Project Officer - Data Analyst Job Opportunity at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Reports To: M&E Lead

Length of Contract: One year with annual renewal subject to availability of funds

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) executes the commitment of the Catholic Bishops of the United States to aid the poor and vulnerable worldwide. Our Catholic identity drives our mission and operations. We welcome staff and partners from all faiths and secular backgrounds who share our values and commitment. CRS is an international NGO supporting relief and development in over 100 countries, assisting individuals based on need, regardless of creed, ethnicity, race, or nationality. We collaborate closely with local church and non-church partners, including governmental organizations, to implement our programs.

CRS commenced operations in Kenya in 1965. For over 50 years, we have worked countrywide on programs in agriculture, livelihoods, health and nutrition, water and sanitation, emergency relief, and peacebuilding. We have developed strong relationships with the Government of Kenya and the Catholic Church through sustained collaboration.

Background

CRS leads the Nawiri Project, a consortium involving international NGOs, local partners, and research institutions to implement a USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA). Our partners include Isiolo and Marsabit county governments, Isiolo and Marsabit Caritas, JSI, Village Enterprise, Concern Worldwide, IBTCI, Tufts University, and Kenyatta University. The project aims to reduce Persistent Acute Malnutrition (PAM) in Marsabit and Isiolo Counties of Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). Following Phase 1 completion (Oct. 2019 – Feb. 2022), the project is in its implementation phase, focusing on systems and institutional strengthening, running until 2027, with local actors gradually assuming increased responsibility.

Job Summary

The Project Officer – Data Analyst is pivotal in ensuring Nawiri leverages its data for informed decision-making and ongoing improvement. The role involves collaborating with sector teams to analyze data, create trends, regression analysis, cross-tabulations, and more. Additionally, the analyst works with the M&E team to ensure accurate calculation and tabulation of Nawiri custom and USAID BHA indicators, as well as verifying and analyzing participant-based annual survey (PaBS) and Recurrent Resilience Analysis (RRA) data.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Design data collection, cleaning, and analysis methods, and preprocess structured and unstructured data.
• Create and execute machine learning algorithms and statistical models for routine monitoring data and special surveys.
• Collaborate with sector and ICT4D teams to explore and visualize data, identifying patterns and presenting insights.
• Ensure data models' effectiveness through rigorous testing and refinement.
• Maintain accurate Indicator Performance Tracking Tables (IPTT) and dashboards per USAID/BHA requirements.
• Facilitate consistent learning throughout project activities via collaboration with ICT4D professionals and documentation of models and procedures.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent relationship management and ability to secure buy-in from staff and partners.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-focused.
• Attention to detail and timeliness.
• Proficient in presentation, facilitation, training, and mentoring.
• Active listener with strong communication skills.
• High integrity and ability to manage sensitive information professionally.
• Commitment to respect, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Required Languages

Excellent verbal and written communication in English, with report writing skills.

Travel

Position based in Nairobi. Up to 40% field travel required.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None

Key Working Relationships

Internal: Strategic Learning Lead, County-based M&E staff, Project staff, CRS ICT/GKIM staff.

External: Implementing partner M&E officers, consortium partner staff, USAID, and Mercy Corps led Nawiri ICT4D staff.

Basic Qualifications