Program Background

The Agrifood System Transformation for Youth Employment (ASTYE) Uganda program

ASTYE is a 5-year transformative initiative designed to enable dignified and fulfilling work opportunities primarily for financially disadvantaged young women, refugees, and vulnerable groups by addressing structural barriers in Uganda's Agrifood system. Aligned with Uganda’s Vision 2040, the National Development Plan and Government of Uganda Agriculture Value Chain Development Strategy, the program will contribute to national efforts toward poverty alleviation, economic growth, as well food and nutrition security. Additionally, ASTYE is part of the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy in Uganda, which aims to empower 4.3 million young Ugandans, particularly young women, by addressing structural barriers to employment and providing them with the skills and resources to succeed.

Specifically, GOAL will implement component one to reach 500,000 financially disadvantaged young people, with 400,000 transiting into work and 320,000 securing dignified and fulfilling work. As the program is young women-centric, 80% of the total outreach target will be young women within Uganda's agrifood ecosystem. Furthermore, 3% of the total youth in work target will be refugees, and another 3% will be people with disabilities.

Job summary

The MEAL Specialist will be in charge of monitoring, evaluating and measuring the impact of program activities, conducting research and documenting and disseminating learnings. The MEAL Specialist is expected to play an important role in the implementation of ASTYE program and GOAL’s MEAL functions to enable efficient review and monitoring of the implementation of partnerships with intervention partners (e.g., private sector, CSOs/CBOs); and to understand whether expected results are delivered. The MEAL Specialist will be supported by GOAL global MEAL, MIS and data teams. He/Sheshe will also be supported by the Programme Management Unit.

Job Functions

Implementation of MEAL Strategy and System:

• Lead the implementation of the overall Program MEAL plan and system.
• Develop and streamline intervention specific tools and MEAL plans of the implementing program partners.
• Collaborate and lead the team in drafting intervention specific results chains, indicators, and data collection plans for the Program.

Data Collection, verification, Analysis, and Reporting:

• Support the design and roll-out of data collection tools (e.g., surveys) and training programs
• Analyze data from research and studies to generate insights and evidence for decision-making. These include diagnostic market research/baseline, barrier analysis, Action research, Tracer studies and annual surveys.
• Generate relevant regular reports from the database to inform programming and decision making.
• Participate in the program quarterly report writing ensuring alignment with shared measures.
• Regularly monitor implementation quality, verify reported data and engage with partners
• Manage data flow to ensure timely data collection and reporting.
• Conduct data quality assessments to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Ensure data management & storage complies with GOAL's global policies (e.g. Uganda’s data protection policy) and funding partner requirements.
• Review partner monthly implementation and progress reports.
• Ensure data analysis and reports inform programmatic decision-making for improved impact.

Team Management and capacity Building

• Supervise the MEAL officers both at GOAL and partner organisations to achieve objectives of the program.
• Develop and update monthly and annual work plans for the MEAL team both at GOAL and partner organisations.
• Build Capacity of MEAL officers at GOAL and partner organisations to use and test key tools and to improve performance monitoring and conduct training sessions of staff in results-based management and effective monitoring of indicators.

Accountability and Learning

• Oversee stakeholders, participants, and community feedback mechanisms to ensure Program accountability.
• Implement a collaborative learning agenda across the program interventions and partners.
• Ensure program learnings and results are documented, shared, and used to guide adaptive management
• Facilitate learning activities, including monthly MEAL team meetings, quarterly Program meetings and Learning events.

Job Level Specifications

Essential Criteria

• Postgraduate qualifications in Monitoring and Evaluation or Project Management
• Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Economics, Social Sciences or project management
• 5 years experience in designing and implementing MEAL systems within an NGO/development sector with at least 3 years in a similar role.
• Strong technical understanding of monitoring, Evaluation and Learning across multiple partners
• Knowledge of MEAL methodologies and tools, including qualitative and quantitative approaches.
• Proficiency in statistical software and data visualization tools.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in capacity building and training.
• Knowledge of data protection and compliance measures.
• Proficiency in database management systems.
• Ability to manage a team and work collaboratively across departments
• Excellent data analysis and report writing skills.
• Experience working in agriculture and or market systems development projects

• Lead the implementation of the overall Program MEAL plan and system.
• Develop and streamline intervention specific tools and MEAL plans of the implementing program partners.
• Collaborate and lead the team in drafting intervention specific results chains, indicators, and data collection plans for the Program.
• Support the design and roll-out of data collection tools (e.g., surveys) and training programs
• Analyze data from research and studies to generate insights and evidence for decision-making. These include diagnostic market research/baseline, barrier analysis, Action research, Tracer studies and annual surveys.
• Generate relevant regular reports from the database to inform programming and decision making.
• Participate in the program quarterly report writing ensuring alignment with shared measures.
• Regularly monitor implementation quality, verify reported data and engage with partners
• Manage data flow to ensure timely data collection and reporting.
• Conduct data quality assessments to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Ensure data management & storage complies with GOAL's global policies (e.g. Uganda’s data protection policy) and funding partner requirements.
• Review partner monthly implementation and progress reports.
• Ensure data analysis and reports inform programmatic decision-making for improved impact.
• Supervise the MEAL officers both at GOAL and partner organisations to achieve objectives of the program.
• Develop and update monthly and annual work plans for the MEAL team both at GOAL and partner organisations.
• Build Capacity of MEAL officers at GOAL and partner organisations to use and test key tools and to improve performance monitoring and conduct training sessions of staff in results-based management and effective monitoring of indicators.
• Oversee stakeholders, participants, and community feedback mechanisms to ensure Program accountability.
• Implement a collaborative learning agenda across the program interventions and partners.
• Ensure program learnings and results are documented, shared, and used to guide adaptive management
• Facilitate learning activities, including monthly MEAL team meetings, quarterly Program meetings and Learning events.

• Strong technical understanding of monitoring, Evaluation and Learning across multiple partners
• Knowledge of MEAL methodologies and tools, including qualitative and quantitative approaches.
• Proficiency in statistical software and data visualization tools.
• Experience in capacity building and training.
• Knowledge of data protection and compliance measures.
• Proficiency in database management systems.
• Ability to manage a team and work collaboratively across departments
• Excellent data analysis and report writing skills.
• Experience working in agriculture and or market systems development projects

• Postgraduate qualifications in Monitoring and Evaluation or Project Management
• Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Economics, Social Sciences or project management