6 Project Officer job at Catholic Relief Services ( CRS )

These projects aim to assist smallholder farmers, with an average landholding of 2 hectares (minimum 0.5 hectares, maximum 20 hectares) to diversify production within their agroforestry systems, including through payments for carbon sequestration through integration of trees into their plots. The projects also aim to incentivize smallholder farmers to be able to invest in activities which restore health to their soil and increase productivity over time, as well as meet their own food security and economic needs.

Roles and Key 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. This includes development of district level work plans.
• Monitor and report on any challenges and/or gaps identified to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. Assist partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences.
• Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and assisting partners in their efforts to collect and analyze project data per specified mechanisms and tools. This includes working closely with tree monitors to track tree planting, survival rates, and health, ensuring accurate and timely data collection and reporting from the field, and supporting troubleshooting and adaptive management based on monitoring feedback.
• Prepare reports according to the established reporting schedule.
• Collect information on capacity needs and technical assistance needs of community-based facilitators, LCDA groups, lead farmers and tree monitors and monitor capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact.
• Complete project documentation for assigned activities. Assist with identifying information for case studies and reports on promising practices.
• Contribute to representation initiatives with local government, community leaders, and other stakeholders to foster collaboration and buy-in. Represent the project at district-level meetings and forums.

Basic Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree relevant to the area
• Minimum of 2 years of work experience in project support. Fresh graduates may be considered for the role.
• Experience in the field of agroforestry, livelihoods, extension services and for an NGO.
• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data preferred.
• Minimum of 3–5 years’ experience in community-based project implementation.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Proficient in MS Windows and MS Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Strong observation, active listening, and analytical skills with the ability to exercise sound judgment.
• Excellent relationship management skills and ability to collaborate effectively with local partners and community members.
• Strong attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and timeliness in task execution.
• Proactive, results-driven, and service-orientated approach to work.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities effectively.

Required Languages: English fluency, including excellent oral and written skills, required.

Travel: This is a field-based position, and staff must be willing and able to travel up to 50%.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviours and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. 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.

• 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 principles.

Key Working Relationships:

• Supervisory Responsibilities: Will oversee coordination of community based facilitators.
• Internal: Restore Africa project staff and other CRS staff.
• External: Partner staff, project staff from other peer agencies.

• 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. This includes development of district level work plans.
• Monitor and report on any challenges and/or gaps identified to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules. Assist partners in their efforts to reflect on project experiences.
• Support accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and assisting partners in their efforts to collect and analyze project data per specified mechanisms and tools.
• Prepare reports according to the established reporting schedule.
• Collect information on capacity needs and technical assistance needs of community-based facilitators, LCDA groups, lead farmers and tree monitors and monitor capacity building and technical support activities to ensure effective impact.
• Complete project documentation for assigned activities. Assist with identifying information for case studies and reports on promising practices.
• Contribute to representation initiatives with local government, community leaders, and other stakeholders to foster collaboration and buy-in. Represent the project at district-level meetings and forums.

• Proficient in MS Windows and MS Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Strong observation, active listening, and analytical skills with the ability to exercise sound judgment.
• Excellent relationship management skills and ability to collaborate effectively with local partners and community members.
• Strong attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and timeliness in task execution.
• Proactive, results-driven, and service-orientated approach to work.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities effectively.

• Bachelor’s degree relevant to the area
• Minimum of 2 years of work experience in project support. Fresh graduates may be considered for the role.
• Experience in the field of agroforestry, livelihoods, extension services and for an NGO.
• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement.