Lao People's Democratic Republic (the): Program Manager I MEAL - LEAPS Project

About CRS: Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

**
Background**

Since 2006, CRS Lao PDR has grown from one USAID-funded education project to a multi-sector, multi-donor office. CRS' strengths are based in the education sector, being a leader in inclusive education programming, focusing on children with disabilities (CWD). The country program's strengths, particularly working at the community level, have allowed the program team to undertake additional programs in the health and UXO sectors.

In 2012 CRS Lao PDR was awarded a three-year U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food for Education (FFE) grant. The Learning and Engaging All in Primary School (LEAPS) project will promote primary education and reduce the incidence of hunger for approximately 35,000 primary school children in 310 schools across six to eight disadvantaged districts in Savannakhet Province of Lao PDR. The project will ensure success by coupling increased access to food with quality improvements that strengthen the overall educational system and environment for primary school children, with an explicit focus on strengthening early reading and literacy for all children. Building on CRS Laos' extensive education experience promoting community based efforts to include all school age children, CRS will train and support Village Education Development Committees (VEDCs) to manage school feeding activities, improve their schools, and ensure that all children in the village have the opportunity to enroll in and attend school. The project will systematically increase government capacity by engaging the Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES) as the primary implementing partner. The project will continue to inform and coordinate with MOES' School Meals Unit within the Inclusive Education Center as well as with partners at the provincial and district levels. The project will train approximately 900 teachers and 375 school principals to build inclusive school environments and teach children in ways that respond to their varied need. The project incorporates the strengths of Room to Read's literacy-specific programming in Laos with the University of Oregon's distance learning source which will build institutional capacity to manage inclusive education programming at a national level. The USDA program will support MOES' education strategy and its Education for All/Fast Track Initiative by complementing ongoing efforts in about 10% of the 56 priority districts in Lao PDR. CRS has the full support of the Lao Government to conduct all activities.

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PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:**

The PMI/Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) is responsible for overseeing all monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning activities for the LEAPS Project. The MEALPM role includes but is not limited to: the supervision of MEAL staff, technical assistance and leadership for MEAL systems design (including the development of digital data collection systems), oversight of project monitoring systems and reporting, support of external evaluations, the implementation of project accountability mechanisms, provision of feedback to partners, and ensuring project compliance with both USDA’s Monitoring and Evaluation Policy and CRS MEAL Policies and Procedures. The MEAL PM will ensure that systems are in place to measure programs’ impact and progress, and that data is readily available to be used as a foundation for programmatic adjustments and evidence-based decision-making.

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Supervisory**

· Direct supervision of MEAL Officers for the LEAPS Project.

· Ensure that regular feedback, including regular coaching sessions, informs formal and informal performance management activities

· Provide indirect support, technical assistance and mentoring to other country program MEAL staff and program managers

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MEAL Design**

· Ensure that MEAL system design for LEAPS Phase 2 is in compliance with CRS MEAL Policies and Procedures and USDA’s M&E Policy, including but not limited to the development of the project’s Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP), Evaluation Plan, and Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT)

· Lead or assist with Simple Measurement of Indicators for Learning and Evidence-based Reporting (SMILER) workshops and process for LEAPS Phase 2, to ensure all tools, data flows and reporting flows are properly prepared and shared with all relevant stakeholders

· Coordinate periodic MEAL system reviews of the LEAPS MEAL system reviews of the LEAP project.

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ICT4D**

· Ensure all relevant forms and data collection tools are digitalized into Iform.

· Ensure relevant frontend and backend staff are trained in the use of digital data collection software and devices.

· Work with programming staff to ensure that Community Mobilizers understand how to use the IForms and test them regularly to ensure that CRS staff understand how to use them and also the beneficiaries are able to adequately give required information.

· Liaise with relevant partners and CRS staff to ensure troubleshooting and smooth functioning of systems.

· Identify technical and training gaps within country program for ICT4D and recommend solutions to strengthen personnel and systems.

· Test new ICT4D technologies in projects to maintain our competitive edge in MEAL.

· Lead the development /update of definition files and unit testing for the creation of Iforms aligned with project PMP and project agreement.

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Monitoring Systems and Reporting**

· Ensure that the LEAPS monitoring system is functional and that data is being gathered and analyzed by MEAL staff as intended.

· Ensure quality and integrity of all data gathered, including planning and organizing of annual data quality assessments.

· Ensure all data is recorded in relevant project databases and tracking tools in a timely and accurate manner.

· Provide timely reports for projects and studies under areas of responsibility.

· Assist the Chief of Party in preparing the semi-annual reports to the donor.

· Assist the CP MEAL Coordinator in providing qualitative (success stories, testimonials, FGD’s, etc).

· Assist the Chief of Party and Project Manager in developing quarterly and bi-annual reports to partners.

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Evaluation and Learning**

· Suggest needed studies to senior management, based on questions facing teams at program level

· Prompt evidence based program decision making.

· Liaise with MEAL Technical Advisors for the coordination and implementation of independently-led baseline, mid-term and final evaluations of the LEAPS project.

· Participate in all aspects of realizing special studies, which includes but is not limited to: planning and arranging logistical arrangements for field research, overseeing sampling strategies, leading the selection of sites to be visited, attending research and tool training workshops, leading quantitative, qualitative and participatory data collection efforts in the field, supervising the execution of field studies and ensuring the reliability and validity of data collected therein, and data analysis

· Promote a culture of learning within the LEAPS project team.

· Work actively with other Program staff to provide timely and effective support regarding project results and learning feedback mechanisms.

Accountability

· Ensure that the LEAPS MEAL system complies with the USDA agreements and M&E Policy, in particular, ensure that the MEAL components of agreements are concretely operationalized

· Ensure comprehensive complaints and feedback mechanisms are in place for LEAPS Phase 2.

· Work with program managers to ensure the process of working with communities is reflected in program implementation plans.

· Identify methods through which beneficiaries can be more involved in defining program success indicators, and monitoring program progress management of collective communication approaches (i.e. community notice boards and integrated community meetings), working with program managers to ensure these are used effectively.

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KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:**

· Internal: Head of Programming, Country Representative, LEAPS Chief of Party, CP MEAL Coordinator, MEAL Regional Technical Advisor, Deputy Regional Director Program Quality, Head of Operations.

· External: Local partners and donors.

**
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)**:** These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.

· Serves with Integrity

· Models Stewardship

· Cultivates Constructive Relationships

· Promotes Learning

CRS MEAL Competencies: MEAL in design, monitoring, evaluation, accountability, learning, analysis and critical thinking, ICT4MEAL, MEAL management.

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MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:**

• Master’s degree in relevant field.
• Three years’ experience as an M&E program manager.
• Extensive field experience working in international development.

• Extensive experience with donor funding regulations.

• Excellent understanding of best practices for MEAL.

• Knowledgable on research design and quantitative and qualitative methods.

• Knowledgeable in participatory and rural development processes.

• Acceptance of cultural differences in a continuously changing environment.

• Proven organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

• Excellent English writing and interpersonal communication skills.

• Mature disposition in appropriately managing sensitive situations.

• Strong skills in assessing and developing staff capacity.

• Proficient in MS Office programs, particularly MS Excel.

• Skill with SPSS or similar data analysis software highly preferred.

• Experience working with mobile data collection tools – experience using Zoho is a plus.

• Ability to embrace working under pressure.

• Ability to work in quickly and efficiently under pressure.

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

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Physical Requirements/Environment**

Travel to the field 30% of the time.

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EOE**

Apply online: https://www5.apply2jobs.com/CRS/ProfExt/index.cfm?fuseaction=mExternal.showJob&RID=2751&CurrentPage=1