Country MEAL Manager

Job Summary:

The Country MEAL Manager will support in the ongoing development and implementation of robust and effective results-based MEAL systems, plans and frameworks for all Uganda programs and projects, ensuring that knowledge generation, management and use is effectively built into the Uganda programming.

The position holder will play a major leading role in project monitoring, periodic data collection and analysis, developing mechanisms and leading the process for effective dissemination, utilization, including reports, and documentation of learning.

The position holder will lead and coach M&E team members across the organization’s programming and offices in Uganda, as team members implement monitoring and evaluation activities for projects across the country. The Country MEAL Manager will also coordinate with Canada-based M&E staff for quality control, external evaluations, and technical M&E support.

Duties & Responsibilities.

Systems:

• Support strategies and mechanisms for long-term sustainable systems for data production, secure storage, analysis, documentation, dissemination, and use.
• Identify the key learning agenda for Organization’s country programs and projects including developing and implementing mechanisms and methodologies for identifying, documenting, and disseminating learning.
• Support, develop and implement internal mechanisms for institutional learning, quality control mechanisms, and programmatic integration.
• Facilitate quarterly, annual and mid-term end of project review meetings and workshops to enable progress and outcome level reflections with project teams and relevant stakeholders.
• Organize and facilitate knowledge and learning events/workshops.
• Produce monthly and quarterly MEAL reports for the SMT for program review and to inform decision making.
• Actively participate in and assist the development and review of Country Annual Plans (CAPs) and Country Annual Reports (CARs) and lead the processes of setting and reviewing MEAL goals, plans, beneficiary targets and reaches.

MEAL Implementation and Support.

• Lead the on-going roll-out and review of MEAL plans for all Organization’s projects within the given implementation timelines, with support from other M&E team members.
• Provide MEAL training, coaching, mentoring and capacity building support to all program teams and M&E team members.
• Carry out regular field project site monitoring and supervision visits, provide guidance and mentorship support to project teams and M&E staff, and ensure that established MEAL systems and plans are effectively implemented.
• Identify key issues around program quality and ensure MEAL systems are improved to address these issues.
• Support and implementing partners, Project Managers and teams in the development, and review of project work and activity plans, and monitoring of progress against work plans to ensure quality.
• Support M&E team members, Head of Programs, Program and Project Managers in the preparation of donor and internal project narrative reports (monthly, quarterly, annual, mid-term and end-line) ensuring quality and accuracy of MEAL data and information.
• Working closely and in consultation with the Head of Programs, Program and Project Managers, organize and facilitate the processes of quarterly, biannual, annual, mid-term and end of project review and reflection meetings.
• Ensure that deliberations, outcomes and agreed action points of project review and reflection meetings are properly documented, and actions points are followed-up and implemented.
• Responsible for leading and coordinating the planning and implementation of baseline surveys, Knowledge Attitude and Practice (KAP) surveys, and end of project internal and external evaluations, in close coordination with the Head of Programs, Program and Project Managers.
• Support M&E team members to maintain up-to-date records of project and program pillar level MEAL data and information, including beneficiary reach.

Program Development:

• Actively participate in and assist the Head of Programs and Country Director in identifying new program development opportunities, including in planning and conducting situational and needs assessments.
• Support the Head of Programs in program development, planning and design and development of funding proposals.
• Lead in the development of log-frames and indicators.
• As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), actively contribute to the development, implementation and review of the Country Strategic Plan (CSP) and work closely and collaboratively to assist the company in delivering its objectives.
• Actively contribute to the development and implementation of change management initiatives.
• Actively participate in and represent the company in external MEAL forums, networks and working groups.

Qualifications & Experience:

• BSc/BA/MSc/MA in Economics, applied statistics, Social Studies, Rural Development, or other related discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of work experience for BSc/BA holders and 5 years for MSc/MA holders working in M&E.
• Training / knowledge on statistical software, and ability to interpret what conclusions can and cannot be drawn from data.
• Strong understanding of participatory approaches and current developments trends.
• Skills and hands on experience on conducting or commissioning qualitative and quantitative research methods, designs, and impact evaluations.
• Working in multi partner environments to insure sufficient rigor in M&E.
• Writing and presenting analytically sound documents clearly to a wide range of audiences.
• Highly organized with attention to details.
• Strong interpersonal, communication and motivational skills.
• Firm belief in teamwork, human rights and gender equality.
• Good facilitation and coordination skills.

Desirable:

• Experience working at a global organization, charity is an asset.
• Experience or good understanding of Theory of Change based approaches.
• Experience of developing and using M&E information systems and running a range of reports.

Interested applicants should send ONLY Cover letter and CV in PDF to Email: pule@ezer-consult.com

Deadline for application: 11^th April 2024

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.