Job Description

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works in around 100 countries to save, protect, and transform lives, serving people in need regardless of race, religion, or nationality. Through trusted local partnerships, CRS delivers relief and development programs in emergency response, disaster risk reduction, health, agriculture, education, community savings, livelihoods, and peacebuilding.

CRS began working in the Philippines in 1945, making it the longest-running continuous CRS country program in the world. Today, CRS Philippines implements programs in emergency response and recovery, disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, livelihoods, and peace and development. With more than 70 staff across Manila, Cotabato City, Tagbilaran City, Iloilo City, Virac, and Malaybalay City, CRS works closely with church and civil society partners, government agencies, and other organizations to serve vulnerable communities across the country.

The Innovative Climate Financing - Philippines Carbon Finance Pilot is an 18-month initiative (April 2026 – September 2027) which seeks to assess and advance the readiness of indigenous peoples’ ancestral domains in Bukidnon and Davao del Norte for participation in high-integrity forest carbon markets while delivering biodiversity, livelihood, and governance co-benefits. It likewise aims to support overall investments readiness by ensuring robust technical requirements are complied with, particularly on establishing the baseline and baseline, and calculation of project removals in line with the industry’s standards. CRS works with the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) as the local implementing partner, the IP organizations, government agencies, and local stakeholders, to support IP governance strengthening, forest restoration, agroforestry and livelihoods skills strengthening, FPIC processes, biodiversity assessments, land and carbon suitability assessments, safeguarding, and the development of investment-ready carbon project opportunities.

Job Summary

The Senior MEAL Officer is responsible for ensuring the availability of quality data and evidence to support adaptive management, donor reporting, strategic decision-making, partner accountability, and learning. S/he will lead the development and operationalization of the project's results framework, indicators, monitoring plans, databases, reporting systems, accountability mechanisms, and learning agenda. S/he will work closely with Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) MEAL officer to strengthen evidence generation, knowledge management, and organizational learning throughout the project lifecycle.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

1. MEAL System Design and Management

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the project's MEAL framework, systems, processes, and tools.
• Develop and maintain indicator reference sheets, monitoring plans, data flow procedures, databases, dashboards, and reporting templates.
• Ensure alignment of MEAL systems with CRS program quality standards, policies and procedures, and relevant carbon finance project requirements.
• Establish systems for data management, quality assurance, storage, confidentiality, and accessibility.
• Support the development and refinement of project results frameworks, logframes, and performance indicators.

1. Monitoring, Data Collection, and Verification

• Coordinate routine project monitoring activities, field verification, assessments, surveys, and data validation exercises.
• Develop quantitative and qualitative data collection tools and methodologies.
• Oversee data collection, entry, cleaning, analysis, and reporting to ensure accuracy, completeness, and timeliness.
• Monitor implementation progress against workplans, targets, milestones, and performance indicators.
• Identify implementation gaps, emerging risks, and challenges and provide recommendations for corrective action.

1. Evaluation, Research, and Learning

• Lead or support baseline studies, endline surveys, evaluations, and learning studies.
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data to generate actionable insights for program improvement and decision-making.
• Facilitate quarterly reflection sessions, after-action reviews, and learning events.
• Coordinate documentation of lessons learned, best practices, innovations, and project achievements.
• Produce learning briefs, case studies, success stories, presentations, and knowledge products.

1. Accountability and Community Feedback Mechanisms

• Lead the implementation and strengthening of Feedback and Complaints Response Mechanisms (FCRM) across pilot sites.
• Ensure accessible, inclusive, and culturally appropriate feedback channels for all stakeholders, including indigenous people's communities.
• Monitor feedback trends, complaints resolution, response timelines, and documentation.
• Generate analyses and recommendations from stakeholder feedback to improve project implementation and accountability.

1. Reporting and Data Utilization

• Develop regular monitoring reports, dashboards, and analytical summaries for management, partners, and donors.
• Support preparation of quarterly, annual, and other reports through provision of quality data and analysis.
• Promote evidence-based decision-making and adaptive management across project implementation teams.

1. Capacity Strengthening and Technical Support

• Design and facilitate training, coaching, and mentoring activities on MEAL concepts, tools, methodologies, and data use.
• Provide technical guidance to project staff and partners on indicator measurement, reporting requirements, and learning processes.
• Support partners in reflecting on project experiences and using evidence to improve implementation effectiveness.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Statistics, Economics, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Environmental Science, Forestry, Agriculture, Public Administration, Data Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in MEAL.
• Experience designing and managing MEAL systems for donor-funded development, environmental, natural resource management, climate, or conservation projects.
• Demonstrated experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Experience managing accountability and feedback mechanisms.
• Experience facilitating learning, reflection, and adaptive management processes.
• Experience working with local partners, indigenous peoples, and community-based organizations is highly desirable.
• Experience working in Mindanao, particularly Bukidnon and Davao del Norte, is highly desirable.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly to field sites and remote communities.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong understanding of results-based management and theory of change approaches.
• Proficiency in data analysis software and digital data collection platforms (e.g., Excel, Power BI, KoboToolbox, or similar).
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
• Excellent report writing, presentation, and communication skills.
• Ability to transform complex data into practical recommendations.
• Strong facilitation and capacity-strengthening skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• High attention to detail and commitment to data quality and accountability.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams).
• Ability to use online collaboration, project management, and data management platforms.

Required Languages:

• Excellent spoken and written English.
• Working knowledge of Bisaya is highly desirable.

Travel: Must be willing to travel up to 50% of the time to Malaybalay, Bukidnon and/or Talaingod, Davao del Norte.

Key Working Relationships: TBD

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 & Stewardship

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse. The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.