Project Officer MEAL at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Job Summary:

As a member of the CORE Group Partners Project (CGPP) project team, you will monitor and report on all MEAL project activities in support of Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your thorough and service-oriented approach will ensure that the project consistently applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

The Project Officer MEAL will support the implementation of monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities for the CGPP malaria project in Bauchi State. The Project officer will ensure accurate data collection, reporting, validation, and analysis to strengthen malaria surveillance systems and improve program performance. The role will focus on strengthening DHIS2 reporting, conducting data quality assessments, and promoting data use for decision-making. 

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Support implementation of the project monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) framework, as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
• Strengthen routine malaria data reporting through the District Health Information System (DHIS2).
• Monitor and report on any challenges and/or gaps identified to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. Assist partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences.
• Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and assisting partners in their efforts to collect and analyze project data per specified mechanisms and tools. Collaborate with local partner(s) to prepare reports per established reporting schedule.  
• Collect information on staff capacity needs and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and monitor capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact.
• Complete project documentation for assigned activities. Assist with identifying information for case studies and reports on promising practices.
• Monitor monthly reporting rates across supported LGAs and facilities.
• Conduct routine data validation meetings with LGA and health facility teams.
• Support quarterly data quality assessments (DQAs) in supported health facilities.
• Conduct HMIS–LMIS data triangulation to improve data accuracy and commodity accountability.
• Provide technical support to health facility staff on data collection tools and reporting processes.
• Support analysis and interpretation of malaria program data for decision-making.
• Develop monitoring reports, dashboards, and data summaries for program review meetings.
• Participate in supportive supervision and monitoring visits.
• Document lessons learned and best practices from program implementation.
• Ensure timely submission of program monitoring reports to the CGPP Secretariat. 

Required Languages - English and Hausa

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 75%.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members
• Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in information management, epidemiology, biostatistics, or related field.
• Experience working on malaria, maternal and child health, or infectious disease programs.
• Experience supporting monitoring and evaluating donor-funded health programs.
• Experience in the development of data visualization and dashboard, including interpretation for decision making. 

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in health sciences, epidemiology, statistics, demography, or related field.
• Minimum of 4–5 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation of health programs.
• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Experience working with health management information systems (HMIS) and DHIS2.
• Experience conducting data quality and validation assessments (DQAs).
• Experience with the development and use of electronic supervisory checklist.