Important Note: This position is contingent upon donor funding.

About CRS:

CRS began working with local partners in Afghanistan in 1998 and launched its own direct operations in 2002. CRS carries out development and emergency relief efforts in Afghanistan with a focus on rural livelihoods through diverse programs that promote food security, natural resource management, and access to quality primary school education for marginalized communities and emergency response as needs arrive. CRS currently maintains 5 main provincial offices in Kabul, Bamiyan, Ghor, Daikundi and Herat provinces, as well as sub-offices that support the direct implementation of program activities.

CRS is seeking a qualified and well-experienced Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Senior Project Officer (SPO) for BHA-funded Fostering Resilience in Afghanistan through Multi-Sector Emergency Support (FRAMES II) project. FRAMES II is a complex humanitarian program that aims to support vulnerable households and communities to meet their basic needs and enhance the resilience of vulnerable populations through a multisectoral approach including livelihoods support, WASH, shelter and cash-for-food support. As a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Senior Project Officer (SPO),you will facilitate the achievement of project objectives through coordinating and reporting on all project MEAL activities and providing MEAL-related technical guidance and advice to staff and partner organization, advancing CRS’ work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your coordination and relationship management skills will ensure that the project for which you are responsible applies best practices in MEAL and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

Support to MEAL Activities Implementation

• Organize and lead the implementation of all assigned project MEAL activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards; MEAL policies, procedures, and practices; donor MEAL requirements, and industry good practices.
• Support the project management team to develop MEAL tools.
• Supervise and perform ad hoc inspections of various MEAL processes and resources at project sites to ensure timely project activities implementation and adherence to established process standards and procedures. Ensure proper tracking of resource use for project MEAL activities through periodic budget reviews.
• Lead the roll-out and implementation of the project’s feedback, complaint and response mechanism (FCRM). Support actively seeking and responding to feedback from all members of targeted communities and other stakeholders as defined by the FCRM. Serve as the key CRS point-person for uploading data on CRS’ CommCare platform.
• Ensure adherence to CRS safeguarding policies by integrating protection and safeguarding measures throughout project monitoring, evaluation, and reporting processes, and facilitating training for staff to identify, report, and respond to protection concerns, particularly for vulnerable populations.
• Effectively manage the cloud-based databases to ensure the data protection protocols are properly adhered with all project team according to the CRS Policies and Procedures (P&Ps).

• Ensure timely project documentation for assigned MEAL activities is complete with all required documents and is filed per agency and donor requirements.
• Prepare trends analysis reports and documentation of case studies and promising practices as required; and contribute to monthly, quarterly, and semi-annual reflections on project progress towards targets.
• Conduct regular qualitative and quantitative data analysis and data quality checks among the team according to the project need and sharing results with project team for learning and adaptive management. Support the Program Manager in the analysis of project progress towards indicators and present results in both narrative and visualized models using Pivot tables and PowerBI. 
• Ensure learning properly accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle. Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and guiding project teams in their efforts to reflect on project experiences. Analyze implementation challenges and report any inconsistencies and/or gaps to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
• Conduct quarterly and annual learning events, identify successes, challenges, and lessons learned, and incorporate findings into the quarterly reports and project activities.  Disseminate the findings and learnings with the Program Manager, Technical Advisors, MEAL staff and all program team for adaptive management.

Staff Supervision

• Directly supervise the MEAL Project Officers and MEAL Field Officers.
• Support professional development through individual coaching, reviewing staff performance management plans, and providing trainings as necessary.

• Lead capacity strengthening initiatives for both MEAL and program staff on MEAL knowledge and skills to ensure assigned project MEAL activities are implemented per project guidelines and standards. Conduct MEAL on-the-job trainings and orientations for the MEAL and program staff.

• Coordinate provision of any MEAL-related logistical and administrative support to staff.

Teamwork and Relationships

• Coordinate and oversee MEAL-related working relationships with all local project stakeholders and serve as the liaison between them and the project team to mobilize local actors and promote project activities and impact. Identify and respond to key stakeholders’ information needs in MEAL activities, using a range of appropriate communication methods.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with  CRS colleagues, project participants, and community members. Promote an office atmosphere that foster professional development.

• Bachelor's Degree required. Degree in International Relations or in statistics or data sciences would be a plus.
• Minimum of 4 years of work experience in project support, ideally in the field of MEAL and for an NGO/I/NGO.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with community leaders and other stakeholders.

• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Strong sensitivity and respect for local cultures
• Strong listening and interpersonal skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in rural community through participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Staff supervision experience a plus.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneDrive, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams).
• Experience working with CommCare and/or PowerBi a plus.

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:

• Monitoring
• Accountability
• Learning

In addition, each staff member in this position is expected to have basic knowledge and ability and, with guidance, be able to apply the following competencies in common situations that present limited difficulties:

• MEAL in Design
• Evaluation
• Analysis and Critical Thinking
• ICT4MEAL

Management in MEAL

Supervisory Responsibilities: MEAL Project Officer; MEAL Field Officers

 Key Working Relationships:  

Internal: Program Manager, Senior Project Officers, Senior Engineers, Project Officers, Technical Advisors, MEAL Coordinator, MEAL Project Officer, MEAL Field Officers, MEAL Project Assistant, Field Officers, Field Agents, Regional Technical Advisors for MEAL and ICT4D.

External: Project participants, community leaders, other community members, partner organization MEAL lead, and CRS MEAL communities of practice.

Required Languages – Fluent English (reading, writing, speaking and listening); Fluent Dari (reading, writing, speaking and listening). Fluent Pashto a plus.

Travel – The position will be based in Daikundi or Herat with at least 50% travelling to project communities and sub offices in Herat, Bamyan and Daikundi. The position may also require occasional travel to other CRS offices in Afghanistan for workshops and trainings. 

"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 staying."

Agency REDI 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 

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., September 21^st, 2024), will not be given consideration. Only short-listed candidates whose applications respond to the above criteria will be contacted for tests and interviews.