Position : Senior MEL Officer (for Nationals only)**

Starting date : February 2021**

Duty station : Kampala**

Reports to : Consortium Coordinator**

Date of posting : 12th January 2021**

ABOUT ZOA

We are here for our neighbours in need, who are suffering in this broken world.

ZOA, as an international NGO, supports people who have lost everything due to armed conflict or natural disaster. Together, we can come to their aid in emergencies and remain faithful to communities as they recover – providing new opportunities for them to help themselves again. The work of ZOA is coordinated from the Netherlands. We are active in multiple countries in Africa, South America, the Middle East Region, and Asia. We work with approximately 900 employees worldwide and with (local) partners. We invite you to join our team of committed colleagues.

In Uganda, ZOA has offices in Kampala, West Nile (Arua), Acholi (Nwoya), and Karamoja (Amudat). ZOA Uganda works both in relief and recovery on the themes of food security & livelihoods, WASH, primary/accelerated/vocational education, and conflict management with a special focus on land security.

ZOA is looking for a:

Senior MEL Officer

The Senior MEL Officer will be responsible for the reporting and monitoring of the output, outcome and impact indicators as defined in the MEL-KM Framework (We are Able! Consortium level and Uganda level). As a part of monitoring, the Senior MEL Officer will identify gaps in information and make recommendations for collection of the data for indicators at country level. The Senior MEL Officer will also ensure that data collection (both in terms of process and content) facilitates learning as described in the Knowledge Management Plan.

We are Able! works in six African States (Burundi, DR Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia) as well as in the Netherlands and has as main objective ‘Co-creating inclusive governance for access to basic resources that leaves no-one behind’.

We are able! wants to see People with Disabilities (PWDs) improving their right to food and food security by creating an enabling environment for right-to-food action at grassroots level.

In Uganda the We are Able! Consortium consists of (I)NGOs, namely ZOA as lead, NUDIPU and Light for the World (LftW). In addition, The Hague Academy (THA) and Vereniging Nederlandse Gemeenten Internationaal (VNGi) have been subcontracted under this grant.

WeAreAble! is being financed by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the Power of Voices subsidiary framework and runs from January 1st 2021 until December 31st 2025.

Place in organisation

The Senior MEL Officer will be employed by ZOA Uganda and is line managed by the Consortium Coordinator for We are Able! Uganda. The Senior MEL Officer will be supported by the ZOA M&E Coordinator (for technical support and quality aspects), and also reports technically to the MEL-KM Working Group Coordinator in the Netherlands.

The position is recruited at Senior M&E Officer level in the ZOA Uganda Salary Scale (scale 4).

Responsibilities and activities

• The Senior MEL Officer works with the Consortium Coordinator Uganda and the MEL focal points in the respective member and/or partner organisations to create and operate a functional monitoring and evaluation system at country level that gathers performance data at output, outcome and impact level based on objectives and indicators contained in the WaA! MEL-KM Framework;
• Work with MEL focal points in the respective member and/or partner organisations to ensure the collection of relevant and appropriate data for the Knowledge Management Plan;
• Lead and facilitate local analysis and interpretation of MEL information as an input to regular narrative reports covering progress of the WaA! Programme. (The Consortium Coordinator Uganda is end responsible for the narrative reports);
• Promote the utilization of the collected data at country level for adjustments in planning and implementation (adaptive programming);
• Facilitate capacity building for implementing partners to enable them to monitor and evaluate their own efforts, gather and analyse relevant data and produce required progress reports;
• Assist the local WaA! member organisations, local partners and major stakeholders in the strategic use of data and information to improve impact of the programme;
• Convene and chair regular country platform meetings with the MEL focal points of consortium member organisations to collectively:
  • analyse and interpret of MEL information;
  • discuss MEL related issues;
  • exchange MEL expertise and experiences between the consortium partners.
• Coordinate internal and external evaluations (including baseline) at country level, in close collaboration with the MEL-KM team in The Netherlands;
• Perform other duties assigned by the Consortium Coordinator Uganda regarding monitoring and evaluation as necessary;
• The MEL country officer acts as the main contact person for the MEL-KM working group in the Netherlands.

Characteristics of role

The Senior MEL Officer will be based in Kampala. Regular field visits to the project locations is anticipated (up to 50% field time).

In Kampala the Senior MEL Officer will be based at the ZOA office but may wish to also spend time working from partner offices, space permitting.

The role is 1.0 FTE (40 hrs/ week). Working hours are outlined in the ZOA Uganda Conditions of Service. Some flexibility on working hours may be required, e.g. for travel at weekends, or during reporting times.

Competencies – knowledge and experience

• Graduate degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Sociology, Anthropology, Development Studies, etc.);
• At least two years’ experience in:
  • Participatory assessment and monitoring;
  • (Computerized) data processing and analysis, e.g. statistical software such as SPSS;
  • Training of individuals and groups (e.g. for data collection);
  • MEL design and implementation.
• Good understanding of the Uganda context; experience in West Nile and/or Acholi region is a plus;
• Excellent facilitation and communication skills;
• Ability to organise and train MEL office staff;
• Good contextual knowledge related to civil society/community assessment (i.e. Local community priorities, social and cultural constraints and local political and economic environment);
• Experience with sign language is a plus;
• Experience of working with People with Disabilities is a plus.

Competencies – behaviour

• Commitment to ZOA’s mission, vision and values (see https://www.zoa-international.com/corporate-identity/);
• Good interpersonal, organizational and intercultural sensitivity;
• Able to plan and coordinate and work in an organized manner;
• Able to bridge differences and bring people together;
• High integrity;
• Motivated;
• Able to work independently.