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Job Title:  Monitoring Evaluation Research and Learning (MERL) Officer

Organisation: Aga Khan Foundation (AKF)

Duty Station:  Kampala, Uganda

About US:

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is an Agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of private, non-denominational development agencies that share a mission to improve the living conditions and opportunities for marginalized communities across some target countries in Africa and Asia. AKF was established by His Highness the Aga Khan in Switzerland in 1967 and began working in East Africa in 1974. Globally, AKF seeks sustainable solutions to long-term problems of poverty, hunger, illiteracy, and ill-health, with special emphasis on the needs of rural communities in mountainous, coastal, and other resource-poor areas. AKF was established in Uganda in 1994 and has been implementing programs focused on Education, Early Childhood Development and Civil Society, aimed at improving the quality of life of all boys and girls, women, and men in the Central and West Nile regions of Uganda. All the Uganda Country programs are embedded in government and community interests and structures, and work to promote social inclusion, equity, and pluralism.

About the Madrasa Early Childhood Development Program

Madrasa Early Childhood Development Program, Uganda (MECPU) is an initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation, that delivers ECD caregivers/teacher training services, as well as community-based programmes and policy engagement with government and other stakeholders. MECPU delivers ECD caregivers/teacher training through the Madrasa Early Childhood Development Institute (MECDI), which was established to provide quality professional development courses for both pre-service and in-service ECD caregivers/teacher trainees. Through its community-based programmes and policy engagement, MECPU supports parenting programs and ECD policy development, dissemination and implementation, and analysis.

Job Summary: The Monitoring Evaluation Research Learning (MERL) Officer will provide overall leadership of the M&E across MECPU’s growing portfolio both within the Central and West Nile Regions. This includes design, coordination and implementation of the monitoring and evaluation, research, and learning framework of both new and existing projects. He/she will develop a systematic monitoring framework to improve the qualitative and quantitative evidence gathered by the Programme. He/she will also provide technical assistance to the Programme Officers, particularly in relation to monitoring and reporting issues. The MERL Officer will report to the Program Director.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

Setting up the system:

• Design and implement a rigorous MEL system to track progress including designing, adapting, preparing, pre-testing and refining of relevant monitoring and evaluation tools.
• Assist in the revision of the project log frame matrix, particularly in the areas of performance indicators and their measurement.
• Assist in the development and/or finalization of the project Work Plan and keep it updated in accordance with project activities and timeframes as relevant.
• Develop the overall framework, for project M&E, for example mid-term project review, impact assessment, final evaluation, develop project Performance Monitoring Plan with relevant data collection systems.
• Review the quality of existing data in the project subject areas, the methods of collecting it, and the degree to which it will provide good baseline statistics for impact evaluation.
• Develop baseline data for each project component and for all project indicators.
• With collaborating partners, review their existing approaches and management information systems and agree on any required changes, support and resources.
• Develop a plan for project-related capacity-building on M&E and for any computer-based support that may be required.
• Organize and undertake training with collaborating partners on M&E as required.
• Develop monitoring and Evaluation tools for the Baseline, Midline and Endline programmes.
• Ensure that all school data and any other data pertaining to the program is analysed and reports provided.

Implementation of M&E and coordination:

• Collect data on a regular basis to measure achievement against the performance indicators.
• Check data quality with programme Staff.
• Liaise with program team in writing termly evaluation reports, collecting statistical data and collecting financial data for each school.
• Maintain and administer the M&E database; analyse and aggregate findings.
• Support project progress reporting, project mid-term review and final evaluation.
• Organize refresher training on M&E for Programme Officers as required.
• Support the Madrasa Association of Uganda in identifying problems within the graduate schools and set solutions to overcome the problems.

Communication and learning:

• Produce reports on M&E findings and prepare presentations based on M&E data as required.
• Provide the Project Director with management information she/he may require.
• Identify lessons learned and develop case studies to capture qualitative outputs of the project. Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Programme Director
• Assist the Programme Director to continuously assess the effects of the program on the communities and the school and provide regular statistical reports

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The ideal applicant must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, Statistics, Economics or related field. Post Graduate qualification in M&E is an added advantage
• Five years of relevant M&E experience
• Experience in Education/ECD programming is desired
• Competent in the use of MS Office software (Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, etc)
• Excellent verbal and written communication and report writing skills is required
• Evidence of understanding of and commitment to child protection and safeguarding as well as other vulnerable populations
• Strong ICT skills and experience with M&E data bases and Management Information Systems (MIS)

How to Apply:

All Candidates interested in this unique career opportunity with Madrasa Early Childhood Programme Uganda (MECPU) an affiliate of the Aga Khan Foundation should submit a two-page cover letter and a maximum three-page CV including the names and contact information of three professional referees. Please apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 12^th November 2021 at 4:30pm

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