Catholic Relief Services
CRS JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Project Officer
Department: Livelihoods Program
Compensation Band: Grade 7
Reports To: Project Manager
Country/Location: CRS Maadi Office/CRS October Hub Office Egypt
Background
The CRS Egypt country program began in 1956 at the invitation of the Egyptian president Nasser by providing relief assistance to the victims of the Suez War. Over the following few decades, CRS Egypt moved from large-scale food relief to long-term poverty alleviation and development programs. CRS Egypt works in a wide variety of areas within the development field.
Currently, CRS Egypt has three main programs: education assistance program and livelihoods program for refugee support, and local partnership. Projects under these programs range from the provision of technical assistance and capacity building to partners, promoting peace and tolerance, educational grants for refugees and assistance to refugee community schools, and technical support and start-up funds for refugee and vulnerable Egyptian entrepreneurs. Additional programming includes Emergency Preparedness and Response projects that arise as needed. The Operations department, supported by a regional Management Quality unit, ensures the country program develops and maintains the highest level of operational standards.
CRS Egypt currently holds a main office in Cairo, and a sub-office in 6th of October, with an objective of serving vulnerable communities through community-based hubs located in 6th of October and Ain Shams.
The CRS Livelihoods Program is funded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (BPRM), and the International Labor Organization (ILO) to support business start-up and expansions for refugees and asylum seekers of all nationalities in Cairo. Assistance is provided in the form of business and legal trainings, grant funding, and post-grant mentoring to ensure businesses’ sustainability.
Job Summary:
As a member of the Livelihood project team, you will monitor and report on all project activities in support of Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your thorough and service-oriented approach will ensure that the project consistently applies best practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.
The Project Officer will serve as case management unit team leader, managing and supporting staff and relationships with CBO partners and service providers in separate locations. The Project Officer will supervise four caseworkers who will be responsible for outreach, intake, and selection of project participants, as well as training, follow-up coaching and social support activities.
Job Responsibilities:
- Support the coordination and implementation of all assigned project activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices.
- Ensure appropriate day-to-day supervision of field activities, including ensuring registration, intake and selection are done according to established protocol, criteria, and other quality standards. Coordinate between caseworkers and manage key relationships with the CBO partners to ensure efficient implementation and referrals.
- Contribute to develop and implement terms of reference and work plans for service providers and review progress at regular intervals.
- Responsible for supporting and implementing case management including resiliency plans for vulnerable livelihoods project participants. Provide technical assistance and technical support to caseworkers to mainstream Protection approaches and methods with vulnerable project participants.
- Responsible for supporting and implementing training programs for target beneficiaries to build their capacities and knowledge that help them to be more self-reliant. The training programs are normally demand-driven based on business needs and requirements.
- Lead in the collection and analysis of data on pre- and post-grant services and any follow up with participants. Ensure a schedule is in place and followed for close monitoring and follow-up for supported participants. Monitor and report any challenges and/or gaps identified to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. Assist field officers in their efforts to reflect on project experiences.
- Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and assisting field officers and local partners in their efforts to collect and analyze project data per specified mechanisms and tools. Develop and implement mechanism to solicit feedback on the quality and usefulness of pre- and post-grant services provided to supported participants.
- Collaborate with caseworkers, service providers and local partner(s) to prepare reports per established reporting schedule. Complete project documentation for assigned activities. Assist with identifying information for case studies and reports on promising practices
- Collect information on staff capacity needs and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and monitor capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Support:
- Collects quality data using MEAL tools on a timely basis.
- Manages database to ensure accessibility and reliability of information.
- Communicates key project information and results with community members, colleagues, and stakeholders.
- Contributes to reflective community-based conversations on ongoing project interventions.
- Shares insights and perspectives based on observations and interactions with community members, colleagues, and stakeholders.
Required Background and Experience:
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in a directly related field; additional education may substitute for some experience.
- Minimum of three years of work experience in project support. Experience in the field of Case Management and/or protection strongly preferred. Experience in training for an NGO would be a plus.
- Relevant grant management experience, especially for USG or other public donors a plus.
- Staff supervision experience.
- Experience working with stakeholders at various levels and strengthening community partnerships.
- Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.
- Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data preferred.
- Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
Personal Skills
- Observation, active listening, and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment
- Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners and community members
- Attention to details, accuracy, and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities
- Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented
Required/Desired Foreign Language
Excellent English and Arabic language skills, written and verbal.
Travel Required Travel required to site visits, between Maadi office and 6th of October sub-office, and other relevant locations within Greater Cairo, estimated at 70%.
Safeguarding Policy
CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants from exploitation and abuse. The successful candidate is expected to attend a safeguarding orientation and then sign and adhere to the CRS Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct.
VACCINATION REQUIREMENT
CRS is committed to the health and safety of all program participants and staff. Staff must be vaccinated against COVID-19 as of December 1, 2021 or registered in the national registry and awaiting their first appointment. Confirmation of vaccination status will be required to undertake work with CRS as of December 1, 2021.
Key Working Relationships:
Supervisory: 4 Caseworkers
Internal: Project Officers, Quality Officer, Administrative Assistant, MEAL Field Officer, MEAL Project Officer, PRM Livelihoods Project manager, Livelihoods Program Manager, Head of Programs, and other programmatic support positions.
External: Local and international organizations, service providers, community leaders and other local actors.
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.
- Integrity
- Continuous Improvement & Innovation
- Builds Relationships
- Develops Talent
- Strategic Mindset
- Accountability and Stewardship
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS’s talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
Equal Opportunity Employer