CRS is an international humanitarian and development agency working 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.

CRS has been operating in Afghanistan since 2002 and CRS is currently maintaining staff presence in Kabul, Herat, Ghor and Bamiyan, alongside an expanding scope of partnership implemented programs in Kunar, Samangan, Balkh, with strategic expansion planned further in 2026. CRS Afghanistan focuses on poverty and risk reduction and promoting resilience, human development through implementing livelihoods, education and emergency response.

You will manage MEAL/digital programming in the Country Office (CO) for CRS and partner-led projects in various sectors including, but not limited to, emergency, natural resources management, livelihoods and education, designing and implementing project MEAL to advance CRS work in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your MEAL and digital programming-related management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CO delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Manage and implement all MEAL and digital programming activities throughout relevant project cycles – project design, start-up, implementation and close-out – to ensure efficient and effective implementation in line with CRS program quality principles and standards and MEAL policies, procedures and practices, donor MEAL requirements, and industry good practices. Ensure project team and partner staff use the appropriate MEAL systems and tools.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise MEAL staff. Manage team dynamics and staff wellbeing. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, contribute to the recruitment process of project staff, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Champion learning with project staff and partner teams. Analyze and evaluate project performance data following MEAL policy and industry good practices, including use of statistics (quantitative data), and content and trends analysis (qualitative data). Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes to overcome implementation obstacles, encouraging reflection on key issues, assumptions, and themes to identify and address gaps in learning. Promote the application of learning to improve program quality and to strengthen agency influence among external stakeholders.
• Act as a key resource person for MEAL in project design and proposal development in respective programming area, gap-filling and taking on growth responsibilities, as needed. Support the design of project-level theories of change, results frameworks, Proframes (logical frameworks) and MEAL narratives, including the identification of key indicators of change and appropriate methods for data collection and use.
• Lead the development and roll-out of project-level MEAL systems, including Performance Monitoring Plans or Performance Indicator Reference Sheets, Indicator Performance Tracking Tables, data collection instruments, Feedback and Response Mechanisms, and Detailed Implementation Plans which are appropriate to the scope and context of the CO’s portfolio.
• Coordinate the implementation of monitoring and accountability activities and processes (including ICT4MEAL) according to the Detailed Implementation Plan and MEAL system of the CP’s portfolio that accommodate both direct and indirect (partner-led) implementation. Ensure the quality of monitoring data through annual data quality assessments. Support active seeking and responding to feedback from all members of targeted communities and other stakeholders.
• Contribute to evaluation events through the development of terms of reference that include a balance of qualitative and quantitative methods, and the necessary level of technical rigor. Assure the quality of evaluation data through good data management. As required, support the identification, recruitment, and management of external evaluators to ensure high quality evaluation and learning.
• Represent the organization with donors, INGO working groups, UN, relevant local partners and relevant local government and community actors.
• Help identify, assess and strengthen partnerships relevant to MEAL, appropriately applying of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
• Coordinate the identification of MEAL-related staff capacity and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality project implementation. Optimize partner participation and capacity development in the implementation of MEAL systems.
• Coordinate and monitor financial and material resources relevant to project MEAL needs. Through planning and oversight ensure efficient use of project resources for MEAL.

• Master's Degree in International Development, International Relations or in the field of MEAL required.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing light to moderately complex projects required, preferably with a development and private sector organizations. 
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• 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

Preferred Qualifications

• MEAL-related project management experience in livelihoods, resilience, market systems, emergencies and education is highly desirable.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• Experience contributing to the development of technical proposals.
• MEAL skills and experience preferred.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Supervisory Responsibilities: All project level MEAL staff will have indirect technical responsibility.

Key Working Relationships:  

Internal: Head of Programs, Project Managers, MEAL Staff, Global Technical Advisors for MEAL, CRS Afghanistan programming and operations staff as needed

External: CRS local partners, peer organizations, Gov’t authorities relevant to CRS work

MEAL Competencies (for CRS MEAL Program Staff)

Each staff member in this position is expected to have solid knowledge and ability and can apply the following competencies with minimal or no guidance, in the full range of typical situations, while requiring guidance to handle novel or more complex situations:

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

Required Languages – English and Dari, Pashtu, and any other local languages will be plus

Travel – The position is Kabul based but must be willing and able to travel more than 50 % of the time to support partners and staff.

CRS is committed to providing daily allowances for mahrams who accompany female staff on day trips to the field, and per diem and accommodation for mahrams who accompany female staff on work-related trips that require overnight stays.

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.

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and 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. Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

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

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

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Protection Acknowledgment: CRS prohibits all forms of abuse and exploitation towards children and vulnerable adults. As a professional candidate, you commit to adhering to the Agency’s policy on protection, rights and dignity of children and vulnerable adults and to safeguard them from abuse and exploitation as defined in CRS’ Safeguarding Policy

Applications comprise a one-page cover letter to explain your interest and suitability for the post and your CV. Please do not attach your education documents and work certificates unless requested.

Dear Applicants!

The process of submitting a CV/Application has been changed to the online system. Therefore, interested candidates are encouraged to apply using the link provided below. Applications sent to any other email address or location will not be considered. Please ensure to rename your application file according to your name entered on the first page of the application forms.

Interested candidates can submit their applications by clicking on this link.

Please note that applications received after the closing date (i.e., December 28^th, 2025), will not be given consideration. Only short-listed candidates whose applications respond to the above criteria will be contacted for tests and interviews.