MEAL/Information Officer -Isiolo
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.
- POSITION IDENTIFICATION:
Department : WASH
Job Title : Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning
Officer/ Information Officer (Ref.2016/10)
Grade : 5
Reports To : Senior Project Officer/County Program Lead
Supervises (Direct Reports Only) : N/A
Based In (Location) : Isiolo
Background
Catholic Relief Services Kenya is seeking an Information Officer for a multi-donor funded 5-year WASH & Livestock program in Kenya. In day to day operation the MEAL/Information Officer will take the specific responsibility of coordinating all Information/ICT related activities. Reporting to the county program lead/Manager, S/he will work closely as a member of the County Coordinating Unit based in Isiolo and with other technical leads/officers in the program. The MEAL/Information Officer will be located in Isiolo County. This is a full time position.
The Kenya Resilient Arid Lands Partnership for Integrated Development (KENYA RAPID) is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) program, in which multiple partners cooperate. It aims to support sustainable and resilient livelihoods in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL’s), by improving water availability and water service delivery to people and livestock, and improve rangelands. KENYA RAPID mobilizes financial and technical resources from development partners, national government, county government and the private sector.
Over the next five years (2015-2020) the KENYA RAPID program focuses on five Kenyan counties with high poverty rates, chronic food and water insecurity and low access to basic services: Marsabit, Garissa, Isiolo, Wajir, and Turkana. The Kenya RAPID program will facilitate a process that supports the growth and capacity strengthening of public, civil society, community and private sector institutions to increase access to water for people and livestock and rebuild a healthy rangeland management ecosystem. The program is designed to create a successful intervention model that, with local adaptation, can be replicated by other counties and thus substantially contribute to the Government of Kenya’s goal of universal coverage of WASH services in Kenya by 2030.
There are three strategic objectives:
- A responsive and accountable governance framework is in place and operational at county government level that ensures sustainable provision of water and pasture;
- Replicable and scalable business models for sustainable WASH and livestock service delivery are developed and operationalized; and
- Communities have increased access to sustainable WASH services and improved rangeland management
Reliable and regular information on key metrics is required to deliver and sustain services over time. However, reliable data on issues such as water point functionality status, revenue generation, asset condition, life cycle costs, and tariff structures for people vs. livestock and commercial vs. domestic uses, simply do not exist on any level in any of the five counties where the program will operate.
KENYA RAPID will focus on supporting established county government agencies/authorities to access data, information, and communication and technology tools for improved investment, efficiency, and managerial decision-making in the WASH and livestock sectors.
One of the program results will be the development and roll out of a Water Management as a Service Platform (WaMasP). IBM Research Africa and SweetSense Inc. () will play a crucial role to develop this, supporting a systematic approach towards collecting and managing information, managing communication flows and supporting informed decision making processes in order to enable full adoption of (new) solutions. Existing data available in Kenya such as water point mapping studies and migration routes will be combined with new data generated and integrated in the WaMasP. The WaMasP system will be owned and managed by the county government; however, the vision is that key data contained within it will be available in the public domain. The Information Officer is expected to support and facilitate the development of the WaMasP and ensure uptake among end users.
Job Summary
On a day to day operational level, the KENYA RAPID program will be coordinated by a County Coordination Unit (CCU), led by a County Program Lead/Manager and located within the Isiolo County Government administrative offices. The MEAL/Information Officer will be part of this CCU and S/he will work closely with the developers of the WaMasP and with county employees assigned to work with the CCU from relevant ministries (e.g. water, agriculture, livestock, health, planning) to implement the approved work plan for the county.
Specific Responsibilities
Responsibility 1: MEAL system design for Kenya RAPID WASH program
- Participate in developing and reviewing project MEAL key documents including; Theory of changes, Results Framework, Proframe and tools.
- Participate in set up of MEAL operational manual.
- Ensure project key documents have been reviewed in accordance with MPP requirements.
- Ensure all MEAL activities have been budgeted for.
- Support county water department in improving county led M&E systems.
Responsibility 2: Monitoring of project activities and indicators.
- Update output and beneficiary tracking Tool on quarterly basis.
- Participate in development of project work plans.
- Implement and report on all MEAL activities in the project quarterly report.
- Track and report on the projects beneficiary data in line with CRS Beneficiary and Service delivery Indicator (BSDI) guidelines.
- Ensure project has completed the ICT4D project support form prior to deploying any ICT4D technology.
- Learn and deploy geospatial technology in data presentation.
Procedure 3: Project Evaluation
- Participate in drafting of all project evaluation Terms of Reference (TOR)
- Support the recruitment of external project evaluation consultants.
- Participate in design and coordination of all evaluation events in the county.
- Review evaluation reports and documents and processes to ensure compliance to quality, policy and ethics.
Procedure 4: Project Accountability
- Ensure understanding of CRS accountability plan (orientation).
- Ensure the project has an established beneficiary feedback mechanism and keeps a log of how they have been responded to.
Procedure 5: Project Learning
- Participate in CRS EARO MEAL working groups as may be assigned.
- Support in development of project’s annual learning agenda.
- Support and attend country program learning event.
- Participate in project’s inter-agency workshops and conferences.
Project 6: Management Information System
- Support IBM Research, Sweetsense and other development partners in the development and implementation of the Water Management as a Service Platform (WaMasP).
- Support in the development and implementation of ICT tools and platforms to improve access to Integrated Water Resource Management information for CCU and county extension staff.
- Lead the roll out process of the WaMasP and other ICT tools.
- Provide hand on technical assistance to the CCU and County extension staff on use of the WaMasP and other ICT tools.
- Train trainers on use of ICT tools and (mobile) data collection (AKVO, Swetsense).
- Diagnosing hardware and software problems and cascade issues to IBM Research.
- Liaise with the CCU and development partners to troubleshoot, provide technical support and give feedback on any weaknesses and issues with the WaMasP and other ICT tools.
- Install/configure new computers/android phones with WaMasP and other ICT applications.
- Repair/upgrade PC hardware, software and android phones.
- Collaborate with selected Counties in mentoring assessing the performance of the extension staff.
- Work with the CCU and ICT development partners to develop a framework to monitor and evaluate the progress and impact of the WaMasP and other ICT tools.
- Identify and escalate situations that require urgent attention.
- Stay current with system information, changes and updates.
- Collaborate with selected Counties to identify their ICT and MEAL project needs and feedback into management decisions;
- Ensure the identification, documentation, sharing and adoption of best practices and lessons learned;
- Facilitate dissemination and learning platforms to discuss findings from surveys, evaluations and special studies and to generate and document lessons;
- Participate in the preparation of periodic reports for submission to the donor.
Responsibility 7: Capacity building
- Strengthen capacity of ICT department at county level;
- Advance the use of WaMasP and other ICT tools within KENYA RAPID;
- Identify learning and resource needs of county officials and recommend for their inclusion in project budget and workplan.
- Support county M&E staff and committee in up to date M&E approaches and skills.
- Continously learn and share knowledge with CRS MEAL unit to ensure compliance and quality assurance.
Responsibility 8: Networking, representation and collaboration
- Organize meetings/workshops with the respective Counties for critical thinking and learning to guide decision making and action;
- Participate in ICT and MEAL related workshops, trainings and conferences.
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)
- Serves with Integrity
- Models Stewardship
- Cultivates Constructive Relationships
- Promotes Learning
Competencies Relevant for the Specific Position:
- Knowledge of backup and disaster recovery solutions;
- Overall knowledge of software and hardware firewalls;
- Basic network troubleshooting skills;
- Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring and other formal and non-formal methods;
- Familiarity with adult learning principles/techniques;
- Excellent interpersonal, organizational and written/verbal communication skills;
- Ability to work effectively under pressure and to organize and prioritize competing activities;
- Strong leadership skills and ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment;
- Good communication skills using speech and writing;
- Experience with working with county governments, civil society, donors and local communities;
- Strong conceptual and analytical skills
- Demonstrate high levels of initiative
- Flexibility in tasks undertaken
- Extensive knowledge of participatory approaches
- Understanding of development/relief issues
- Experience in ASAL counties, proven sensitivity to the setting and its challenges
- Willingness to learn and self-improve.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
None
Key Working Relationships:
Internal:
- Senior Project Officer/County program lead Isiolo, Food Security, Nutrition and Livelihoods officer – Isiolo County, CRS Senior Program Officer-M&E, Senior Program Officer-A&L, Program manager WASH, Head of Programs, CRS EARO M&E and AL Senior and Regional Technical Advisors.
External:
- The Isiolo County Government’s ministries of water, irrigation, health, finance and planning, information and communication;
- Program consultants;
- IBM Research Africa, SweetSense Inc., AKVO Foundation, County Program Steering Committee, Millennium Water Alliance Program Coordinating Unit and the program technical leads;
- Target communities
Required Qualifications and Experience:
- Bachelor degree in a field related to ICT, social studies, statistics or project management.
- Post graduate training in Monitoring and Evaluation will be an added advantage;
- IT Certification, Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate or equivalent is desired;
- At least 5 years work experience in progressive responsibility in relief and development programs, including some significant time in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL);
- Demontrated knowledge and experience working with mobile technologies shall be an added advantage.
- Demonstrated knowledge experience in managing evaluation and monitoring data.
Required Foreign Language
None.
Required Travel (where and expected %):
30% field travel and 70% office in Isiolo
Work Evironment
Isiolo County
Disclaimer:
This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated
The following statement/declaration shall be included ON ALL job applications:
“I understand that CRS takes all allegations of abuse and exploitation seriously. Abuse or exploitation of children or vulnerable adults is grounds for immediate dismissal.”
Written applications indicating the reference number of position applied for and CV including day-time contact phone numbers, as well as names and contact information of three references should reach the below-mentioned by Close of Business Monday February 8, 2016;
Human Resources Manager
Catholic Relief Services – Kenya Program
E-mail:
Please indicate the Reference Number (Ref: 2016/09) on the ‘email subject. Only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Note: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) does not charge any fees from applicants for any recruitment. Further, CRS has not retained any agent in connection with this recruitment
