Introduction

Trade for Jobs Uganda is a five-year initiative (2025–2030) co-led by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). Using a market systems approach, the project leverages trade as a driver for decent job creation and income generation for women and men living in poverty in Uganda, by strengthening two high-potential sectors: dairy and tourism.

The project will build toward national objectives and priorities on developing the production, productivity and value addition of both sectors, as outlined in the National Development Plan (NDP) IV (2025/26-2029/30).
It intends to do this for the project beneficiaries – women and men living in poverty, through:

• Strengthening regional and global trade of dairy products and tourism services, with a focus on micro enterprises and SMEs
• Supporting private sector development for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), including through value addition, diversification, enhancing competitiveness, and improving the business environment
• Engaging with Swedish companies to leverage their expertise, services, products and private investment potential

The project will adopt a market systems approach, as it is an approach that focuses on delivering long-term sustainable impact at scale. The approach is analysis-focused, partner driven, and driven by evidence-based adaptation.
What makes the approach for Trade for Jobs Uganda different is its unique focus on trade as a lever for decent job creation. While many development initiatives address employment or enterprise development in isolation, this project combines the ILO’s expertise in promoting decent work using a market systems approach with ITC’s deep experience in strengthening trade and MSME competitiveness. Together, the two organizations bring a market systems lens to unlock trade-driven growth that delivers not just more jobs - but better, more secure and inclusive employment opportunities.

The project starts with an extended 18-month inception phase that includes project and team set-up, stakeholder and donor coordination, further analyses and initial piloting. It is highly probable that Trade for Jobs will continue for an additional 42-month implementation phase.

Within the policy and procedural requirements established by the ILO and the Trade for Jobs Uganda Project, the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer will be responsible for the design and implementation of an MRM system for the project.

Reporting lines:

The M&E Officer will work under the Direct supervision of the Project Manager (Team Leader) with support from the Deputy Team Leader in ITC. They will work in close collaboration with the remainder of the project team, and more specifically the dairy and tourism portfolio managers, the knowledge and communications officer, and the financial and administrative assistants.

They will also contribute to coordinating and quality checking the work of consultants hired during the project to collect data and support the development and operations of the MRM system, or as indicated by the Project Manager.

Description of Duties

The M&E officer will develop, operationalise, and oversee a results measurement system based on the Donor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED) Standard for Results Measurement. In collaboration with the project team, they will ensure the overall systemic nature of all project activities, effective monitoring and evaluation of project activities and measurement of results. This will include collecting data that can be analysed and used to make strategic decisions as well as closely collaborating with other project team members to ensure the system is fully understood and owned by them.

Specific Duties include:

• Conduct a thorough review of the onor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED) Standard for Results Measurement and identify the key principles and requirements that are relevant to the project.
• Work with the project team to design and establish Intervention Guides for each project intervention based on the key elements of the onor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED) Standard.
• Support the team to develop results chains for the project and for each project intervention.
• Support the project team to identify and measure appropriate indicators to measure intervention progress and change, particularly for changes to trade, MSME growth and competitiveness, employment, gender and youth-related outputs, outcomes, and impact.
• Work closely with the project team and partners to ensure that monitoring and evaluation activities are integrated into project planning, implementation, and reporting, including organising and co-facilitating quarterly project reviews.
• Lead the development and operationalisation of a monitoring plan outlining the specific activities that will be conducted on an ongoing basis to track progress toward project objectives.
• Coordinate and provide support to project staff in MRM system use, including development of research instruments, conduct regular data collection and develop relationships with project partners who contribute to data collection, periodic reviews of the interventions and revision of results chains.
• Support the project team to manage, clean and analyse collected data in a way that optimises reliability and use.
• Prepare reports and presentations to inform project management, donors, and stakeholders about project progress and results based on the onor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED) Standard.
• Work closely with the knowledge and communications officer to produce evidence-based knowledge and learning products.
• Lead training MRM for the project team and, to the extent required, stakeholders and project partners.
• Support the Project Manager and project team in the full integration of the MRM system in the project’s management and the team’s learning.
• Perform any other duties requested by the Project Manager.

Required qualifications

Education

• First level University degree in socio-economic research, business, economics, international development, or another relevant technical field.
• Professional training on MRM/monitoring and evaluation and market systems development (MSD) is desirable.

Experience

• At least three years of relevant professional experience in MRM or M&E, including the development and management of such systems.
• Experience in MRM/M&E in private sector or market systems development programmes and/or with the DCED Standard would be a distinct advantage.
• Experience in market systems or value chain development would be an advantage.

Languages

Excellent command of English (written and spoken).

Competencies

• Strong socio-economic research and analytical skills.
• Ability to conduct performance measurement, selection of indicators, reporting, developing and implementing monitoring plans. perform a variety of conceptual analyses required for formulation, administration and evaluation of projects.
• Good knowledge of programme and budget, project formulation, administration and evaluation techniques and practices.
• Demonstrated ability to consult, negotiate and work with multiple partners, including government, social partners and to foster cooperation and effective networks
• Design and Strategy: Excellent understanding of programmatic design and a good grasp.
• Strong written communication skills, including proven ability to create high-quality written documents.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to justify requirements and approaches to problem resolution, ability to negotiate and good drafting skills.
• Good organizational skills.
• Ability to work on own initiative as well as a member of a team.
• Ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy.
• Good knowledge of PC software (including word processor, spreadsheet and presentation software) such as Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge of the programming cycle (planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation).
• Knowledge of resource mobilization.
• Clear commitment to mainstream gender into project activities.
• Proven ability to analyse and translate data into clear, engaging content for decision making and knowledge production development.
• Ability to organizes and lead project reviews and workshops.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory and inclusive behaviour and attitudes