This post is contingent on donor funding and donor approval of the candidate. 

About CRS: Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through agriculture, livelihoods, emergency response, HIV, health, education and peacebuilding programming.

CRS programs in Uganda currently support five strategic priority areas, including Health and Social Services Systems Strengthening, Resilient Food Systems, Emergency Preparedness and Management, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, and Local Leadership. CRS Uganda implements its programs through partnerships with local organizations, including international and local NGOs, Ugandan government departments and ministries, the Catholic Church, and community-based organizations for maximum impact and sustainability. CRS Uganda employs around 150 staff and has its main office in Kampala, with sub-offices in Yumbe, Kyangwali, Kasese, Hoima and Tororo.

Job Summary: As Program Manager II for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) of the Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA), you will manage and provide technical oversight of the development and implementation of the MEAL system of a Resilience Food Security Activity. Your technical skills and knowledge will ensure the delivery of high-quality programming and continuously work towards improving the impact of its multi-sectoral programming.

The Program Manager II – MEAL (MEAL Manager) will ensure that the project Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) plan adheres to CRS’ MEAL Policies and Procedures and donor requirements. The Program Manager II – MEAL will be responsible for designing and implementing the MEL Plan of a high-quality program and will work closely with the Strategic Learning Advisor (SLA) to ensure data is used for learning and continuous adaptive management.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight for MEAL activities throughout the project cycle to ensure project design, start-up, implementation and close-out of the RFSA project are in line with CRS quality principles and standards and MEAL policies, procedures, and practices, donor guidelines, and industry best practices. Oversee and manage MEAL system of a complex multi-sectoral program.

• Effectively manage talent for MEAL and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff wellbeing. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports.

• Champion the development of program learning – identify opportunities for learning, research and publications and implementation of MEAL policy. Facilitate the dissemination of promising practices and lessons learned to contribute to the agency knowledge management agenda. Promote the application of learning to improve program quality and to strengthen agency influence among external stakeholders. Ensure integration of MEAL-related innovations and best practices.

• Provide management, guidance, and technical oversight for the development and implementation of high-quality MEAL systems and processes, including ICT4MEAL and the application of responsible data principles as per agency and donor requirements.

• Promote MEAL policies and industry good practices, champion the analysis and use of project performance data to inform decision-making and identify lessons learned. Facilitate connections between colleagues and peers to generate and share evidence-based learning.

• Provide management, guidance and technical oversight for project or program evaluation events and research, including the development of terms of reference or study protocols that include evaluation/learning questions, a balance of qualitative and quantitative methods, appropriate consideration of ethical and data protection standards, and the necessary technical rigor. Oversee the quality of evaluation data through good data management. Support the identification, recruitment, and management of external evaluators or research partners to ensure high quality evaluation, research, and learning.

• Oversee MEAL-related technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities for staff and partner organizations to enhance program quality and impact.

• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of partnerships relevant to MEAL and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.

• Oversee timely and appropriate project MEAL expenditures in line with financial plans and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.

• Provide technical lead for analysis of MEAL data, qualitative and quantitative, for use in learning and adaptive management.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in international development, International Relations or in the field of Monitoring and Evaluation, or Statistics required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in relevant field-based project management experience required, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in MEAL.

• Experience in managing MEAL for complex projects preferably with an international NGO and preferably with RFSAs or similar resilience and food security programming.

• Experience in MEAL management, including MEL Plan design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USAID.

• Experience engaging with partner organizations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions

• Strong relationship management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.

• Good presentation and facilitation skills.

• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.

• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.

• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Required Languages: Professional proficiency in English, Luganda an asset

Travel Required: Position based in Uganda (Kampala or Field Location – TBD). Up to 50% travel to project sites anticipated.

Key Working Relationships: 

Supervisory: Project MEAL staff

Internal: Chief of Party, Head of Programming, Deputy Head of Programming, Country Program staff (MEAL, accountability, ICT, others), Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality, Regional Technical Advisors

External: Partner MEAL staff