Monitoring Evaluation Research and Learning (MERL) Coordinator

GOAL is currently seeking to hire a Monitoring Evaluation Research and Learning (MERL) Coordinator to join our Uganda team to managing the Monitoring & Evaluation, Research, Learning and Knowledge Management component of a Climate Smart Land Management and Services programme funded by the British High Commission (BHC) in Kampala and a subcomponent of the Climate Smart Jobs Programme. We are currently at proposal stage and inviting interested and qualified applicants to apply and final consideration will be subject to successful award. The programme will be for 4 years in duration and is expected to begin from April 2022.

The objective of the programme is to preserve, restore and maximise the value of landscape ecosystem in Northern Uganda sustainably and at scale. Focus is on incentivising private sector, individual and community groups to adopt innovative models to deliver this objective. The ultimate beneficiaries of this programme are the households of smallholder farmers in Northern Uganda, who will be able to achieve more sustainable incomes as a result of the intervention. Expected outcomes are 10,000ha of degraded landscape fully regenerated with a forest cover, 2,000ha of smallholder farmer-owned land planted with agroforestry/woodlots and to sequester 1.8 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (projection for 10 years)

The MERL Coordinator is a key management position within the Program Management Unit (PMU) reporting directly to the Team Leader. The MERL Coordinator will be in charge of monitoring and evaluation and measuring the impact of program activities, conducting research and documenting and disseminating learnings. The MERL Coordinator is expected to play an important role in providing leadership to carry out diagnostic and baseline research and ensuring quality of research produced that informs and contributes towards development of interventions.

The MERL Coordinator will oversee the formulation of measurement plans, the design of digital M&E tools, the integration of geo-spatial data into overall data sets, the research and learning agenda, and support the implementation thereof. To achieve these tasks, the MERL Coordinator will closely cooperate with short- and long-term technical assistants and consultants, as well as internally with PMU and consortium partners.

Essential Job Functions

MERL system Development and Implementation

· Lead the development of the vision and strategy for MERL

· Design and update overall Programme MERL plan

· Guide and support the actual implementation of M&E activities, i.e.ensuring smooth collection and analysis of incoming data through training, planning and reviewing the MERL operations

· Organise sense-making processes, with multi-stakeholders at various levels in the land management system

As part of the actual implementation the coordinator is tasked to:

· Plan and manage the baseline ecosystem valuation

· Plan and manage regular diagnostic research

· Plan and manage action research, tracer studies and surveys

· Plan and manage participatory community monitoring

· Plan and support partner level monitoring

Research

· Develop a research agenda for the program in a consultative and participatory manner

· Budget, plan and manage the various research components

· Liaise with, support and monitor the work of research consultants

· Review research reports, or management the quality control process if beyond own expertise

Learning

· Define a multi-actor / level learning strategy for the project

· Develop learning pathways, approaches and tools

· Establish new or strengthen existing learning hubs

· Co-design with stakeholders learning questions and action plans

· Implement the learning activities, internally for GOAL, for the program and the wider “sector”

Knowledge management

· Develop structures to unlock collected data

· Package analyzed data (information) into knowledge products

· Market / disseminate knowledge products internally (for program staff) and externally (local and national stakeholders, donors, development and scientific community**)**

· Organise research webinars, conferences and community of practice-events

· Liaise with national and international research and knowledge institutions

Overall Management

· Identify and manage various Short and Long-Term technical assistance

· Plan, budget and manage annual MERL plans and consultancies

· Support the team in programming, reporting and reflecting on interventions

Capacity development

· Identify skills and capacity gaps within each project and the programme team as a whole

· Organise for training and other interventions to address these gaps.

Other tasks

· Contribute to establishing a team culture grounded in collaboration, openness, and learning

· Perform other duties as assigned by the program director.

Essential Criteria **

· Postgraduate degree in social sciences, development studies or related, relevant subject

· 10 years + work experience and at least five years of demonstrated experience in managing the Monitoring, evaluation, research and learning component of a donor – funded project

· Experience in projects that use a Market Systems Approach

· Experience in managing MERL in programs related to land management, agro-forestry, reforestation, climate-smart agriculture, bio-diversity development

· Experience collaborating and working with both private and public sector actors.

· Experience in working with and managing of (inter-)national consultants and technical advisors

· Familiarity with geo-spatial / remote sensing data collection and analysis

· Strong analytical, communication and training skills

· Ability to travel up to 50% of time from base

General Information:

Safeguarding

Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with GOAL as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.

Accountability within GOAL

Alongside our safeguarding policy, GOAL is an equal opportunities employer and has a set of integrity policies. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability:

• Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols.
• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area.
• Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a GOAL staff or partner.

GOAL

Established in 1977, GOAL is an international humanitarian agency, with a global team of 2,400 personnel, dedicated to alleviating the needs of the most vulnerable communities. Currently operating in 14 of the world’s most vulnerable countries, GOAL delivers a wide range of humanitarian and development programmes, ranging from humanitarian relief in disaster situations, to focusing on nutrition, food security, and building greater resilience and sustainable livelihoods

General description of the country programme:

First operational in Uganda in 1979, the current GOAL Uganda country programme focuses on Health (including WASH, Health Accountability and Nutrition programming); and a market based systems approach to improving agricultural livelihoods and WASH. GOAL Uganda mainstreams gender, child protection, social behaviour change and resilience strategies across all programming. GOAL works on a district focused approach and uses a mixture of direct implementation and partnerships with national and international civil society organizations, local government, the private sector and communities to give effect to our mission.

This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available. GOAL reserves the right to change this document, it not be viewed as an inflexible specification as it may be varied from time to time in the light of strategic developments and following discussion with the post holder.

Details of remuneration package and benefits

Our package includes a competitive salary, health insurance cover for up to 3 dependents, comprehensive 24 hour personal accident cover, terminal benefits equivalent to one month for each completed year of service and our working hours provide for a half day on Fridays. GOAL promotes a learning and development environment with training & study opportunities aligned to our staff development policy. Open to Uganda national applicants only.