MEAL Specialist at GOAL Uganda, Kabarole

Job Title: MEAL Specialist
Location: Kabarole District with travel to districts of implementation
Reports to: MEAL Coordinator

Application Deadline: 8th March 2026

Program Background

The Agrifood System Transformation for Youth Employment (ASTYE) Uganda program

ASTYE is a 5-year transformative initiative designed to enable dignified and fulfilling work opportunities primarily for financially disadvantaged young women, refugees, and vulnerable groups by addressing structural barriers in Uganda’s Agrifood system. Aligned with Uganda’s Vision 2040, the National Development Plan and Government of Uganda Agriculture Value Chain Development Strategy, the program will contribute to national efforts toward poverty alleviation, economic growth, as well food and nutrition security. Additionally, ASTYE is part of the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy in Uganda, which aims to empower 4.3 million young Ugandans, particularly young women, by addressing structural barriers to employment and providing them with the skills and resources to succeed.

Specifically, GOAL will implement component one to reach 500,000 financially disadvantaged young people, with 456,000 transiting into work and 336,000 securing dignified and fulfilling work. As the program is young women-centric, 80% of the total outreach target will be young women within Uganda’s agrifood ecosystem. Furthermore, 5% of the total youth in work target will be refugees, and another 5% will be people with disabilities.

Job summary

The MEAL Specialist will be in charge of monitoring, evaluating and measuring the impact of program activities, conducting research and documenting and disseminating learnings. The MEAL Specialist is expected to play an important role in the implementation of ASTYE program and GOAL’s MEAL functions to enable efficient review and monitoring of the implementation of partnerships with intervention partners (e.g., private sector, CSOs/CBOs); and to understand whether expected results are delivered. The MEAL Specialist will be supported by GOAL global MEAL, MIS and data teams. He/Sheshe will also be supported by the Programme Management Unit.

Job Functions

Implementation of MEAL Strategy and System: 

• Lead the implementation of the overall Program MEAL plan and system.
• Develop and streamline intervention specific tools and MEAL plans of the implementing program partners.
• Collaborate and lead the team in drafting intervention specific results chains, indicators, and data collection plans for the Program.

Data Collection, verification, Analysis, and Reporting: 

• Support the design and roll-out of data collection tools (e.g., surveys) and training programs
• Analyze data from research and studies to generate insights and evidence for decision-making. These include diagnostic market research/baseline, barrier analysis, Action research, Tracer studies and annual surveys.
• Generate relevant regular reports from the database to inform programming and decision making.
• Participate in the program quarterly report writing ensuring alignment with shared measures.
• Regularly monitor implementation quality, verify reported data and engage with partners
• Manage data flow to ensure timely data collection and reporting.
• Conduct data quality assessments to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Ensure data management & storage complies with GOAL’s global policies (e.g. Uganda’s data protection policy) and funding partner requirements.
• Review partner monthly implementation and progress reports.
• Ensure data analysis and reports inform programmatic decision-making for improved impact.

Team Management and capacity Building

• Supervise the MEAL officers both at GOAL and partner organisations to achieve objectives of the program.
• Develop and update monthly and annual work plans for the MEAL team both at GOAL and partner organisations.
• Build Capacity of MEAL officers at GOAL and partner organisations to use and test key tools and to improve performance monitoring and conduct training sessions of staff in results-based management and effective monitoring of indicators.

Accountability and Learning

• Oversee stakeholders, participants, and community feedback mechanisms to ensure Program accountability.
• Implement a collaborative learning agenda across the program interventions and partners.
• Ensure program learnings and results are documented, shared, and used to guide adaptive management
• Facilitate learning activities, including monthly MEAL team meetings, quarterly Program meetings and Learning events.

Job Level Specifications

Essential Criteria 

• Postgraduate qualifications in Monitoring and Evaluation or Project Management
• Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Economics, Social Sciences or project management
• 5 years experience in designing and implementing MEAL systems within an NGO/development sector with at least 3 years in a similar role.
• Strong technical understanding of monitoring, Evaluation and Learning across multiple partners
• Knowledge of MEAL methodologies and tools, including qualitative and quantitative approaches.
• Proficiency in statistical software and data visualization tools.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in capacity building and training.
• Knowledge of data protection and compliance measures.
• Proficiency in database management systems.
• Ability to manage a team and work collaboratively across departments
• Excellent data analysis and report writing skills.
• Experience working in agriculture and or market systems development projects

General Terms and Conditions

At GOAL we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please just contact our Recruitment Team at recruitment@ug.goal.ie

GOAL Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
GOAL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all employees. We foster an inclusive culture where all voices are heard and valued. We know that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

All employees share in the responsibility for fulfilling GOAL’s commitment to equal employment opportunity and equal treatment. GOAL does not discriminate against any employee on the basis of sex, race, colour, ethnic background, tribe, birth, creed or religion or social or economic standing, political opinion, disability.

Code of Conduct and Accountability within GOAL

GOAL is an equal opportunities employer and has values and behaviours framework which defines our code of conduct. 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, data protection and 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.

Safeguarding

Children and vulnerable adults a must be safeguarded to the maximum 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.

GOAL 

Established in 1977, GOAL is an international humanitarian agency and works with the most vulnerable communities to help them respond to and overcome humanitarian crises, and to assist those facing poverty and exclusion achieve greater resilience and well-being. GOAL envisions a world beyond humanitarian crises where poverty no longer exists, where vulnerable communities exposed to shocks and stresses are resilient, where barriers to well-being are removed and where everyone has equal rights and opportunities.

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); and a market-based systems approach to improving agricultural livelihoods and WASH. GOAL Uganda mainstreams gender, child protection, social behavior changes and resilience strategies across all programming. GOAL 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.

GOAL Uganda has a skilled team of over 110 personnel and has a head office in Kampala and field offices in 7 locations across Northern, Southwestern and Eastern regions of Uganda.  GOAL Uganda’s donors include the Mastercard Foundation, charity: water, Irish Aid, The Kingdom of Netherland Embassy in Uganda (EKN) and other private donors.

Interested applicants who meet the requirements should apply through the link with at least 3 reference contacts (current or former Line Manager) from the last three employers and daytime contact number by 8th March 2026.