Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) Coordinator at GOAL Uganda, Kabarole

Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) Coordinator
Location: Kabarole District with travel to Hoima
Reports to: Head of MEAL, matrix to ASTYE Program Lead

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 Coordinator role for ASTYE is a strategic position based in Fort Portal, Uganda, responsible for overseeing the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning systems for the programme. The MEAL Coordinator will design and implement a comprehensive MEAL strategy, review/develop results frameworks and monitoring plans, establish management information systems and ensure quality data collection and analysis using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies including outcome harvesting and systems change measurement.

The role requires leading all aspects of MEAL implementation including conducting baselines and evaluations, managing databases, ensuring accountability through community feedback mechanisms, and facilitating organizational learning through regular events and high-quality communication materials. The coordinator will provide capacity building and technical support to GOAL and partner teams, manage the MEAL team and budget, conduct field visits for quality assurance, and ensure all data management complies with protection and compliance measures. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, proficiency in statistical software and data visualization tools, and excellent team management and communication skills.

Job Functions

Strategic MEAL Leadership

• Utilizing both quantitative and qualitative (outcome harvesting) methodologies, individual case management at scale and systems change measurement to inform the design of a comprehensive monitoring, evaluation, adaptation and learning strategy for the ASTYE programme.
• Build/review the ASTYE MEAL systems in line with both the Mastercard Foundation and GOAL priorities in collaboration with the Programme Management Unit.
• Draft/review ASTYE MEAL Strategy, results frameworks, monitoring plans, indicators, data collection tools and plans.
• Provide capacity building, technical support, and training to ASTYE’s programme teams and partners on all areas of MEAL.
• In coordination with Head of MEAL, support the design, implementation and quality assurance of ASTYE Programme Management Information System (MIS) and SCORE- GOAL’s system for consolidating and reporting MEAL information.
• Lead the establishment and implementation of Programme Community Feedback Mechanism (CFM) ensuring accessible, safe, confidential and responsive feedback channels.
• Establish and lead learning capture processes with ASTYE programme teams and partners, including facilitating regular forums to discuss lessons learnt and their application to future programming.
• Monitor and report on program progress, providing feedback to the GOAL country Head of MEAL and the PMU.

ASTYE MEAL System

System research

• Provide technical backstopping to the design and collection of any agrifood system mapping and analysis

Monitoring

• Train and mentor, the GOAL and partner teams in the monitoring systems and provide technical backstopping on a regular basis.
• Ensure standardization of MEAL tools used by ASTYE programme and MEAL teams, including monitoring and reporting tools, SoPs, Data Aggregation tools and guidelines,
• Lead on training and orientation sessions to ensure harmonization of and monitoring systems.
• Conduct data quality assessments to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Conduct regular field visits to assess the utilization of MEAL systems and identify areas for improvement.

MIS Management

• Ensure data management & storage complies with GOAL’s global policies, data protection, and compliance measures.

Adaptation

• Ensure that program data is fed back to the GOAL and partner teams on a monthly basis in a format that they can engage with for adaptive program management.

Accountability

• Develop and implement ASTYE programme accountability strategy aligned with GOAL and donor requirements
• Ensure effective oversight and smooth running of ASTYE programme Community Feedback Mechanism.
• Ensure communities are well informed about project objectives, entitlements, complaint and feedback channels.

Evaluation

• In coordination with Head of MEAL, lead the design and analysis of data from baselines, annual and end-line surveys and assessments.
• Lead on the development of Terms of Reference (TOR) and implementation of studies, surveys and assessments (rapid and comprehensive) ensuring the effective participation of all project stakeholders.
• Coordinate/support processes of all (internal and external) field surveys, baseline studies, mid-term and terminal evaluations.
• In collaboration with the Head of MEAL, ensure that the results of surveys and ongoing monitoring, including consultations with beneficiaries, is made available in a user-friendly format for informed program design and decision-making.

Learning

• Enhance programme learning through analysis of relevant programme data and presentation using suitable data visualization techniques to support the evidence-based decision making for programme development and planning purposes.
• Support periodic learning reviews, after-action reviews, and programme reflection processes to drive adaptive management and innovation.
• Ensure that Lessons generated from programme and MEAL activities are tracked and addressed and promote effective participation of the MEAL team in Programme Review and Planning meetings

Internal and External Communications

• Development and implementation of a communication strategy in line with the ASTYE program priorities
• Ensure the development and dissemination of high-quality communication and learning materials, such as learning briefs, case studies, success stories, newsletters, blogs, photo journals, and videos in cooperation with the PMU and partners.
• Ensure compliance with ASTYE programme and GOAL Global communications and branding protocols and standards.
• Facilitate cross-departmental learning events, including regular learning events.

Budget management

• Work closely within the PMU and lead the development of MEAL budgets that relate to annual work plans.

People Management

• Inspire and empower when managing relationships up, down and horizontally.
• Build skills and confidence in the MEAL systems across the program team and partners.
• Strengthen the capacity of partners MEAL teams across all functions – monitoring, evaluation, accountability, adaptive management and learning.
• Provide inspirational management of direct line management team members as well as matrix managed teams in line with GOAL HR policy.
• Develop effective professional technical relationships with the PMU responsible for design, implementation, management and measurement of the program.
• Plan and coordinate monthly MEAL team meetings and contribute to monthly ASTYE program meeting.

Job Level Specifications

Essential Criteria

• Master’s Degree in Statistics, Economics, Social Sciences, Development Studies.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in MEAL, preferably in the development sector with a focus on agriculture, farming systems and or market systems development with 5years at a senior technical level.
• Strong knowledge of MEAL methodologies and tools, including qualitative and quantitative approaches.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing MEAL systems and strategies.
• Excellent data analysis and report writing skills.
• Proficiency in statistical software (e.g., SPSS, STATA) and data visualization tools.
• Ability to manage a team and work collaboratively across departments.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in participatory MEAL
• Experience in capacity building and training.
• Knowledge of data protection and compliance measures.
• Proficiency in database management systems.

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.