Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an International non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 99 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS works through local church and non-church 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 been active in Ghana since 1958 and is currently implementing programs in the areas of Health and Agriculture/Livelihoods.

Job Title: OR Coordinator/Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist
Reports to: Encouraging Positive Practices for Improving Child Survival – Project Manager, Tamale.

Background:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has been working in Ghana since 1958 in Health, Agriculture, Peace Building, Water and Sanitation, Microfinance and Education programs.  The United State Agency for International Development (USAID) has approved the CRS Ghana’s Child Survival Grant (Innovation Category) proposal entitled Encouraging Positive Practices for Improving Child Survival (EPPICS).

This is a four year (October 01, 2011 to September 30, 2015) USAID funded project is targeting over 24,000 children under five and 26,000 women in the East Mamprusi district of Northern Region of Ghana with the objective of reducing child mortality and morbidity by 2015.

CRS Ghana is a Principal Recipient with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the University for Development Studies (UDS) as sub-recipients for this grant. The project will be implemented by CRS Ghana in partnership with the GHS and UDS.

Purpose
The primary function of the M&E Specialist is ensure accomplishment of the Encouraging Positive Practices for Improving Child Survival (EPPICS) Project M&E objectives and results, while meeting expected technical quality standards.

Specific Responsibilities

•   Provide M&E technical support and guidance to CRS, GHS and UDS
•   Assist in the development, roll-out and implementation of the CRS grant-specific M&E system (SMILER) for  the EPPICS Project
•   Integrate the EPPICS M&E system into the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS) currently maintained by the GHS at the district level
•   Collaborate with Health Information officers at the Northern Regional and East Mamprusi district  Health Directorates to ensure alignment of the CRS grant-specific M&E with the DHIMS
•   Provide support as required to the EPPICS Project Manager  in completing project reporting responsibilities
•   Provide monthly reports to the EPPICS Project Manager
•   Develop tools and data collection instruments in collaboration with Project Manager and the UDS principal investigator on the operations research (OR) component of the EPPICS Project
•   Collect, analyze and provide data that can facilitate scientific reporting as may be required by the Project Manager and the Principal investigator of the OR
•   As a member of the project management team, contribute to the overall project strategy development and implementation
•   Develop and manage the EPPICS M&E database

Program Quality

•   Develop and implement a M&E system to collect, analyze and report on data relating to EPPICS-specific project indicators
•   In coordination with the M&E and Learning Program Manager, direct and manage all tasks relating to the EPPICS baseline, Midterm and End of Project Surveys/Evaluations
•   Foster learning within the CRS Maternal Child Health team, through sharing lessons learned, evaluations results, as well as playing a key role generating data and information  on scientific reporting on the OR
•   Promote standardization of M&E tools and methodologies across at the project district
•   Ensure data quality control mechanisms are applied to data received via the EPPICS specific M&E system
•   Provide guidance and support to Project Manager and Principal investigator in preparing and submitting timely quality progress reports
•   Analyze data received via the CRS grant-specific M&E system and equivalent information submitted by the sub-recipients (District Health Management Teams) captured via the DHMIS
•   Ensure gender considerations inform M&E activity, where appropriate
•   Provide leadership in the development and management of the CRS grant-specific management information system
•   Support CRS grant-specific staff use of ICT such Geographic Information System to enhance programmatic M&E.
•   Liaise Regional District Health Management  teams and District Health Management Teams in planning, conducting and facilitating CRS grant-specific M&E capacity-building activities

Program Representation

•   Act as the key M&E contact point with  RHA, DHA , UDS and USAID
•   Participate in field visits to districts and sub-districts to monitor progress, validate reports and provide guidance

Qualification Required & Experience

•   Minimum of a University degree in Statistics, Public Health, Economics or Rural Development or in any related field with extensive experience in monitoring, evaluation and learning
•   At least five years of experience in a M&E capacity
•   Knowledge of Microsoft word processing, spreadsheets, data entry and analysis packages and data bases like MS Word, Excel, Epi-info, SAS and SPSS)
•   Demonstrate professional maturity and good interpersonal skills for teamwork, and good written and verbal communication skills
•   Ability to work to meet deadlines in multiple tasking environments.
•   Previous experience working on Global Fund programs is desired
•   Familiarity with qualitative approaches to M&E
•   Experience with the use of ICT to support M&E and CRS SMILER will be a great advantage
•   Sound report writing, interpersonal, facilitation, and communication skills.
•   Ability to travel to the district  40% of the time

Agency-Wide Competencies (For all CRS Staff)
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.

•   Serves with Integrity
•   Models Stewardship
•   Cultivates Constructive Relationships
•   Promotes Learning

Personal Skills

•   Experience in training and providing technical support to partners and other officers
•   Excellent English and oral communication skills especially
•   Strong team building skills as well as  Willingness to travel in the field

Competencies

•   Set clear goals and  work  towards achieving them
•   Collaborates effectively with staff and stakeholders
•   Manages financial resources with integrity
•   Applies program quality standards to project design and organizational learning

Location: Tamale

How To Apply For The Job

To apply for this position, please submit your CV and letter of interest to:

GH_jobs@global.crs.org

Closing Date: 14 February, 2014

Application must be saved with this format:- Application.CV.(Name). M&E Specialist –EPPICS Project

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

•   CRS is an equal opportunity employer.
•   Female candidates meeting position requirements are strongly encouraged to apply Deadline for application.