Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer Child’s i Foundation

Child’s i Foundation was established in Uganda in 2009 and works towards advocating child rights and creating community-based alternatives to orphanages. We are a small non-profit with a big impact and work with governments, national partners, and our worldwide network of supporters to highlight the harm and cost of orphanages in Uganda and globally. We’re helping to reimagine the whole child protection and care system, repurpose orphanages and rebuild services at the heart of communities that are designed to strengthen and support birth, foster and adoptive families. Because every child needs a loving family, we are Child’s i.

JOB PURPOSE:
Support a culture and practice of reliable planning, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and reporting. This includes updating and coordinating monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities & events, systems & databases which integrate the cross-cutting targets and results across all programmes to ensure accountability to all stakeholders.

KEY JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
MEAL Tools and Data Management (40%)
Work with programme staff and managers to ensure the collection of relevant 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 on donor commitments.
• Develop baseline data for each project component and all project indicators
• Monitoring of program activities to ensure relevant and up to date data is collected and strengthen feedback mechanism.
• Oversee the Data Management Information system in relation to MEAL requirements

Monitoring & Reporting (35%)
• Ensure the accuracy, relevance and timeliness of data as reflected on the strategy KPIs and external reports to donors, local government, partners and beneficiaries.
• Contribute to proposals being developed by supporting proposal teams in developing logical frameworks, establishing targets incorporating impact indicators
Provide alert to the respective programme officers/ managers, on corrective actions required to avoid delays in implementation, including flagging operational issues and risks requiring timely actions.
• Support project managers in coordinating quality assurance and performance monitoring activity across the organization
• Prepares appropriate inputs for various project / programme reports including annual reports and contributes to other reports required by the MEAL manager

Learning, Accountability and Capacity Building (25%)
• Support learning across the programme team by contributing to the process of quarterly evidence reviews and provide inputs which feed into reporting (Quarterly reports and annual report)
• Develop a plan of project related capacity building on M&E and for any Data Management Information System (DMIS) support that may be required.
• Identify areas where project support is required. Together with MEAL manager organize refresher training on M&E for staff as required.
• Prepare and train program staff and implementation partners on project and program design, monitoring and evaluation concepts, skills and tools
• Contribute to evaluation support process as may be required i.e preparing various TORs for the Evaluation, providing relevant information to inform successful evaluation process.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS:
Education, Knowledge & Working experience
• Significant monitoring and evaluation experience (4 years+) in humanitarian, child programming or development contexts
• Understanding of Child protection and the process as well as or experience of working with organisations that focus on Child protection is favorable.
• Degree, preferably in statistics, information management, management, social Sciences or related fields
• Strong knowledge and proven experience on developing and analysing logical and conceptual framework
• Knowledge of the major evaluation methodologies (qualitative, quantitative, mixed method, and impact) and data collection and analysis methodologies
• Computer literacy and excellent documentation skills are a must. Microsoft office especially Word, Spreadsheets (Excel), Access, SPSS applications, experience in planning and managing surveys, developing and refining data collection tools, with data quality assessments and oversight
• Experience of writing and presenting reports and briefings

Skills and Abilities
• Excellent written and oral communications skills in English
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a diverse team and manage complex and sensitive organizational relationships
• Proven ICT skills especially in the development of MIS software using database software
• Ability to manage complex workloads and deliver work to tight deadlines
• Ability to travel frequently
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment, set priorities, and meet deadlines
• Ability to synthesize complex information and communicate it effectively to diverse audiences; ability to design and implement efficient workflows and procedures
• Strong attention to detail, organizational, and time management skills
• Skills in research and documentation

Personal Attributes:
• Outgoing and proactive personality
• Self-motivation, high level of initiative and sense of responsibility
• Willingness to work out of office hours occasionally when necessary
• Proven ability to work as a member of a team
• Ability to work independently and with minimal direction or supervision
• Interest in alternative care and child protection issues
• Professional, motivated, flexible and culturally sensitive

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS (CONTACTS)
Internal contacts
• Programme Leads to gather accurate, relevant and timely data.
• Senior practitioners and social workers

External contacts
• Government officials
• Partner organisations