JOB OVERVIEW:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has received confirmation for funding from Save the Children under the Uganda Education Consortium funded by the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) to implement an eight-month project titled ‘Watoto Wasome – meaning ‘Children Learn.’ Watoto Wasome is an initiative aimed at responding to challenges relating to early access to learning, protection and play opportunities for children aged 3-6 years with sustainable, community-driven solutions at the household and community levels in Imvepi and Palabek settlements. In households, IRC will support responsive caregiving by working collaboratively and closely with caregivers and parents to ensure that they are in the drivers’ seat for the care, protection, learning and development of their children, to improve holistic nurturing care. Our entry point will largely be working with and at the early childhood development (ECD) centers and parents of the children in the supported ECD centers. IRC will work closely and collaboratively with local leaders such as refugee welfare committees, IRC’s women and girls' centers and other existing structures to better engage the parents. The project will contribute to the achievement of three key project outcomes:

• Improved access and retention to inclusive and gender transformative learning and training opportunities,
• Improved delivery of quality education and training, and
• Strengthened systems for effective and resilient service delivery.

The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) Officer reports to the MEAL Manager with dotted line reporting to the ECD Senior Officer. The MEAL Officer works closely with program teams to optimize monitoring capabilities and opportunities, evaluation, accountability, and learning for the Education Cannot Wait (ECW)- Watoto Wasome Project to ensure high-quality programming for the clients we serve and to support the overall ambitions of the of IRC's Strategy100 and the country's strategic action plan. The MEAL Officer supervises and implements MEAL project activities working with the project staff in the field locations of Terego and Lamwo collecting routine data for project learning and reporting.   

Specific Responsibilities: 

Technical implementation of project activities:

•  In collaboration with the project team and the Consortium Management Unit (CMU), lead the design and development of project monitoring and evaluation tools.
•  Continuously update project MEAL, and measurement tools and systems in a timely manner.
•  With support from the project Manager, the MEAL Officer will implement MEAL plans, revise (digital) data collection tools, follow up on processes for online data management, quality checks, and audits, and updating of data visualization.
•  Identify, document, and share client feedback to improve services and results for our clients
•  Take a lead in the deployment of surveys such as baseline and end line, assessments, and the commission of evaluations in coordination with the project teamr and the sector Coordinator and other relevant actors.
•  Support the research work under the ECW-Watoto Wasome project aimed at generating learning and credible evidence to support the improvement, expansion, and sustainability of the programming.
•  With the support of ECD Manager and the Project Manager, ensure that learning from the project implementation and research is incorporated into project implementation and improvement plans

Coordination, representation, and partner/stakeholder relationships:

• Ensure close collaboration with the field-based team members and consistency in protocols, information, and reporting systems in line with Consortium Management Unit requirements
• At the field level, collaborate with the ECD Senior Officer to ensure weekly and monthly coordination meetings are well coordinated and documented
• Work in collaboration with settlement and community leadership in (and partners) in identification and selection of clients and delivery of project activities
• Make referrals to the appropriate actors where necessary.
• Maintain respectful and constructive relations with partner organisations, local authorities, and humanitarian actors.
• In coordination with the ECD Senior Officer and Field Coordinator, attend zonal and sector working group coordination meetings at the settlement and sub counties of operation whenever required and provide detailed reports as required.

Monitoring, reporting and communication responsibilities

•  Lead the MEAL Session during project review meeting to present progress on project indicators with comparison to targets and to crosscheck whether project activities are implemented as per planned timeline.
•  Take the lead in tracking ECW- Watoto Wasome project progress by work plans, indicators, and targets.
•  Coordinate field-level monitoring, client responsiveness and evaluation activities, reflective practice, and outcome measurement.
•  Ensure the on-time execution of project monitoring, accountability, and evaluation events including but not limited to needs assessments, baseline survey, final evaluation, data quality audits, project monitoring, and field supervision.
•  Support the field organization of data collection on surveys, client satisfaction surveys, and client feedback data collection systems.
•  Provide technical assistance to project staff, partners, and incentive workers on information management systems, data collection and record keeping,
•  Update the MEAL plan and indicator trackers timely and provide feedback to program staff, partners, and other stakeholders on the status and the quality of implementation. (Quarterly performance indicator analysis, including generation of reports as well as presentations for staff related to ongoing performance;)
•  Conduct regular data quality checks and verification exercises to ensure reporting and collection of quality data.
•  Actively participate in and contribute to MEAL team activities, system assessments, development, and implementation of new systems and/or tools aimed at strengthening overall MEAL practices for ECW-Watoto Wasome project.
•  Provide MEAL inputs for reports written during project implementation.

Other Duties

• In collaboration with the MEAL Manager, support the technical training of partners, project staff and incentive workers. 
• Support in the recruitment and onboarding of ECD Caregivers and volunteers and any incentive workers.

Qualifications

Personal qualities:

•  Works well in the refugee contexts and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.
•  Demonstratable ability to engage and build excellent working relationships with local partner organizations, create synergies while implementing the project is vital.   

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development, Education, social sciences, development studies or related field.
• Post graduate Diploma in Project planning and Management is desirable.

Work Experience:

·         At least 3 years of experience of working in a team, implementing donor projects

·         Experience working in humanitarian settings is added advantage.

·         Experience in community based ECD programming, and/or child nutrition programming, coordination, and stakeholder analysis.

·         Experience in working closely with partners at community level.  

·         Experience in coordination within teams and with other stakeholders.

·         Prior experience in developing project implementation work-plans and project reporting

Language Skills:

·           Fluency in English Language both written and spoken is required

·           Ability to speak the local language is desired; Knowledge of other local languages (Arabic, etc.) is an added advantage.

Requirements:

·     Standards for Professional Conduct:

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity

We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply.

 IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we value diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request reasonable accommodation.

This position is only for Ugandan nationals to apply: IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.