The USAID Uganda Feed the Future Water and Food Systems Activity (FTF WFSA) is a five year activity (2023-2028) that aims to inclusively and equitably improve food and water security in the Kyoga Basin in northeastern Uganda, specifically three watersheds – Lokok, Awoja, and Lokere, by empowering individuals and communities to mitigate and adapt to shocks and stressors in order to improve livelihoods, maintain nutrition and health wellbeing, address drivers of conflict, and reduce reliance on humanitarian assistance. This area is home to nomadic pastoralists whose livelihoods are at risk due to violent cattle raiding and the effects of climate change (drought and flooding). This part of Uganda also suffers from fragmented markets, chronic underinvestment in public services, and a lack of private sector investment. This Activity is aligned with the Water and Development II (WADI II) scope to access critical technical services in support of the U.S. Government’s Global Water Strategy, Global Food Security and Strategy Refresh, Agency Climate Strategy, and the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience; and is a cornerstone of the USAID Uganda (2022) Country Development Cooperation Strategy Development Objective (DO) 2, Resilient Growth Enhanced. The activity aims therefore aims to achieve results under the following development objectives:
- Improve water supply and integrated water resource management.
- Increase equitable access to sanitation and hygiene services for households and schools.
- Improved agriculture-based livelihoods.
- Increased consumption of nutritious foods among women and children.
- Expanded access to financial resources for women, men, youth, indigenous people, and marginalized groups.
- Improve local capacity to manage shocks and stressors.
FtF WFSA will enhance market systems, strengthen relevant institutions, expand access to climate-resilient services, and—in two of the most vulnerable of the 21 districts covered by the activity—employ “graduation” approaches to assist the ultra-poor. These initiatives will incorporate conflict sensitivity, local leadership, climate change adaptation, and approaches inclusive of women, youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and indigenous groups.
Role’s Purpose:
The Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Officer will be responsible for supporting the MEL Director and MEL Manager in development and implementation of MEL activities. The Senior MEL Officer will contribute to the quality assurance of program implementation and ensure that the program is meeting its deliverables, as well as developing tools and reports to demonstrate the impact and results of program implementation. The Senior MEL Officer is responsible for supporting WFS staff to regularly collect, enter, verify, and analyse data and work with the MEL team to make timely adjustments to measure the impact and to ensure M&E data is accurately incorporated into WFS information products. S/he will ensure the collection and analysis of useful, timely and actionable information for managers and decision-makers, and contribute to the frequent review, reflection, and key learning processes to improve performance.
Responsibilities:
- Support the design of data collection systems to measure project performance and impact, including undertaking field visits to activity sites.
- Support the implementing the AMELP, developing data collection methodology and tools, and leading complex statistical analyses and M&E reporting.
- Support the implementation of baseline surveys, program indicators and targets, and gather qualitative and quantitative data related to those indicators and targets.
- Provide performance monitoring and evaluation to include developing appropriate indicators, implementing systems to safeguard the collection and management of program data, and recommending changes to performance monitoring and work plans.
- Support in the timely preparation of M&E related progress reports on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis.
- Provide data analysis in support with periodic reporting, success stories and lessons learned.
- Conduct internal and grantee data quality assessments to test the validity and reliability of data used to measure program impact.
- Work with partners and program team to gather success stories and anecdotal evidence of program impact to share with USAID.
- Generate data reports (tables/graphs/reports) from the database at regular intervals, ensuring reports/information are available for program implementation staff as required.
- Coordinate with field teams and partners to implement system corrections and adjustments, solving data issues and documenting actions taken and next steps,
- Train partners/grantees to ensure they fully comprehend WFS data collection processes, tools, and timelines.
- Act as the MEL Manager during his/her absence, as well as performing other duties as assigned.
Key Competencies and Qualifications Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in statistics, Quantitative economics, Economics, development studies, Social Work and Social Administration, Business Administration, or related field with at least 3 – 4 years’ experience in M&E activities of Humanitarian or development programs or in the fields of research.
- Minimum 7 years of relevant experience. At least 2- 3 years experience in development programs supervising a team of MEL officers, Assistants and data enumerators.
- Good understanding and skills at data management.
- Experience managing different aspects of assessments as a lead, right from tools design, data collection, processing, analysis, and report writing.
- Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of MS Office applications and G suite.
- Proficiency in at least one statistical software (Stata, SPSS, KOBO Toolbox) in handling large datasets
- Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
- Fluent in both spoken and written English.
Reporting
The Senior MEL Officer reports to the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Director.
