Project Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer NGO Jobs – Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS)

Job Title:   Project Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer   

Organisation: Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS)

Duty Station:  Kampala, Uganda

 

About US:

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is a ministry of the Society of Jesus, incorporated as an international nongovernmental organisation with a mission to accompany, serve, and advocate for the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people. The organisation was founded in November 1980 and has a presence in over 50 countries. JRS undertakes services at national and regional levels with the support and guidance of an international office (IO) in Rome. The style of JRS service is human and spiritual, working in situations of greatest need, seeking the long-term well-being of refugees and displaced people while not neglecting their immediate or urgent needs. The main services provided are in the fields of Education and Livelihoods, Reconciliation, MHPSS and Advocacy.

 

Job Summary:  Reporting directly to the project director, and with indirect reporting line to the Country Programs officer, The Project MEAL Officer is responsible for implementing and maintaining the project MEAL methodologies. The Project MEAL Officer will oversee the projects’ M&E plans in Kampala, including the design and roll out of data collection tools, staff training, data analysis and the production of reports within Kampala. She will supervise the accuracy of projects reports and data. The MEAL Officer’s objective is to ensure that data on programme beneficiaries, processes, progress, and performance are effectively collected, entered, analysed, and documented, in a way to inform timely decision-making and the adoption of sound corrective measures. He/she will work closely with Project Director and Country Programs Officers and with the support of the IO Programmes Officer for EAR and IO M&E Director.

 

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Communications

Technical:

• In collaboration with the Project Director and project teams, prepare a detailed M&E Plan for on-going
• projects and new projects, including timeframe of activities, data collection methodology, tools to be used and expected delivery.
• Track the M & E plan and frequently provide the program with trend analysis of tracked indicators while identifying the outliers.
• Mentor and coach JRS staff on data collection, reporting and data cleaning to inform organizational and donor reports.
• Supports satellite office and project staff to frequently use data for program improvement.
• Support the project office to engage in continuous data quality improvement.
• Participate in quality of care/intervention monitoring together with the other stakeholders and JRS staff while ensuring availability of data for assessing program quality.
• Provide accurate information that informs the program review meetings.
• Maintain an accurate and up to date database for the JRS Kampala office.
• Monitor the implementation of on-going and new projects and assure their adherence to the agreed processes and procedures: in collaboration with the Project team ensure the follow-up of projects indicators by sampling, collecting, and analysing data, guaranteeing quality data, and reviewing reports.
• Develop monitoring and evaluation tools and procedures to ensure quality tracking of project output and outcomes, including tools to assess impact of activities and beneficiary satisfaction (e.g., survey questionnaires, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and analysis plans);
• Support all project teams in conducting monitoring and evaluation assessment and baselines.
• Ensure that regular surveys are conducted to have an overview of the humanitarian context evolution and vulnerability of the populations affected.
• Ensure and support implementation of Accountability systems (e.g., complaint desk).
• Regularly visit the projects and encourage learning based on best practices, lessons and feedback captured from beneficiaries to guide the design and implementation of JRS projects.
• Support the operation of feedback channels (logbook, client satisfaction and engagement surveys).
• Support the recording of feedback, analysis, and accessibility of feedback data for programmatic decision making.
• Overview preparation of consolidated reports including concise narratives that capture progress against indicators and provide both management and donors with accurate and user‐friendly information.
• Manage electronic tools to prevent disorganization (Keep server data confidential).
• Coordinate with the Project Director and the Country Programs Officers to plan for JRS projects within Kampala, especially regarding the needs assessments. Suggest new initiatives to the Project Director based on these assessments.
• Collaborate in programme/project proposals, aligned with JRS Standards; ensuring that relevant information from secondary data, assessments, monitoring, evaluations, and lessons learned are integrated in the proposals. Ensure that community inputs are considered in the project design process.
• In coordination with the Country Office and with the support of the International Office, train project staff on MEAL aspects and programming skills.
• Provide to the supervisor, technical coordinators, program staff and other stakeholder with monthly reports on indicator trends.

Reporting:

• In collaboration with the Project Director, ensure the follow-up of reporting priorities according to the timeframe as planned with the Country Programs Office.
• In collaboration with the Project Director, ensure that the reports are accurate, with appropriate data to measure the indicators and the quality of JRS intervention.
• Develop and adapt weekly and monthly quantitative and qualitative reporting tools and provide support to field-based staff in their use.
• Act as focal point for activity info and other quantitative donor reporting on project level (Respond to queries on number of beneficiaries reached and other quantitative indicators).
• In collaboration with the Project Director, Country Programs Officer, and other departments, contribute to the project proposal writing process, especially while writing output and outcome project’s indicators, and monitoring plans.

Liaison

• Liaise with any existing urban partner M&E teams while ensuring that accurate and timely data on the program is fed into the designated information management systems, activity info and program reports.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The applicant must hold a Bachelor’s degree in statistics, demography, Economics, M&E or related field. An advanced certificate in M&E, statistics will be of an added advantage.
• Postgraduate studies in M & E shall be an added advantage. Languages
• Two to three years of experience in a similar role either in humanitarian or development settings with proven success in implementing M&E systems from project initiation to close‐out stages.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are required.
• Experience in data quality assessment and oversight
• Experience in data analysis, trend analysis and interpretations.
• Experience in continuous quality improvement.
• Knowledge of the major evaluation methodologies.
• Previous experience with an NGO in similar program.
• Good experience of monitoring and evaluation of programs.
• Strong facilitation skills, and strong understanding of how to collect feedback safely and accurately from all members of a community regardless of their age, gender, or other diversity factors
• Proficiency in written and oral English.
• Very good pastoral sense, listening abilities and inter-personal skills.
• Willingness to work and live in West Nile region.
• Work with integrity, impartiality, fairness, confidentiality, and the ability to respect confidence.
• Demonstrable experience of working in an active team.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent organizational skills used in planning own work and ability to work to targets and deadlines.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• High standard of computer literacy (Microsoft Office 365, and M&E tools and statistical packages).

 

How to Apply:

All candidates should send written applications explaining why you are interested in the above position and how you meet the qualities and qualification criteria. Please also attach an updated CV with maximum 3 pages. The CV should contain information about your qualifications, relevant trainings, work experience, names, and contact details of Three (3) professional referees. You must send your CV and application as a single pdf file.

 

Applications should be sent online to Jesuit Refugee Service Uganda at uga.hr@jrs.net

 

Note: JRS has a Child Safeguarding (CS) Policy in place and expects all staff to read, sign and adhere to it. No late applications will be considered – Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. JRS is an equal opportunity employer and has a non-discrimination policy in place.

 

Deadline: 7^th July 2023