Job Title:  Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer 

Organisation: Farm Africa

Duty Station: Eastern Uganda, Uganda

Reports To:  Project Coordinator (AGRA Project)

Duration & Hours: Fixed-term, full-time contract

About Organisation:

Farm Africa is a leading charity that works in partnership with smallholder farmers and small businesses in eastern Africa to improve the quality, quantity and value of their produce, so that they can support their families with more resilient livelihoods. We build the positive case for farming in harmony with nature, so that increasing yields goes hand in hand with restoring ecosystems and biodiversity.

About AGRA Project:

Farm Africa secured a two-year AGRA funded project to support farmers in Eastern Uganda. The project focusses on strengthening markets to facilitate the adoption of high-yielding climate-smart and nutrient-dense seed varieties of maize, beans, and rice by smallholder farmers (SHFs).

Job Summary:   The MEL Officer will focus on maintaining accurate records regarding the project delivery.  S/he will support data collection and ensure that all data is stored digitally for reporting purposes. S/he will receive mentorship from the MEL Coordinator, and throughout the project have the opportunity to support with external M&E consultancies, stakeholder feedback, project review meetings etc and to build their skills and experience. S/he will also work closely with other stakeholders during project implementation.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

To Plan and deliver project monitoring and evaluation activities

• Work in close consultation with the Project Coordinator (PC) to review and prepare the project’s work plan and budget as part of the monthly, quarterly and annual planning process.
• Plan and deliver project monitoring and evaluation activities for AGRA project
• Working with the Project Coordinator (PC), and MEL Coordinator to execute the Monitoring & Learning Plan (MLP) for the AGRA project
• Ensure that the project delivery team fully understand the MLP and the role that they will be playing in ensuring the outcomes of the project and delivered and the data required to demonstrate that
• Develop (as appropriate), and disseminate data collection tools to project delivery staff and ensure that they are fully understood
• Coordinate data collection by the project delivery team – and in particular support the delivery team to integrate regular data collection into their routine activities
• Ensure that all monitoring data as outlined in the MLP and requested by the PC is accurately entered on to the project databases in a timely manner and is readily available to support quarterly donor reporting requirements
• Organise and facilitate bi-annual community feedback sessions
• Work with PC, and MEL Coordinator to plan and deliver baseline survey, annual/quarterly data collection exercises and the final project evaluation.
• Work with the PC and the Project Accountant and Administrator (PA&A) to ensure all activities are planned and conducted according to the organisation’s and the donor’s financial and procurement requirements and procedures

Work with the PC, and MEL Coordinator, to ensure coherent delivery of monitoring, evaluation and learning activities across the entire programme.

• Work with the MEL Coordinator to ensure consistency of approach in indicator reporting for the AGRA Project
• Work with the MEL Coordinator to develop and produce data collection tools for use by project staff and partners
• Work closely with the programme Quality team to ensure their input and review in planning, implementation and reporting of all the above activities

Support project planning and reporting

• Lead regular reviews of the project’s log-frame and data collection plans, and ensure that the project is collecting the breadth of indicators required at a frequency and timing in line with reporting purposes
• Lead on the preparation and reflection processes leading to the annual project performance review (PPR) and ensure integration of the PPR’s conclusion and action points into further project planning
• Support the PC to compile donor reports, and in particular ensure availability and timely cleaning and analysis of both outcome and output data
• Participate in reviews of the project’s work plan and budget as part of the quarterly and annual planning processes
• Work closely with the PC to collect and compile lessons learned, ensure dissemination and maintain dialogue on key project findings

Play key role in delivering the wider objectives of both the AGRA project, and Farm Africa’s work in Uganda.

• Participate in project team meetings as requested by the PC
• Build capacity of local communities, partners and staff on data collection, management, analysis and results-based monitoring principles
• Review and contribute to the development of various project or organisational presentations, reports, or other publications on M&E and knowledge management at Farm Africa.
• Support the implementation of the project’s visibility strategy in line with donor guidelines.
• Contribute to the relevant forum to share M&E and knowledge management experience of the project and contribute to the growth of Farm Africa’s expertise in these areas
• Maintain regular and effective communications with the wider project team, Uganda Country Office
• In consultation with the PC, act as an ambassador, promoting the project and the work of Farm Africa, including hosting visitors, speaking at workshops, conferences and meeting donors and other officials as and when required.
• Contribute to the development of relevant Farm Africa strategies

These essential functions are not to be interpreted as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other job-related duties as required. All work responsibilities are subject to having performance goals and/or targets established.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Essential    

• Relevant academic qualification (Degree or equivalent) in numerate/ analytical subject (e.g. statistics, economics, econometrics, applied social science)
• Demonstrable understanding of monitoring and evaluation principles and practices, including the application of the log frame approach
• Experience of conducting quantitative and qualitative field research and analysis
• Experience in synthesising data and drafting clear written reports/ briefings
• Experience in organising ongoing data collection exercises
• Experience of designing data collection tools and disseminating them to colleagues in the project delivery team
• Experience in designing digital tools using google forms, ODK, Onna among others
• Experience of designing and/or maintaining databases of project information
• Ability to inspire and capacity build colleagues to collect high quality data during their daily project delivery duties.
• Ability to draw key learnings from both qualitative and quantitative data and make project delivery recommendations based upon it
• Strong communication skills (verbal & written)
• Methodical, thorough approach with attention to detail
• Expert in data management and manipulation, especially using Excel

Desirable

• Experience of working in an M&E or knowledge management role in an INGO
• Experience conducting field research in Eastern Uganda

Our Values

Investing in smallholder farming is the number one way to combat poverty in rural Africa. Farm Africa is a leading NGO specialising in growing agriculture, protecting the environment and developing businesses in rural Africa.

• EXPERT: Expertise and insightful evidence-based solutions are at the heart of everything Farm Africa does.
• GROUNDED: Our teams and partners work closely with local communities, engaging them in every level of decision-making.
• IMPACTFUL: We deliver long lasting change for farmers, their families, and the environments they live in.
• BOLD: We model innovative approaches and are not afraid to challenge strategies that are failing.

To apply, please send a CV, salary history, and a two-page supporting statement detailing how you meet the person specification and your availability/notice period to recruitment@farmafrica.org including the job tittle in the subject line.

Please DO NOT send additional documents such as certificates and references with your application. Successful candidates ONLY will be required to provide these documents during the referencing process.

Due to the urgent requirement to fill this position, applications will be assessed and suitable candidates invited for interview on a rolling basis. This may mean that the position is filled before the closing date so qualified candidates are urged to submit their applications promptly.