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.

Catholic Relief Services has been working in Liberia since 1957 with current programmatic focus targeting health, nutrition, peacebuilding, and agriculture. CRS Liberia is beginning implementation as Principal Recipient (PR) of a 12-month Malaria and Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (RSSH) Grant funded by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund). CRS will draw on the agency’s global malaria, health systems strengthening and Global Fund expertise to oversee and strengthen vector control, malaria case management, prevention of malaria in pregnancy, health product management systems, health management information systems and M&E, human resources for health (including community health workers), and overall program management.

Job Summary:

You will be responsible for the development, technical oversight, and implementation of the monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) system for the Global Fund Malaria/RSSH Grant. You will ensure effective systems and processes are in place to ensure delivery of high-quality MEAL practices and procedures to continuously improve the impact of the Global Fund Malaria/RSSH Project programming. Strengthening the technical capacity of project MEAL staff under your supervision, MoH, National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), and other partners under the Global Fund award will be a key responsibility of this role. You will work closely with Global Fund Malaria/RSSH Grant leadership and technical staff to advise on best practices for MEAL and data-driven implementation recommendations. In addition to ensuring quality, the Program Manager II – MEAL will be tasked with disseminating learning and project success through internal and external channels, including participation in communities of practice, conferences, and leading on developing external publication materials.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure the development, testing, adaption, and roll-out of program-level MEAL systems, including performance monitoring plans (PMP), performance indicator reference sheets (PIR), indicator performance tracking table (IPTT), data collection instruments, data and reporting flow maps, feedback and response mechanisms (FRM), and detailed implementation plan (DIP). Ensure MEAL system aligns with Global Fund agreement and guidelines as well as CRS standards.
• Lead the development of new or adapt/test existing MEAL technical guidelines, frameworks, standard operating procedures, data collection tools, and databases for health programming including HMIS.
• Plan and oversee the implementation of the MEAL system in line with the DIP. Coordinate implementation of monitoring and accountability activities and processes (including ICT4D/E and GIS mapping) within CRS and with partners. Track compliance with Global Fund requirements on deliverables, timelines, and reporting.
• Provide management, guidance, technical oversight, and direct supervision of the Global Fund Malaria/RSSH Project’s MEAL team. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports. Identify MEAL staff and partners capacity and technical assistance needs and support capacity strengthening activities (e.g. MEAL technologies, data collection methodology).
• Oversee and provide guidance to the IT staff of the team for the introduction of ICT4D pilots.
• Analyze and evaluate project performance data using HMIS and LMIS and following CRS MEAL policy and Global Fund requirements. Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes, timely planning, and effective coordination to overcome implementation obstacles.
• Ensure that project data is systematically integrated in the national database DHIS2.
• Ensure data monitoring quality through the planning and conducting of annual data quality assessments (DQA) in collaboration with the program’s procurement and supply chain team, MoH, and partners.
• Ensure that all staff and partners are trained in the FRM and supervise the active seeking and response to feedback from all members of targeted communities and stakeholders.
• Contribute to content and technical reviews of all Global Fund Malaria/RSSH Project reports. Ensure all required MEAL documents are submitted complete and on time.
• Share MEAL learning and experiences (case studies, tools, e-learning) in global agency discussions, with donors, partners, and peer organizations. Communicate CRS approach to MEAL and key findings to regional colleagues. Create opportunities for reflection and learning among MEAL advisors and practitioners within the region or sub-region.
• Act as a key resource person for project design and proposal development in MEAL, gap-filling, and taking on growth responsibilities, as needed. Remain up to date with best practices and latest methodologies within MEAL.
• Ensure effective planning, coordination, and integration of MEAL efforts and reporting with MoH and partners, as well as other CRS programs to optimize the use of shared MEAL teams, assets, and facilities, and strengthen the collective impact of interventions.
• Ensure that gender equity is consistently and intentionally streamlined into all program activities, including staff recruitment and training.
• Champion CRS commitment to safeguarding everyone from harassment, exploitation, and abuse through robust systems of prevention and response, as well as our commitment to gender equity.

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Statistics, Economics, Public Health, Demography, International Development, or a related field. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant field-based experience in designing, coordinating and strengthening MEAL systems for complex health and malaria related programs required, preferably with an INGO.
• Field experience in designing and coordinating health system strengthening programs.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing and use of health and malaria data for decision making, working in remote field locations, and carrying out direct implementation of MEAL systems in conflict and resource poor settings.
• Experience with DHIS2, SAS, SPSS, R, Stata, Epi-Info, or similar analytical software required.

Required Languages: English.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 40% of time.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Technical experience in developing and directly implementing MEAL systems for malaria and HSS programming.
• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgments.
• Proven ability to plan and manage multiple tasks in parallel. Capacity to respond rapidly to evolving challenges, devise appropriate solutions, and achieve results.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative data collection methods and analysis skills. Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports. Good presentation and facilitation skills.
• Experience with accountability systems that include knowledge acquisition and management, appropriate and frequent information sharing mechanisms, participatory decision-making, and formal FRM systems, staffed with competent personnel who provide timely data to stakeholders for learning and programming adjustments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with leading MEAL on Global Fund-funded projects.
• Experience collecting and analyzing HMIS data and integration with LMIS for health products.
• Direct project management experience with Information and Communication Technology for Development and Emergency (ICT4D/E) activities, including DHIS2 and CommCare is highly desirable.
• Strong knowledge of MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

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

CRS MEAL Competencies:

• MEAL in Design: Develop TOC, Result Framework, Proframes, MEAL system tools and components, and MEAL narratives for proposals that identify key indicators of change and appropriate methods for data collection and use.
• Monitoring: Implement monitoring activities, including timely collection of quality data, set up and maintenance of databases, facilitation of participatory quarterly visits and reflection on monitoring results, and submission of timely progress reports.
• Evaluation: Support project evaluations and reviews by ensuring the quality of evaluation methods, tools, and data and facilitating the use of evaluation results with partners and other stakeholders to inform decision-making and enhance learning.
• Accountability: Improve accountability to stakeholders through increased participation, transparent communication, responsive feedback mechanisms and adherence to internal and external quality standards and requirements.
• Learning: Promote excellent knowledge acquisition, management and collaborative learning processes at the project and institutional levels, generating robust evidence for programmatic learning that leads to action, decision-making and influence.
• Analysis and Critical Thinking: Engage with data, challenging biases and assumptions, posing thoughtful questions, pursuing deeper understanding of evidence through reflection and perspective-taking, and making informed programming decisions.
• ICT for MEAL: Supports CRS priorities in the use of ICT solutions to collect, manage, and analyze data based on feasibility in specific project contexts and cost-benefit analyses.
• MEAL Management: Secure and support the development of human resources to implement quality MEAL processes.

Supervisory Responsibilities: MEAL staff (To be confirmed)

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Global Fund Malaria/RSSH Project staff (Chief of Party I, Program Manager II – Malaria, Procurement and Supply Chain Manager and Finance Manager), programs and operations management teams, Global Fund Support Unit, and regional and HQ MEAL technical advisors.

External: National and local MoH, NMCP, the Liberia Coordinating Mechanism (LCM), Global Fund Country Team, Local Fund Agent (LFA), partners, other Global Fund Principal Recipients in Liberia, Malaria/RSSH Sub Recipients, health consortia and local government authorities.

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular 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.

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

By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Please submit your application to: LR_HR@crs.org or apply through the system below.

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