Technical Advisor II, MEAL – Regional Focal Point (EMEA)

Job Summary 

The Technical Advisor II (TA II) provide technical assistance, guidance and support in monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) at regional and global levels. The TA II will serve as a MEAL focal point for Europe, Middle East and Asia (EMEA) with a particular focus on the Europe and Middle East countries, responding to MEAL technical assistance needs from those countries and liaising with other MEAL colleagues to support EMEA country needs. The TA II will also provide technical assistance to countries in other regions as needed, coordinating with other MEAL regional focal points. The TA II’s MEAL advising align with CRS program quality principles and standards and MEAL Policies and Procedures, donor guidelines, and industry best practices to advance the delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. The TA II’s expertise, advice and influence will contribute to the effectiveness and adaptability of CRS’ MEAL activities in EMEA and globally. 

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a MEAL focal point for countries in EMEA seeking technical assistance in MEAL, with particular focus on countries in Europe and the Middle East. Provide technical assistance, remotely and in-country, and as needed liaise with other MEAL TAs to provide technical support to EMEA countries. Maintain ongoing contact with the DRD/PQ, EMEA country teams, and EMEA sectoral focal points to help ensure high quality project MEAL and coverage of MEAL TA needs.
• Contribute to HQ and country efforts to position CRS for strategic growth opportunities and provide technical MEAL guidance and inputs to proposal development and project design, including appropriate monitoring systems and indicators and integrating donor MEAL requirements into projects. Support countries to appropriately staff MEAL in project teams.
• Guide EMEA projects in complying with donor MEAL requirements and CRS MEAL Policies and Procedures, reviewing MEAL tools and budgets and supporting MEAL system design, learning agendas, and evaluations.
• Provide MEAL technical assistance to countries in other regions as needed, in coordination with other MEAL regional focal points.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in MEAL that effectively engage partners, donors, and governments. 
• Provide technical solutions in MEAL in support of high quality program design and implementation, including support to countries in other regions as needed in coordination with other focal points.
• Contribute to capacity strengthening initiatives in MEAL for staff and partners through helping develop learning and training strategies and agendas/curriculums, conducting trainings and workshops, and mentoring and coaching country staff. 
• Contribute to the customization and design of digital forms for data collection and the design of approaches for data visualization that facilitate use of data and quality reporting.
• Contribute to influence and scaling strategies, including systems analysis, evidence generation and MEAL approaches that contribute to influence, and measurement of influence and scaling progress. 
• Contribute to knowledge management and learning by facilitating the capture, documentation, and sharing of key successes, promising practices, lessons learned, and evidence-based implementation research. 
• Establish and maintain relationships with donors, peer organizations, research and other institutions. Participate in MEAL-related forums to collect and share best practices and promote CRS’ work.  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities  

• Strong understanding and application of technical principles and concepts in MEAL. Knowledge of education and other sectors. 
• Track record of contributing to successful business development activities capturing public and/or private donor funding.
• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
• Accompaniment orientation and skills, with ability to recognize the capacities and solutions of partners, colleagues and system actors.  
• Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); digital data collection tools such as CommCare, KoBo or RedRose; Web Conferencing Applications; and strong understanding of information and budget management systems and knowledge-sharing networks.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills.
• Ability to work effectively in challenging contexts.
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented.

Required Languages: Written and verbal fluency in English required. Knowledge of Arabic preferred.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 35% to Europe and Middle East countries and other locations as needed. 

Work hours: Able to work during Europe and Middle East business hours.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  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 safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

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

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.