Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer

The MEAL Officer leads the implementation of monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning systems for PROPEL at country level, ensuring that program performance, system-level change, and youth employment outcomes are effectively tracked and analysed. Reporting to the  Program Manager Market Systems for Employment (MS4E), the role supports evidence-based decision-making by generating high-quality data, facilitating learning, and strengthening adaptive management. The MEAL Officer plays a critical role in capturing changes in market systems, private sector behaviour, and youth employment pathways, particularly for NEET populations.

Essential Responsibilities

MEAL SYSTEMS IMPLEMENTATION

The MEAL Officer ensures that robust monitoring and evaluation systems are established and operationalized to support effective program delivery and accountability.

·        Lead the implementation of MEAL frameworks, tools, and processes aligned with PROPEL program requirements

·        Ensure accurate and timely data collection across all program activities

·        Maintain program databases and ensure data quality, integrity, and consistency

·        Support field teams in applying standardized data collection tools and methodologies

·        Ensure compliance with Mercy Corps and donor MEAL standards

PERFORMANCE MONITORING & REPORTING

The MEAL Officer supports tracking of program performance and contributes to high-quality reporting that reflects both outputs and systemic outcomes.

·        Monitor program indicators, including youth participation, employment outcomes, and private sector engagement

·        Track progress against targets and flag performance gaps to the Country Program Manager

·        Support preparation of weekly, monthly, quarterly, and donor reports

·        Ensure timely submission of accurate data for internal and external reporting requirements

·        Contribute to development of dashboards and performance summaries

SYSTEMS CHANGE & PRIVATE SECTOR TRACKING

The MEAL Officer contributes to measuring market systems change by capturing shifts in behaviours, relationships, and performance of key actors.

·        Track changes in private sector behaviour, including hiring practices, investment, and engagement in youth employment pathways

·        Monitor effectiveness of market-driven intervention models such as apprenticeships and enterprise support

·        Support identification of systemic changes within labor markets and ecosystem functions

·        Contribute to development of indicators that reflect market systems development outcomes

YOUTH OUTCOMES & SEGMENTATION ANALYSIS (NEET FOCUS)

The MEAL Officer supports tracking and analysis of youth outcomes, ensuring that program interventions are responsive to different youth segments.

·        Monitor participation and progression of youth across employment pathways

·        Analyse outcomes for different youth segments, particularly NEET populations

·        Support tracking of inclusion metrics, including gender and vulnerability indicators

·        Generate insights on barriers and success factors affecting youth employment outcomes

·        Contribute to refinement of youth segmentation approaches based on data

LEARNING & ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT

The MEAL Officer promotes a culture of learning and supports continuous program adaptation on through evidence and analysis.

·        Facilitate regular learning sessions with program teams to review performance and adapt interventions

·        Support integration of findings from Political Economy Analysis (PEA) into program adjustments

·        Document lessons learned, best practices, and case studies

·        Provide analytical support to inform strategic and operational decision-making

·        Contribute to knowledge sharing across country and regional teams

ACCOUNTABILITY & FEEDBACK MECHANISMS

The MEAL Officer ensures that accountability to participants and stakeholders is embedded within program systems.

·        Establish and manage feedback and complaint response mechanisms

·        Ensure participant feedback is systematically collected, analysed, and used to inform program improvements

·        Promote transparency and responsiveness in program delivery

·        Support community engagement processes related to accountability

DATA MANAGEMENT & FIELD SUPPORT

The MEAL Officer works closely with program teams to strengthen field-level data systems and build capacity.

·        Provide training and ongoing support to Program Officers and partners on MEAL tools and processes

·        Conduct data verification and quality assurance checks in the field

·        Support digital data collection systems where applicable

·        Ensure proper documentation and filing of program data

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

The MEAL Officer integrates safeguarding principles into all aspects of their work, ensuring that data collection and participant engagement processes uphold the dignity, safety, and confidentiality of individuals. The role promotes ethical data practices and ensures that safeguarding risks are identified and mitigated. The MEAL Officer always upholds Mercy Corps’ values and code of conduct. They remain vigilant to safeguarding risks and report any concerns through established mechanisms.

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Program Manager Market Systems for Employment– PROPEL Program
Works Directly With: MEAL Officer, Finance and Operations Teams, Implementing Partners, Private Sector Actors and PROPEL program at Junior Achievement Africa, the major consortium partner.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

·        Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Economics, Development Studies, or a related field

·        Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in monitoring, evaluation, and learning within development programs

·        Experience designing and implementing MEAL systems and tools

·        Strong data analysis skills, including use of Excel or other data management tools

·        Understanding of market systems development (MSD) and results measurement approaches

·        Experience tracking youth employment or livelihoods outcomes, including NEET populations

·        Strong attention to detail and ability to ensure data quality and accuracy

Success Factors

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights. They will be detail-oriented, organized, and capable of working collaboratively with program teams to strengthen performance and accountability. A proactive approach to learning and adaptation, combined with a commitment to high-quality data and evidence-based decision-making, is essential.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Kampala and it requires up to 90% travel to support field level implementation, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. 

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Team Engagement and Effectiveness 

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.