Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) Coordinator - Readvertised

Job Title: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) Coordinator - Readvertised Location: Kabarole, Uganda Reports to: Programme Team Lead

Application Deadline: 1st July 2026

Direct Reports: MEAL Specialist, Database Specialist, MEAL Officers

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.

To be successful in this role, you will need:

Essential

• 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

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

The key responsibilities of the role will be:

1. 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.

2. 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. Accountab