MEAL Officer

About Seed Effect Uganda
It’s a Christ-centered, non-profit Economic and Spiritual development organization registered in Uganda under the National Non-Governmental Organization Bureau. Our mission is to plant the seeds that overcome poverty by providing access to economic empowerment, education, and spiritual discipleship among marginalized communities in Uganda and beyond.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The MEAL Officer will lead the monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) efforts for the Seed Effect Uganda SFL Program. This role ensures that program components are results-oriented, impact-driven, and aligned with organizational objectives. The MEAL Officer will develop and implement robust data management systems, facilitate evaluations, and provide technical leadership to drive evidence-based decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

MEAL Tool Development and Data Management

• Develop and implement a robust monitoring and evaluation system that will ensure tracking of project results at different levels (outputs, outcomes, and impact).

• Work with the operation/program team to ensure the collection of accurate and appropriate data needed for an effective MEAL system, which will be utilized in monitoring strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in existing projects/ programs and services, and for reporting.

• Review existing data collection tools for the current programs.

• Incorporate field and technical team feedback to ensure the continuous improvement of data management systems within Seed Effect Uganda.

• Leverage expertise in Salesforce to design, develop, and implement solutions that drive program success.

• Work closely with cross-functional teams to enhance Salesforce functionality, optimize processes, and deliver high-quality solutions tailored to program needs.

• Timely review Salesforce and follow up on errors with the Field team to ensure accuracy.

• Lead role in overseeing quality and accurate data collection, storage, analysis, and reporting, ensuring that data collected is audit-worthy. 

Monitoring and Reporting

• Develop and train staff in the development of a monitoring and evaluation plan/framework for the SFL project, including indicator selection, target setting, reporting, database management, and developing an M&E and/or performance monitoring plan.

• Work closely with Programs to ensure that feedback to management is provided timely.

• Develop M&E plans for all projects and proposals and ensure the same is followed up during implementation.

• Carry out data quality assessments/ audits regularly for MEAL data based on agreed indicators to guide decision-making.

• Provide alerts to the respective program offices and corrective actions required to avoid delays in implementation, including flagging operational issues and risks requiring timely actions.

• Review monthly, quarterly, and annual progress operation reports from branches and ensure they have evidence to back up and provide feedback to the respective staff before reporting to the operation and management teams.

• Responsible for supporting the preparation and review of program reports in collaboration with the Head of Programs.

• Facilitate periodic program reviews and learning forums, ensure proper documentation of findings and learning.

• Ensure that Monitoring and Evaluation provide ongoing evidence and inputs for improving the program interventions.

• Facilitate the baseline, mid, and end-line survey.

• Design and manage gender-disaggregate beneficiary monitoring and database system. 

Assessments, Surveys, and Evaluation

• Ensure that Seed Effect Uganda learns from all final evaluations of completed projects for decision-making and improvement of the program.

• Leads assessments, evaluations, and performance evaluation tasks, including planning and reporting on the program.

• Assist in the development of TOR for external surveys and consultant recruitments/ selection.

• Coordinate the review of all survey reports prepared to ensure quality and accurate reporting. 

Learning, Accountability, and Capacity Building

• Provide relevant evidence for learning from projects.

• Share learning and provide constructive feedback to management to ensure program quality.

• Build the capacity of staff through training to ensure the adoption of new data monitoring tools and the quality of data collected.

• Keep abreast of new approaches and tools for M&E and provide training to Seed Effect Uganda staff as requested. Enable staff to monitor and evaluate their efforts, gather relevant data, and produce required progress reports.

• Manage research activities and ensure outcomes and lessons learned are integrated into the project and shared with relevant stakeholders.

• Provide training and mentoring to partners and staff to ensure the implementation of a strong M&E system.

Qualifications, Technical Skills, Experience & Knowledge:

ESSENTIAL

• Personal confession of faith in Jesus Christ and a passionate commitment to Seed Effect’s mission to serve as a holistic tool to live out the Great Commission alongside the Great Commandment as we empower the poor to know and follow Christ, plug into the local church, and overcome physical poverty;

• Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics, Economics, Monitoring & Evaluation, Demography, Population Studies, Social Science, or Development Studies;

• Proficiency in Salesforce Platform Administration & Configuration;

• Strong knowledge of data analysis tools (SPSS, Excel, etc.);

• Advanced computer skills (word processing, spreadsheets, and databases);

• Experience in research studies, surveys, and impact assessments;

• Demonstrated experience in data processing and management of large-scale surveys;

• Must be result-focused and be able to work under pressure and tight deadlines;

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work well within a multi-cultural team environment;

• Excellent servant leadership skills;

• Excellent analytical skills;

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Preferred Skills, Qualifications, and Personal Specifications

• Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring & Evaluation or Project Planning;

• At least 4 years of experience in MEAL, with large-scale project evaluations with international or locally recognized organizations;

• Extensive experience in conducting a research study, including the entire evaluation cycle, from design and formulation to implementation, analysis, and presentation of results and recommendations;

• Resourcefulness and ability to work in a demanding work environment;

• Ability to travel to all field locations of Seed Effect Uganda at least once every quarter.