CRS JOB DESCRIPTION  

Job Title: Senior Project Officer – MEAL                 

Department: Country Programming                       

Band: 8                

Reports To:  MEAL Manager – Somalia Country Program               

Country/Location: Mogadishu, Somalia

Length of Contract: 12 Months

About Catholic Relief Services:

 Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 100 countries around the world. Through its programs, CRS assists poor and vulnerable persons based on need, regardless of creed, ethnicity, or nationality. It works through partners to implement its programs, therefore, strengthening and building the capacity of these partner organizations is fundamental to programs in every country in which CRS operates.

CRS has a long history of supporting local civil-society organizations in Somalia and has implemented development and emergency programming in multiple sectors, primarily supported by the United States Agency for International Development. CRS’ work in Somalia supports populations across 5 regions of Somalia, with emergency presence concentrated in the South-Central area.

CRS began working in Somalia in 1961, responding with food to assist flood victims and establishing its first office there in 1964. Today, CRS continues to respond to the urgent needs of the Somali people through meeting their immediate needs (food and water); providing essential services (health, nutrition, and protection); creating and rehabilitating critical infrastructure (latrines and wells); restoring productive assets and purchasing power to build resilience and promote long-term, sustainable solutions; and ensuring peacebuilding activities to transform intercommunal conflict.

Job Summary:

As a member of the programming team, the Senior Project Officer – MEAL will be focused on monitoring and reporting on all project activities, processes, outputs, outcomes, and context in support of CRS’ work serving the poor and vulnerable. S/he will be expected to approach this work with a thorough, service-oriented, capacity strengthening approach and will ensure that the project consistently applies best MEAL practices, develops and implements a strong MEAL system, which generates data that enables evidence-based decision-making and adaptive management, and ultimately leads to high quality of the programming and increases impact on beneficiaries’ lives.

As a member of the programming team, the Senior Project Officer - MEAL will lead and support monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning activities for the Give Well-supported vaccination project. The position will monitor and report on project activities, processes, outputs, outcomes and context, while ensuring that the project applies CRS MEAL policies, CRS program quality principles, donor requirements, and good MEAL practices. S/he will develop and implement a strong MEAL system that generates reliable data for evidence-based decision-making and adaptive management, with a specific focus on vaccination coverage, zero-dose and under-immunized children, outreach performance, service quality, community feedback, data quality, routine learning, and partner capacity strengthening. 

Roles and Key Responsibilities

·         Support the coordination and implementation of all Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation and MEAL plans, CRS program quality principles and standards, CRS MEAL Policies and Procedures, donor requirements, and good MEAL practices.

·         Provide technical guidance and capacity building support to project implementing partners on data quality, robust data collection, systematic analysis, high-quality reporting, feedback from participants, and data use for decision-making.

·         Conduct data verification and quality assurance exercises on both monitoring and non-sensitive feedback reported by implementing partners and support partner action planning to address any gaps or weaknesses found.

·         Systematically monitor, identify, and report on any challenges, gaps, or “surprises” in programming to leadership and relevant program staff.

·         Lead the rollout of accountability systems, including feedback, complaints, and response mechanism (FCRM) to ensure accountability across the programming portfolio

·         Support the planning, implementation, and follow-up of regular reflection on project data and experiences amongst program and partner staff.

·         Support the Emergency Program Manager in timing and tailoring MEAL evidence and data to target audiences for use, decision-making and adaptive management.

·         Collaborate with local partner(s) to prepare high-quality performance and, as relevant, evaluation reports per established reporting schedule and partner agreements.

·         Assist with identifying and collecting information for case studies and briefs on promising practices and learning.

·         Closely work with partner MEAL team to keep project documents up to date, monitor project progress, and present to the project management for decision-making

·         Carry out routine supportive supervision to project sites and prepare detailed field reports.

·         Lead MEAL system digitalization and capacity building of field staff on the digitalized system.

·         Lead capacity building initiatives, remotely or on-site, to staff and partners to ensure efficient and consistent adoption and use of ICT4D applications.

·          Configure and maintain applications and user devices. Provide timely and quality service delivery, technical support, and advice to user requests to ensure proper user access to agency business data and information.

·         Monitor the capture-and-link pathway from household-level identification of zero-dose and under-immunized children through referral, vaccination, recording, reconciliation, and follow-up for subsequent doses. 

·         Coordinate monthly reconciliation between community lists, referral logs, facility registers, outreach records, EPI/DHIS2 data, electronic immunization records where available, and project reporting tools. 

·         Analyze child follow-up, dropout, defaulter tracing, caregiver reminders, referral outcomes, missed settlements, low-yield sessions, and reasons for non-vaccination, and present findings for timely operational action. 

·         Ensure that micro plans remain living tools by supporting regular updates based on routine monitoring, population movement, accessibility, service readiness, stock information, community feedback, LQAS or rapid assessment findings, and implementation learning. 

·         Support planning, implementation, quality assurance, and use of baseline, annual, endline, LQAS, rapid assessment, qualitative study, third-party monitoring, evaluation, or verification activities as defined by the project MEAL framework and donor requirements. 

·         Coordinate survey preparation, enumerator orientation, field supervision, data quality checks, data cleaning, preliminary analysis, and validation of findings with CRS and partner teams. 

·         Ensure LQAS or rapid assessment findings, where approved and funded, are used as practical decision-focused tools to identify underperforming areas and guide targeted adjustments in outreach, supervision, and resource allocation. 

·         Work with leadership and technical teams to triangulate survey findings with routine monitoring, community feedback, microplanning data, supervision findings, and partner reports to strengthen the overall evidence base for decision-making. 

·         Ensure timely project documentation for assigned MEAL activities is complete, accurate, quality-checked, and filed according to CRS and donor requirements, including tools, datasets, reports, verification records, feedback logs, monitoring checklists, action trackers, and learning products. 

·         Monitor the capture-and-link pathway from household-level identification of zero-dose and under-immunized children through referral, vaccination, recording, reconciliation, and follow-up for subsequent doses. 

·         Coordinate monthly reconciliation between community lists, referral logs, facility registers, outreach records, EPI/DHIS2 data, electronic immunization records where available, and project reporting tools. 

·         Analyze child follow-up, dropout, defaulter tracing, caregiver reminders, referral outcomes, missed settlements, low-yield sessions, and reasons for non-vaccination, and present findings for timely operational action. 

·         Ensure that micro plans remain living tools by supporting regular updates based on routine monitoring, population movement, accessibility, service readiness, stock information, community feedback, LQAS or rapid assessment findings, and implementation learning. 

·          

MEAL Competencies:

• Track project MEAL requirements – both CRS MEAL Policies and Procedures (MPP) and donor requirements.
• Work with MEAL staff and partner staff to implement the MPP and donor MEAL requirements applicable to your projects.
• Complete the annual MEAL procedure self-assessment for your project and develop an action plan to advance MEAL practice.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements Education and Experience

·         Bachelor’s degree in demography, sociology, statistics, Development Studies, Economics, or any other MEAL-related field.

·         Minimum of four years of relevant, progressive work experience in MEAL, ideally with an international NGO.

·         Knowledge of technical principles, concepts and current approaches in MEAL.

·         Experience in designing and overseeing implementation of program studies and evaluation, and use of findings to support adaptive management.

·         Experience and skills in partner relationship management and development project support is a plus.

·         Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems, knowledge-sharing networks.

·         Experience in introduction, design, implementation, and adoption of relevant technology and data management tools.

·         Experience designing and overseeing implementation of program studies, surveys, assessments, evaluations, LQAS or rapid assessment approaches, and use of findings to support adaptive management. 

·         Experience in using data analysis software (SPSS, STATA).

·         Experience in using mobile-data collection and management software (e.g. ODK, Comcare, I-form builder, Kobo, Power-BI, you track)

·         Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity, and inclusion including gender equality.

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.

·         Strong and proactive organizational and trouble-shooting skills required.

·         Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.

·         Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented

·         Ability to promote honesty and integrity in work of MEAL Agents through training on field-based activities

·         Ability to provide input to MEAL system design and review discussions.

·         Ability to supervise quality data collection and management activities.

·         Ability to Lead simple analyses and reflective discussions on ongoing monitoring data.

·         Ability to contribute initial findings and field-based insights to project discussions.

·         Support compliance with agency and donor MEAL requirements

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. 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. 

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest. Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Required/Desired Foreign Language: Excellent verbal and written communication in English and Somali is required, and the ability to write reports understandably.

Travel Required: Up to 70% travel to support programming in Somalia.

Key working relationships

Supervisory: NONE.

Reports to: Emergency Program Manager.

Internal:  Country Manager, Program Managers

External: Implementing Partners

·         Supervisory: None. The role provides technical oversight, coaching and quality assurance to partner MEAL staff, enumerators, data collectors, CHW supervisors, health facility data focal persons, and other staff involved in project monitoring and reporting. 

·         Reports to: MEAL Manager - Somalia Country Program

·         Internal: Country Manager, Program Managers, Health and Nutrition technical team, MEAL team, project management team, operations,  security, safeguarding and partner support teams. 

·         External: Implementing partners, Ministry of Health/EPI structures, district health authorities, health facilities, community health workers, female ambassadors, community leaders, data collection firms or external survey partners, and donor representatives as delegated. 

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

What do we offer:

CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

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 Somalia strives to be a place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and work, stay, and do their best.

CRS provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability or handicap, medical condition and any other status protected by law. As an equal opportunity employer, CRS will recruit, hire, train and promote people solely with their qualifications and abilities.

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.

The protection of your personal data is important to Catholic Relief Services. By submitting your application, you consent to CRS using your personal data only for the recruitment process to have all the information and documents necessary to proceed with the recruitment, validation of your application and selection of the most suitable candidate. Your personal data will be treated confidentially. CRS will not use your personal data in any other way other than for purposes of recruitment.

How to Apply:

If your qualifications and experience meet these job requirements, please submit a written application, quoting the job title and reference number, and updated CV including daytime contact phone numbers, as well as names and contact information of three references to reach the below mentioned by close of business August 24, 2026.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.

Senior Human Resources Officer

Catholic Relief Services- Somalia program

Email: [email protected]

Note: CRS does not charge any fees from applicants for any recruitment. Further, CRS has a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption and are committed to acting professionally, fairly, and with integrity in all our Recruitment Process. Kindly note that any attempts to engage in bribery or canvassing during the recruitment process will result in automatic disqualification