M&E Officer AT Food for the Hungry

EXCITING CAREER OPPORTUNITY

Food for the Hungry (FH) also known as FH Association (FHA) is a global Christian humanitarian relief and development organization that designs, develops, and delivers catalytic solutions so that children, families, and communities can flourish. Collaborating with local leaders across sectors, we co-create solutions that build resilience by strengthening mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. We serve nearly 10 million people in 18 countries so that communities have the agency and resources necessary to realize their God-given potential

FH began working in Uganda in 1988. Our operations in Uganda are in West Nile, Acholi, Lango, Karamoja, Bugisu, and the Busoga Sub-regions of Uganda. FH Uganda (FHU) implements both humanitarian (refugee settlements) and community development programs across 7 area programs; Northern Uganda; Lamwo, Kitgum, and Adjumani, Eastern regions; Mbale, Namutumba, Kween, and Karamoja region; Amudat, Napak, Nakapiripirit and Nabilatuk with the Head office located in Kampala. Using integrated approaches, FHU focuses on four thematic areas – Maternal child adolescent health and nutrition (MCAHN), asset creation, and productive learning.

FH Culture:

All we do, and how we do it, seeks to promote God’s beauty, goodness, and truth in a broken world. As such, we are defined by our ability to make people’s lives measurably better; our ability to deliver impact is the measure of our collective success. For we know that we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has already prepared in advance for us to do. At Food for the Hungry, we operate under a set of values called Heartbeat Values.

EXTERNAL VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

FH/Uganda is actively seeking qualified candidates committed to its Heartbeat and Corporate Strategy to fill the career openings below. Shortlisting will be on a rolling basis;

Job Title: M&E Officer (01 Position)

Position Type: Full-Time National Staff

Location: Lamwo

Reports to: Nutrition Project Coordinator

Contract Length: 1 year (January to December 2024)

Start Date: January 2024 (To be hired on a rolling basis)

Job Summary:

The MEAL Officer will be responsible for effective and high-quality planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and reporting of food for the Hungry Nutrition Project. The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer will also support analysis, and documentation, and facilitate the sharing of insights gained from learning experiences. The post holder will liaise closely with the partners who have established the overall monitoring, verification, and evaluation framework.

Roles and Responsibilities: Project and Programme M&E

Key Result #1: Set up a Robust Monitoring and Evaluation system.

• Support the implementation and ongoing development of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEAL) processes and systems to collect output and outcome-level data.
• Ensure that the WFP project has a solid MEAL plan, Indicator Performance Tracking Tables, a beneficiary database updated regularly, and a log frame fully aligned to the theory of change.
• Update the indicator tracking table every month and provide necessary MEAL guidance regarding project performance.
• Gude and coordinate the review of the project log frame during project design.
• Design data collection instruments used for monitoring, reporting, and evaluation according to agreed guidelines.
• Ensure all monitoring, evaluation, and research activities are conducted in line with Food for the Hungry’s child protection and ethical principles, and consistently promote downwards accountability to beneficiaries.
• Lead in conducting data quality assessment to ensure that data reported is validated, accurate, and consistent while providing feedback as necessary to program teams through normal reporting systems
• Conduct project indicator mapping and develop standard process monitoring tools to track and report project progress.
• Track project performance indicators through activity progress monitoring and provide periodic feedback to project implementation teams during internal reviews
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor the implementation of activities and ensure that MEAL tools and protocols are being followed effectively by identifying breakdowns and areas that require clarifications and improvement,
• Support in developing MEAL plans such as project MEAL plan, tools, survey, design, methodology, and data analysis as requirements for project monitoring and evaluation.

Key Result #2: Data Collection and Analysis

• Coordinate data collection teams and provide the necessary training and coaching for the successful implementation of data collection exercises
• Consolidate and analyze project data provide comprehensive reports of data collection exercises and compile project monitoring information to inform practice and produce, Reports and other documentation for different stakeholder/audience groups.
• In liaison with the Project Coordinator, interpret results and make recommendations for decision-making.
• Ensure all M&E and learning activities uphold a commitment to gender equality, age sensitivity, and the inclusion of marginalized groups,
• Conduct and compile qualitative and quantitative data collection including baselines, mid and Endline surveys, KAP, PDM, WFH, Nutrition assessments, reviews, and QIVC (Quality Improvement Verification Checklist)
• Ensure the health facilities are using the HMIS data collection tools and reports are entered in the DHIS2.
• Conduct data cleaning and analysis every month and produce graphs and reports for monthly and quarterly reporting.

Key Result #3: Program Monitoring and Report Writing

• Coordinate the preparation of all project reports. Guide staff in preparing their progress reports by approved donor reporting formats and ensure timely submission of monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports.
• Organize field visits to monitor program activities/interventions against Quality Benchmarks/Quality Checklists and produce & share reports with the program team as well as the management team based on quality and accountability findings.
• Ensure Routine Monitoring Reporting (RMR) actions and ensure templates are appropriately used and Standard Operating Procedures are followed.
• Ensure project M&E indicators meet the reporting requirements.
• Promote a results-based approach to monitoring and evaluation, emphasizing results and impacts.
• Monitor and evaluate progress towards annual work plans, expected outputs, and project indicators.
• Prepare communication items with useful information on project statistics and other useful documents necessary such as beneficiary database, and fact sheets.
• Prepare proper archive for electronic and hard copy documentation from project monitoring and implementation, beneficiaries lists, distribution lists, training reports, survey reports, monthly progress reports, etc
• To identify beneficiaries to follow up and document success stories or case studies and shall lead visitors or donors during field visits to showcase the outcome and the impact of the project in the community.
• Take a lead and will be responsible for data entry, cleaning analysis, and reporting of the projects promptly.

Key Result #4: Personnel Management

• Supervise MEAL Assistant through capacity building, and mentorships on in-house specialized training.
• Train project staff and teams in the use of M&E and other donor tools required for their roles.
• Support FH Uganda staff in the strategic use of data and information to improve the implementation of projects.
• Design and facilitate M&E training workshops with relevant staff to strengthen potential skill gaps in Programme implementation.
• Ensure the data clerk understands the feedback mechanism and adheres to reporting the feedback from beneficiaries.
• Recruit enumerators, train and supervise data collection exercises, and ensure daily quality checks for survey assessment

Key Result #5: Program Support

• Participate in Monitoring and Evaluation activities/meetings within and outside the project area that will help improve the Monitoring and Evaluation framework of FH Uganda and project implementation.
• Participate and contribute to MEAL project performance review meetings (quarterly, monthly, and annual)
• Assist the Project Coordinator with decision-making on resource allocation based on project priorities and performance
• To work collaboratively with other departments and be a supportive and effective team member.
• Perform other duties assigned by the Project Coordinator and M&E Specialist regarding Monitoring and Evaluation.
• Work regularly in coordination with the area program manager and project coordinator to check and support progress on the implementation of the MEAL activities
• Take the lead in coordinating, compiling, and documenting stakeholder concerns, feedback, and responses through established mechanisms as stipulated in the organization’s standard procedures.

Key Result #6: Coordination and collaboration.

• Ensure quarterly stakeholders’ joint monitoring is conducted in line with the project implementation.
• Participate in coordination meetings and provide the output and the outcome of the project implementation,
• Ensure that the Co-partner has data collection tools and that DNCCs are formed and they are functional.
• Participate in the district performance meeting and other implementing partners.
• Key deliverables
• Effective contribution to the development of project M&E and learning system requirements.
• Timely coordination of inputs required from partners towards quality reports and other program documentation.
• Effective coordination and administration of Programme planning and learning meetings.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience

Education:

A Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Economics and Public Health, Human nutrition, and Social sciences, with specific Postgraduate training in design monitoring and Evaluation from a Recognized institution, is a Must.

Experience:

• A minimum of three (3) years of experience in a similar role with NGOs preferably implementing Health and Nutrition related programs.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation of World Food Program (WFP) funded projects and a good understanding of WFP reporting platforms like Partner Connect.
• Good understanding of nutrition and health standard indicators plus experience implementing nutrition-focused projects.
• Excellent mobile data collection skills and knowledge with good command of any Kobo Collect, ODK, HMIS/DHIS2, etc.
• Proven ability to design MEAL plans and result frameworks.
• Ability to analyze and disseminate complex information to a range of stakeholder audiences.
• Relevant experience in food security, health, and nutrition assessments is a plus.
• Excellent quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills using ENA, SPSS and/or Stata, EPI info, as well as Nvivo/Atlas software, coupled with knowledge of demonstrable track record in data management, with the ability to manage databases.
• Be professional, motivated, open, creative, mature, responsible, flexible, and, culturally sensitive.
• Be willing and able to be based and travel regularly within remote areas, where services are limited.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines good command of both written and spoken English
• Ability to mobilize different audiences
• Passionate about fulfilling FH’s mission of demonstrating the love of Christ to people affected by disaster, conflict, and poverty.
• Develops and maintains good working relationships with colleagues.
• Effectively and efficiently manages all resources entrusted to him/her for work purposes.
• Maintains an attitude and behaviors by FH values and principles.
• Must be able to ride a motorcycle with a valid riding permit.