| Job Title: MEAL Officer – Multi-Project Support | Reports to: Program Quality Manager for technical oversight, with a dotted-line reporting relationship to Project Managers for project-level coordination and support. |
| Department: Programming | Salary Grade: 8 |
Background:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, regardless of race, religion, or nationality.
CRS has operated in Lesotho for 24 years, working with partners and communities to address the country’s most pressing challenges. CRS collaborates with the Government of Lesotho (GoL), local and international non-government organizations (NGOs), public—and private-sector partners, and Church partners, with a reach across all 10 districts of Lesotho.
Job Summary
As the MEAL Officer supporting three distinct projects, you will play a critical role in ensuring high-quality monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning systems are in place and effectively implemented. You will coordinate MEAL activities across projects, provide technical guidance to project teams and partners, and ensure that data-driven insights inform decision-making and program improvements. Your analytical skills and commitment to learning will help CRS and its partners deliver impactful, evidence-based programming to serve the poor and vulnerable.
Roles and Key Responsibilities
- Design and implement MEAL systems and tools across three projects, ensuring alignment with CRS standards and donor requirements.
- Lead data collection, analysis, and reporting efforts to track project performance and outcomes.
- Facilitate regular learning sessions with project teams and partners to reflect on progress, challenges, and best practices.
- Support accountability mechanisms, including feedback and complaints systems, ensuring communities have a voice in project implementation.
- Coordinate with projects leads to integrate MEAL findings into planning and decision-making.
- Conduct periodic field visits to monitor project activities and validate data quality.
- Build capacity of staff and partners in MEAL concepts, tools, and practices through training and ongoing support.
- Ensure timely and accurate reporting of MEAL data to internal and external stakeholders.
- Build capacity of staff and partners in MEAL concepts, tools, and practices through training and ongoing support.
- Ensure timely and accurate reporting of MEAL data to internal and external stakeholders.
- Maintain organized documentation of MEAL activities, including databases, reports, and learning products.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or related field.
- Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in MEAL roles, preferably supporting multiple projects in an NGO setting.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced training in M&E methodologies, data analysis, or project management.
- Experience with digital data collection tools (e.g., CommCare, KoboToolbox, ODK).
- Familiarity with donor reporting requirements and MEAL frameworks.
- Strong facilitation and training skills.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and work collaboratively across teams.
- Detail-oriented with a commitment to data quality and integrity.
Required Languages: Proficiency in English; knowledge of local languages is an asset.
Travel
- Must be willing and able to travel up to 60% of the time to project sites.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- No direct supervisory responsibilities but may oversee enumerators or data collection teams during fieldwork.
CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
Submission: Please note that the position is only open to applicants who are Citizens of Lesotho. Interested Basotho candidates should submit their CV, cover letter, Certified copies of Education certificates and ID in one pdf document not later than 30th October 2025 at 10:00am by email to [email protected] with the subject line: MEAL OFFICER. If the subject line does not indicate the position, the application will not be considered. HARD COPY APPLICATIONS NOT ACCEPTED. ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED.