CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries. CRS’ relief and development work are accomplished through programs of emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

Background

CRS has been working on behalf of Afghan families since 2002, with hundreds of experienced Afghan staff working in offices across the country. We provide emergency relief, inclusive education, improved agricultural techniques, and other life‐enriching services to tens of thousands of households. CRS is currently implementing programs in the provinces of Bamiyan, Daikundi, Ghor, Herat, and Kabul, and is exploring additional expansion. CRS maintains five (5) main offices in the country as well as several sub-offices that support the direct implementation of program activities. With over 200 staff, the Country Program is growing to meet new needs throughout the country.

Over the last several years, the drought, conflict, transition, flash floods, earthquakes, and increase in returnees from Pakistan have led to significant and urgent multisectoral needs as well as widespread food insecurity across the country. CRS anticipates scaling up its emergency response through MPCA, WASH, education, and livelihoods support in current and new target districts, with a focus in the coming months on flood, drought, & earthquake-affected communities and returnees as well as host communities. CRS intends to expand and strengthen its capacity to catalyze outcomes at scale, to influence expansion of activities, strategies, and outcomes.

The Project Officer (MEAL) will be responsible for managing Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) activities at the country program (CP) under Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA). He/ she assists in donor report compilation, aiding project officers and MEAL assistants in carrying out proper MEAL activities and improving their MEAL capacity. In addition, the Project Officer (MEAL) will be responsible for verifying and managing data and information used to monitor the progress of CRS CVA programs in the Country Program (CP) under cash and voucher programming toward their determined indicators. Emphasis should be placed on data quality and data interpretation for programmatic decisions.  In coordination with the entire program team, the Project Officer (MEAL) will contribute to the design and implementation of MEAL systems, databases, tools, and the development of reports for sharing project achievements with various stakeholders. The Project Officer (MEAL) is expected to have a high level of initiative and use critical thinking skills to identify and fill gaps.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Support the coordination and implementation of all assigned project MEAL activities as outlined in the Detailed Implementation Plan in line with CRS program quality principles, standards and MEAL policies, procedures, and practices; donor MEAL requirements; and industry good practices.
• Lead the management 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.
• Support field-level project MEAL activities (including digital data collection) and assist partners in their efforts to collect project data per specified mechanisms and tools.
• Complete project documentation for assigned MEAL activities. Assist with identifying information for case studies and reports on promising practices.

MEAL System Design: (15%)

• Under the leadership of the Cash and Voucher PM, and in coordination with the entire project team, the Project Officer (MEAL) will lead the design of systems and tools for overall project monitoring and evaluation, including data collection, management, analysis, and reporting. 
• The Project Officer (MEAL) will identify challenges in data collection and data management to the Project Officer and offer suggestions for improving system design during the life of projects. 
• The Project Officer (MEAL) will contribute to the design of MEAL plans for the development of new project proposals as needed, and lead SMILER (Simple Measurement of Indicator for Learning and Evidence-based Reporting) workshops for projects starting up.

Field Monitoring, Quality Assurance and Data Collection: (45%)

In coordination with the project team, the Project Officer (MEAL) will participate in the implementation of the MEAL system, including the following tasks:

• Documentation and support with community selection assessments, beneficiary registration, verification, validation, and distribution.
• Information sharing with target communities regarding project objectives, approaches, activities, achievements, and Feedback system.
• Ensure MEAL system is in place (Face- to Face Feedback, Exit Interview, Hotlines, and Post-Distribution Monitoring) during CVA programing.

Filing, Data Entry, and Data Management (20%)

• The Project Officer (MEAL) is the primary person responsible for ensuring that the information and data collected for project monitoring and evaluation is managed in a clear, complete, accurate, timely, and transparent manner according to the filing and naming protocols established in the design of relevant project MEAL systems.  This includes data entry into project databases and the maintenance of electronic and paper files for data collection and analysis.

Data Analysis, Reporting, and Capacity Building (20%)

• The Project Officer (MEAL) will support the Project Officers and the Roving CVA PM to review and analyze project data, make suggestions for improving the project plan and implementation, and compile reports as needed for various stakeholders including donor agencies, national and international NGO partners, communities.
• MEAL Officer would need to train other team members on data collection tools, data ethics, indicators and MEAL Plan.

• University degree in Economics, Business, Statistics, Management, or related field strongly preferred.
• 3 years of experience working with international-NGOs and proven experience in MEAL/ research preferred.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational and communication skills.
• Computer skills: (MS Word, MS Access, MS Excel, MS Power Point) and familiar with CommCare/Power BI as plus.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Key Working Relationships:  

Internal: CVA Project Officers, CVA Program Manager, MEAL Coordinator, Head of Offices, Deputy Head of Programing and Head of Programming.

External: National and international NGOs, community leaders and community members

Required Languages – Excellent working knowledge of English (reading, writing, and speaking) and fluency in Dari. Oral Pashto Language is a plus but not required.

Travel – This position may be based in Herat or Bamiyan. Must be willing and able to travel up to 90% to CRS offices and field sites in Ghor, Daikundi, Bamiyan, Herat, and Kabul, as well as additional provinces if and as CRS’ programming expands.

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

Since this is a roving position when traveling to other offices other than the base location, per diem and accommodation are as follows.

• Per diem eligibility: For short work-related trips away from the employee's base (one week or less), roving staff will be eligible for per diem. For work-related trips longer than one week, generally roving staff will not be eligible to claim per diem - though this may be negotiated on a case-by-case basis under extenuating circumstances.
• Housing: CRS will arrange housing for roving staff for work-related trips away from their base. In provinces where CRS currently has an office, CRS will arrange accommodations at the office or guesthouse. In provinces where CRS does not currently have an office, CRS will cover the cost of alternative accommodations (e.g. hotels) that have been identified and cleared by CRS.
• Coordination/Communication: It is the responsibility of all roving staff to communicate with the relevant Head(s) of Office and Security Focal Point(s) about work locations, travel, plans to come into the office, etc. This needs to be coordinated and cleared by the relevant Head(s) of Office and Security Focal Point(s), as well as the employee's supervisor, prior to any travel or visiting the office.

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

In line with CRS policy on gender equity, qualified women whose qualifications meet the requirements of above-mentioned position are particularly welcome to apply.