Deputy Chief of Party (MEAL), Feed the Future TANMIA project – Sudan

Position contingent on donor funding.

Background

CRS Sudan seeks to implement a USAID Feed the Future project that aims to improve food security and support smallholder farmers in Sudan. The project will seek to increase agriculture and livestock productivity, improve availability and access to agricultural extension and other critical services, and improve use of productive resources.

Job Summary

You will manage and provide technical oversight for MEAL in the development and implementation of the anticipated Transforming Agrifood and Nutrition through Multisectoral Inclusive Approaches (TANMIA) project, centered on food system development, food security and livelihoods. You will ensure effective MEAL systems and processes are in place that support high-quality programming advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your MEAL-related management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its agricultural development and food security programming.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight for MEAL throughout the project cycle to ensure project design, start-up, implementation and close-out are in line with CRS quality principles and standards and MEAL policies, procedures, and practices; donor MEAL guidelines, and industry best practices.
• Effectively manage project talent for MEAL and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff wellbeing. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Champion the development of program learning – identify opportunities for learning, research and publications and implementation of MEAL policy. Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency knowledge management agenda. Promote the application of learning to improve program quality and to strengthen agency influence among external stakeholders. Ensure integration of MEAL-related innovations and best practices.
• Provide guidance and technical oversight for the design of project and sectoral theories of change, results frameworks, and Proframes. Contribute to MEAL budgeting and staffing plans and activities.
• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight for the development and implementation of high-quality MEAL systems and processes for the project, including ICT4MEAL and the application of responsible data principles as per agency and donor requirements.
• Promote MEAL policies and industry good practices, champion the analysis and use of project performance data to inform decision-making and identify lessons learned. Facilitate connections between colleagues and peers to generate and share evidence-based learning.
• Provide management, guidance and technical oversight for project or program evaluation events and research, including the development of terms of reference or study protocols that include evaluation/learning questions, a balance of qualitative and quantitative methods, appropriate consideration of ethical and data protection standards, and the necessary technical rigor. Oversee the quality of evaluation data through good data management. Support the identification, recruitment, and management of external evaluators or research partners to ensure high quality evaluation, research, and learning.
• Oversee MEAL-related technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities for staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact.
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to MEAL and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
• Oversees timely and appropriate project MEAL expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in international development, international relations or in the field of MEAL required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in relevant field-based project management experience required, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in MEAL related to agriculture, food security programming.
• Experience in managing moderately complex projects preferably with an international NGO.

Required Languages: English, Arabic an asset.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 30% inside Sudan depending on need. Some regional/international travel anticipated as well.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions and offer innovative solutions
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Good presentation and facilitation skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Good experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USAID.
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical proposals.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• MEAL skills and experience required.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Project MEAL staff

Key Working Relationships

• Internal: Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, Technical Advisor for Private Sector Engagement and Enterprise Development, among others
• External: Project participants, partners, peers, among others

MEAL Competencies (for CRS MEAL Program Staff)

Each staff member in this position is expected to have advanced knowledge and ability and can apply the following competencies in new or complex situations. Guides other professionals:

• MEAL in Design
• Monitoring
• Evaluation
• Accountability
• Learning
• Analysis and Critical Thinking
• Management in MEAL

Each staff member in this position is expected to have solid knowledge and ability and can apply the following competencies with minimal or no guidance, in the full range of typical situations, while requiring guidance to handle novel or more complex situations

• ICT4MEAL

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• 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.