Project SUMMARY

The CAtalyzing Strengthened policy aCtion for heAlthy Diets and resiliencE (CASCADE) is a EURO 60 million project funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented across six countries: Uganda, Nigeria, Benin, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Mozambique. The overall goal of CASCADE is to improve food security and contribute to the reduction of malnutrition of at least 5 million women of reproductive age and children under 5.  In Uganda, the project will be implemented across five regions (Karamoja, West Nile, Northern, Southwestern, Eastern) through a CARE-led consortium including GAIN, Food Rights Alliance, Africa Innovations Institute and Kyambogo University.  The project will work with government, business, and communities to foster an enabling environment for nutrition actions by advocating for increased investments for nutrition and completion of Uganda’s nutrition policy document.

Job SUMMARY

The MEAL Advisor (MA) is responsible for functionality and quality implementation of MEAL function across CASCADE project. Responsible for developing relevant and feasible MEAL tools and processes, building capacity of staff and partners to use these tools and processes, and providing ongoing technical support and accompaniment required for this to happen. The MA will ensure that CARE’s Program Quality and Learning (PQL) markers are embedded at across program design, implementation and close-out stages and progress is measured and reported regularly. S/he will ensure that research and evaluations are rigorous in generating new knowledge and credible evidence and that learning leads to adaptation and innovations. The MA will contribute to program design specifically to ensure that credible evidence is being used, program logic (Results Framework, Logical Framework, Theory of Change) and respective measurement frameworks are robust and that MEAL resources are appropriately and sufficiently budgeted for in the range of 5-10% of total budget. The MA will ensure effective knowledge management for the project, such that knowledge is accessible, shareable, transferable, and usable by all relevant stakeholders.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Establish and maintain a robust MEAL System (20%)

·        Responsible for establishing, managing, and ensuring effective utilization of the MEAL system by all programme staff and partners.

·        The MEAL system should cover the whole program cycle and include learning, monitoring, evaluation, research and learning, accountability, and reporting.

·        The MEAL system should be able to provide real time data for adaptation of existing programs and decision making and should hence be digital to the extent possible.

·        The MEAL system should include critical elements of operations, finance, grants, logistics and human resources performance data for decision making.

·        The MEAL system should enable the country office to data-driven and evidence-based, pushing boundaries for data for decision making.

Program QUALITY and LEARNING (30%)

·        The MA is responsible for ensuring that Program Quality and Learning (PQL) is prioritized throughout the program cycle.

·        Ensure CMs embrace and embed CARE quality markers across the programme using the established PQL reporting system including the quarterly program dashboards, Advocacy, and Influencing Impact Reporting (AIIR) tool and the Project and Program Information and Impact Reporting System (PIIRS).  

·        Maintain a solid PQL field footprint and consistent presence across all field locations (hubs) where the program is implemented in the country.

·        The MA will ensure quality, transparency, timeliness and consistency of reports and the reporting mechanism.

·        Support the CM to ensure credible evidence is used by the program to engage in PQL platforms including monthly Program Review Meetings (PRMs) and quarterly PQL learning workshops.

Research, Evaluation and Knowledge Management (20%)

·        Responsible for baseline, mid-line, and end-line evaluations.

·        Ensure the program invests in research and evaluations to generate new knowledge (learning) and credible evidence.

·        Working with Consortium Manager (CM), the MA will ensure that research and evaluations budgets are sufficient (in the range of 5-10% of total budget)

·        Ensure knowledge management is effective and efficient, whereby knowledge products and credible evidence are accessible, shareable, transferable, and used by relevant people in real time.

Team Leadership and Capacity Building for Staff and Partners (10%)

·        Promote continuous learning and professional development of the MEAL team through on-job learning, relevant exposures, and appropriate stretch assignments.

·        Ensure transparent and visible workflow through Microsoft TEAMs and appropriate digital platforms.

·        Ensure that annual performance goals and regular evaluations of supervised staff are concluded in time.

·        Ensure that all CARE staff and partners are properly oriented on the MEAL system, tools and processes and that staff and partners continue to receive technical support and accompaniment for new or complex MEAL tools and processes.

Contribute to Program Design (10%)

·        Responsible for supporting review of program logic model including Theory of Change, Logical Framework, and Results Framework or Results Chain.

·        Ensuring that the results statements and indicators are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time bound) and gender transformative.

·        Ensure that the targets and impact groups are well defined.

·        Program design embrace and embed critical indicators from the quality (gender, resilience, and governance) markers in all program designs.

Promote Gender Equity and Diversity & Safeguarding Practices (5%)          

·        Practice a behaviour that is consistent with CARE’s core values, and promotion of gender equity and diversity goals.

·        Plays a leadership role in identifying and implementing initiatives that enhance CARE’s commitment to gender and diversity.

Any other duties assigned from time to time (5%)

·        Take on stretch assignments assigned by management.

WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THE TABLE

Education

Masters in Monitoring & Evaluation or relevant field of study from a reputable university. Equivalent post-graduate studies will be considered.

Core competences

·        A Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience with reputable organisations in similar roles.

·        Experience in networking and strategic relationships management and engagements. 

·        Experience in gender transformative approaches.

·        Experience in research, analytical writing, advocacy, and policy influencing.

Skills

·        In using quantitative data Analysis software like SPSS or STATA or Excel.

·        Conceptual abilities, strategic thinking, and analytical writing skills.

·        Leadership and interpersonal skills.

·        Good communication, presentation, discussion, and negotiation skills.

·        Good research, learning, evidence-generation, policy debate and advocacy skills.

·        Organizing skills and capacity to multi-task in rapidly changing & fast-paced environments.