Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Officer - SAYE (2 Positions)

Description

KEY PURPOSE OF DEPARTMENT

Heifer International in partnership with Mastercard Foundation (MCF) is implementing the SAYE project in 11 districts in Busoga and 3 districts in Buganda sub-regions. The project is implemented by Heifer in a consortium with four partners: Enhancing University Responsiveness to Agribusiness Development Ltd (CURAD), Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises (FSME), Financial Sector Deepening Uganda (FSDU) and ASIGMA Group. The project focuses on addressing market system barriers for youth transition to work while building and strengthening systems and structures as enablers for youth to secure dignified and fulfilling work. The intervention targets to reach 250,000 young people 16-35 years (70% females and 30% male) among which, 3% of youth are persons living with disabilities. Out of the total reached, 175,000 youth will transition into dignified and fulfilling work within the agribusiness enterprises under priority value chains of poultry, horticulture, oilseeds, dairy, and beef.

KEY PURPOSE OF JOB

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Officer for the Stimulating Agribusiness for Youth Employment (SAYE) project is responsible for supporting the effective execution of MEL activities at the cluster level. Reporting to the SAYE MEL Manager, the MEL Officer will provide technical support to ensure the implementation of robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems across the project. This includes close collaboration with consortium partners, their MEL leads, Business Facilitators, and Cluster Coordinators to strengthen MEL capacity, uphold data quality standards, and foster a culture of data-informed decision-making.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Effectiveness

• Develop and roll out a cluster level annual targeting and tracking plan, ensuring periodic updating and alignment with project indicators.
• Promote the effective use of MEL tools and platforms in managing project activities at district level, facilitate data collection and evaluation, ensuring high-quality and actionable insights.
• Collect and submit regular data on youth participation, business performance, and impact. Maintain up-to-date records of activities, participants and outcomes.

Knowledge, Information Management and Reporting

• Prepare, consolidate, and submit MEL progress reports including leverage reports according to donor and HPI requirements, ensuring compliance with require standards.
• Produce cluster level monthly data analytical reports to inform project planning and progress.
• Document data driven learnings, knowledge management and best practices in the project area to inform strategy alignment and capacity building initiatives that could be shared with staff, partners and front-line teams.

Quality Assurance and Compliance

• Maintain an updated database for all project activities as per the MEL framework(s) for each cluster.
• Review data submitted by all front-line team to verify accuracy of deliverables.
• Closely review data and track progress on KPI’s ensuring corrective recommendations / measures are provided on a timely basis.

Partnership Engagement & Learning

• Provide technical input and expertise in the development of business cases, ensuring alignment with donor priorities, local context and Heifer’s strategic goals.
• Ensure that programmatic learning and results are fully documented, shared, and used to drive adaptive management processes.
• Attend relevant government and partners’ meetings to further develop collaboration and to obtain new methods and ideas in responsibility.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in economics and Statistics, Social Research, Development studies or an equivalent with an academic focus on Monitoring and Evaluation
• Minimum of five (5) years of related working experience, of which three (3) years shall be of hands-on experience in Monitoring, Evaluations and Learning on projects or related work areas.
• Relevant experience in NGO’s or field-based projects will be an added advantage.
• Good understanding of the different value chains within the agricultural sector.
• Quantitative and qualitative approaches to evaluation and ability to communicate MEL Concepts clearly with leadership, partners and staff at all levels.

Application Deadline: 5pm (EAT), 14th July 2026

The Mastercard Foundation adheres to the highest standards of care related to its programs, those involved in carrying out its mission, and the millions of young people it supports in accessing dignified and fulfilling work. The Foundation has a zero-tolerance policy for all forms of misconduct and takes seriously its responsibility to improve the safety and well-being of the young people who participate in its programs. This duty of care is shared by the Foundation’s partners. As such, during recruitment of staff for Foundation supported programs, all necessary mechanisms are put in place to ascertain that candidates under consideration share our commitment to safeguarding.