Technical Advisor I- MEAL

 

Job Title: Venezuela Earthquake Response - MEAL Technical Advisor I	Reports to: EMPOWER MEAL TA II
Department: Humanitarian Response Department (HRD)	Salary Grade: 9

 

Position Duration : 8 months

Position based in Venezuela

 

About CRS 

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform the lives of people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion, or nationality. CRS’s relief and development work is carried out through programs in emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. 

 

Job Summary 

The EMPOWER (Empowering Partner Organizations Working in Emergency Response) program is an initiative that started in 2018 and is currently in its 4th phase. Under Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) Humanitarian Response Department (HRD), EMPOWER has recently transitioned to a Global Structure, focusing on partner capacity strengthening in emergency response in Latin America and the Caribbean, and Central & West Africa, with a structure able to expand into other regions as applicable.  

The objectives of the program include: 1) strengthening local humanitarian actors’ participation in networks/coordination platforms, 2) strengthening local humanitarian actors’ institutional and project capacity to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies, and 3) seeking and garnering humanitarian funding for local humanitarian actor-led emergency responses.  

The HRD has technical staff who support emergency program planning, rapid response, and capacity strengthening for staff and partners worldwide. The HRD strengthens CRS’s impact through high-quality, innovative programs; improved technical and management capacity at the field level; and active engagement in global efforts to promote excellence and learning in humanitarian response. 

On 24 June 2026, northern Venezuela was struck by two major earthquakes—a magnitude 7.2 foreshock followed 39 seconds later by a magnitude 7.5 mainshock in Yaracuy—representing the strongest seismic event in the country since 1900. As of 25 June 2026, preliminary government figures report at least 164 deaths and 971 injuries, with figures expected to rise as access improvements, particularly in severely affected areas such as La Guaira. More than 30 aftershocks have continued to impede search-and-rescue operations, exacerbate structural instability, and prevent displaced populations from safely returning home. 

The earthquake has sharply intensified pre-existing humanitarian needs in a country where an estimated 7.9 million people already require assistance due to chronic economic crisis, weakened public services, food insecurity, and limited access to healthcare and essential goods. Initial sectoral findings from CV rapid assessments (24–25 June 2026) highlight acute, life-threatening gaps across multiple sectors. Damage to water systems, pipelines, and pumping infrastructure—combined with power outages—has left displaced populations without reliable access to safe water, sanitation, or hygiene services, increasing the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks. Simultaneously, food access has deteriorated as household purchasing power declines, markets face disruption or supply constraints, and displaced families lose access to food stocks and income sources. 

 

In Venezuela, CRS works through its partner organization Caritas Venezuela which serves as the main implementor for all projects, with CRS providing technical accompaniment and operational support. The MEAL TA I will support the design, set up, and implementation of the Caritas Venezuela MEAL overall framework for the emergency response, with special emphasis on a program funded through the US Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response (DHR).

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Support the development and contribute to the implementation of the Caritas Venezuela MEAL Framework for the Earthquake Response, following CRS and Caritas Venezuela-wide strategies, standards, tools and best practices in MEAL. Help ensure a cross-sectoral approach integrating gender, protection mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction.
• Provide MEAL technical solutions to Caritas Venezuela, especially to the Earthquake Response teams, for strategic planning and how to best apply standards, best practices, partnership principles, and tools, helping to ensure high-quality implementation.
• Contribute to, and in some cases lead, the development of the MEAL technical design for Earthquake Response proposals. As needed, act as a MEAL technical writer. Advise project teams on integrating donor MEAL strategies, priorities, and technical requirements.
• Assure adherence of donor-funded projects to CRS MEAL policies, procedures, and practices, as well as contribute to Caritas Venezuela institutional capacity strengthening.
• Support the customization and design of digital forms for data collection and the design of approaches for data visualization that facilitate the use of data and quality reporting. Support the documentation of MEAL systems, including the creation, maintenance, and periodic review of MEAL Operating Manuals.
• Support capacity strengthening initiatives in MEAL, helping Caritas Venezuela and their diocesan structure through the development of learning and training strategies and agendas/curricula; organizing and/or facilitating trainings, workshops, and conferences; and mentoring and coaching them in on the Earthquakes Response MEAL strategies, approaches and tools. 
• Support the effective implementation and monitoring of Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) mechanisms, including the establishment and management of Feedback and Complaint Response Mechanisms (FCRM) to collect, analyze, and respond to community feedback in a timely and transparent manner.
• Support and supervise the MEAL donor reporting documents (ITT), support and review the project indicators databases and analysis; support the review and follow-up of the MEAL DIP activities of the earthquakes response projects. 
• Ensure a quality partnership between CRS and Caritas Venezuela in line with CRS and Caritas Internationalis (CI) partnership principles and Modus Operandi, ensuring coordinated, consistent partner strengthening efforts and supporting timely resolution of finance challenges via dialogue and support from others, as appropriate. 

 

Basic Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Data Analysis, Economics, Political Science, Social Science, Statistics, or other fields related to data analysis required. A Master's degree is a plus.
• Minimum of 5 years relevant work experience with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with a minimum of 3 years relevant field-based experience in MEAL.
• Knowledge of technical principles and concepts in MEAL. General knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure a proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Experience in project design and proposal development. Experience in writing content for proposals.
• Knowledge of capacity strengthening best practices.
• Experience with program monitoring, evaluation, and analysis.
• Experience and skills in networking and relations with donors, peer organizations, and faith-based and civil society partners. Understanding of partnership principles.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Data Collection tools (Kobo Collect and Commcare), and data analysis (Power BI). 
• Knowledge of Descriptive Statistics Required

 

Required Languages

Excellent spoken and written English; Spanish required.

Travel

This position must be based in Venezuela. 

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities  

• Strong relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings. Work experience in Venezuela is highly recommended.
• Good strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment
• Good technical writing skills
• Presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful, and results-oriented

 

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)  

These are rooted in CRS's mission, values, and guiding principles and are used by each staff member to fulfill their responsibilities and achieve desired results.  

• Integrity  
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation 
• Builds Relationships  
• Develops Talent 
• Strategic Mindset 
• Accountability & Stewardship 

 

Supervisory Responsibilities

No supervisory responsibilities.

Key Working Relationships  

Internal: CRS MEAL Technical Advisor II (EMPOWER MEAL Team Lead), CRS Venezuela Earthquake team

External: Caritas Venezuela Leadership, Caritas Venezuela Earthquake Response Team.

 

MEAL Competencies:

Each staff member in this position is expected to have solid knowledge and ability and can apply the following competencies with minimal or no guidance, in the full range of typical situations, while requiring guidance to handle novel or more complex situations

• MEAL in Design
• Monitoring
• Accountability
• Evaluation
• Learning
• Analysis and Critical Thinking
• ICT4MEAL
• Management in MEAL

 

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. 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 protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.  

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. 

 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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.