Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Specialist at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Band:                    7

Department:     Programs

Reports To:        Chief of Party

Location:            North East, Nigeria

Job Ref Code:    MEL250419

Full JD Link:       http://bit.ly/2vmt1Mp 

Project Background:

CRS is bidding for a multi-million-dollar, multi-year USAID/Nigeria Small Town WASH program.  The program will be implemented in the Northeastern region of Nigeria.  This program seeks to develop and implement interventions that will sustainably increase access and management of water, sanitation and hygiene services in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states of Nigeria.  This effort will contribute to ongoing efforts to promote resilience, recovery and development within Nigeria and neighboring countries around the Lake Chad Basin. 

Job Summary:

The MEL Specialist will oversee all Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) activities across the USAID/Nigeria Small Town WASH program that leads to robust evidence for data use and decision making, including assessments /surveys; routine program data collection; accountability to beneficiaries, donors and other stakeholders; document retention and archival; capacity development program staff on MEL; compliance with USAID MEL requirements; cross-learning among programs; and, internal and external reporting.

Specific Job Responsibilities

Strategic guidance and leadership on MEL

•  Use SMILER method to lead the development and regular updating of program MEL tools, approaches, frameworks and databases, these include but not limited to: Theory of Change, Theory of change narrative, Proframe, Logframe, IPTT, DIP, MEL plan, FRM, Data flow, Stakeholder analysis, reporting flow map etc
• Ensure application of standardized MEL tools and approaches across the program with respect to the MEL Policies and Procedures.
• Support the CoP to monitor USAID/Nigeria Small Town WASH program implementation progress on a regular basis against USAID and CRS quality standards and international humanitarian principles through monitoring visits, data quality audits, spot check against reports and review of implementation reports.
• Build the capacity of program staff and implementing partners in collection and analysis of data (method, formats, software, etc.), indicator measurement, feedback and response mechanisms, negative impact analysis, etc.
• Provide technical support to program staff for the implementation of monitoring and evaluation activities, data management and integration of cross-functional issues.
• Directly lead on program wide assessments and surveys including baseline, midterm and end line evaluative surveys.  This might entail leading recruitment, orientation, deployment and management of external consultants.

Vertical and horizontal accountability

• Work closely with CRS and partners’ Gender and Accountability Specialists to ensure robust and participatory beneficiary accountability and feedback mechanisms are established, used and reported against.
• Support the CoP in compilation of donors, government ministries’ and departmental agencies (MDAs) and CRS reports as per the agreed upon reporting schedules.
• Build the capacity of program staff in humanitarian accountability frameworks including ‘Do No Harm’ and ‘Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability’ (CHS) (HAP, People in Aid and SPHERE).

Cross-cutting

• Directly supervise the program’s MEL Staff and consultants.
• Coordinate consortium partners’ MEL staff attached to the program.
• Build capacity of CRS and consortium partners’ MEL Coordinators / Managers / Officers to address their job requirements. 
• Provide technical review and support across all components of the program. 
• Incorporate required and emerging good practices into CRS regional MEL efforts and ongoing technical support
• Integrate the MEL community of practices
• Create opportunities for reflection and learning among MEL advisors and practitioners within the Consortium, Country Program and the Region. 

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Monitoring and Evaluation or any other related field.
• At least 5 years’ hands on experience designing, developing and using MEL systems.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, contract and manage consultancies.
• Prior MEL experience on programs of a similar size, theme (WASH) and scope in developing countries; experience in providing MEL services on multi-sector, multi-year programs is desirable. 
• Experience with USAID rules, regulations and requirements is preferred.
• Experience working in similar context (i.e. conflict and harsh environments) in sub-Saharan Africa required.  Prior experience in North East Nigeria is preferred
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.  Knowledge of local languages preferred.
• Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications.

Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory:   TBD.

Internal:              USAID/Nigeria Small Town WASH program DCoP, Program Managers and Sectoral Team Leads; Consortium Partners; Director of Early Recovery and Resilience, CoPs and Program Managers of other CRS Programs; MEL coordinator at the CP level, TA MEL Support Departments including Operations etc.

External:          MDAs, UN agencies, Peer agencies (NGOs) and Community Representatives.

Required Foreign Language: English fluency, including excellent oral and written skills, required.  Proficiency in Hausa or Kanuri preferred.

Required Travel: To field locations in Nigeria

Work Environment: Office environment in the field (North East Nigeria).