• Previous experience with leading and managing studies and consultants.
• Experience with facilitation, capacity strengthening and partnership building, with the capacity to empower staff through opportunities for growth & development.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Direct supervision of Senior Accountability Officer and ICT4D Manager, technical supervision of Project MEAL staff.

Key Working Relationships

Internal: Head of Programming, Heads of Program Sections (Education, Child Protection, Youth, Agriculture, Emergency & Resiliency), Chiefs of Party, MEAL Officers and Senior Program Officers, Project and Program Managers, LACRO & HQ MEAL staff, Operations and HR departments

External: Other NGOs and MEAL Networking group, project consultants (if applicable)

MEAL Competencies (for CRS MEAL Program Staff)

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
• Management in MEAL
• ICT4MEAL