Position: Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, & Learning (MEAL) Manager

Reports to: Executive Director

Location: Kampala and implementing districts

Application Deadline: 26th September 2024

Job Summary

The MEAL Manager oversees the M&E Strategy and works with HAC staff and partners to collect relevant data, compile data into the HAC database, analyse data, report on progress toward targets, publish articles in academic and media publications, and assist in the submission of grant applications. The job will be based in Kampala with regular field visits to program sites in the Central, East Central, and Western regions.

Background

The mission of Health Access Connect is to link remote communities to healthcare. HAC currently pursues this mission through four programs:

1. Medicycles: We help remote communities bring government health workers and their medicines to their villages monthly. In these outreach clinics health workers give HIV testing, anti-retroviral treatment, immunizations, perinatal services, family planning, and many other services available in rural health centers. HAC is beginning the implementation of a USAID Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) award to scale the Medicycles model to over 124 additional communities and work with third-party researchers who are conducting a randomized control trial on the impacts of outreaches on community health.
2. Technical Advising: We collaborate with Africa Resource Centre (ARC) and the Uganda Ministry of Health to teach and empower PEPFAR implementing partner (IP) organizations to implement alternative drug distribution point models to a) improve a) antiretroviral therapy (ART) and general treatment health service provision and b) decongest health facilities.
3. Treat & Teach: We improve access to family planning in the communities of Masaka and Kalangala districts by a) providing low-density high-frequency certificate training to health workers, b) setting up outreach clinics in remote communities, c) generating demand by collaborating with community health workers (VHTs), and d) reducing commodity stock outs by providing buffer stocks and improving commodity tracking at partner health facilities.
4. Digitalisation of the Health Commodities Supply Chain: In partnership with Signalytic, we are improving the stock visibility in selected Health Facilities in Masaka District Local Government and City. This is a push from the Ministry of Health that will see a move to paperless ordering of Health Facility commodities over time.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

The MEAL Manager provides HAC staff and partners with leadership and strategic direction in research as well as monitoring and communicating results and impact. This includes collecting relevant data, compiling data into the HAC database, analyzing data, reporting on progress toward targets, working with investigators to publish articles in academic and media publications, and assisting in the submission of grant applications. The role will support all programs within HAC and all partners. The job will be based in Kampala with regular field visits to areas where HAC is working. 

M&E Strategy

• Ensure the availability of up-to-date monitoring and evaluation framework
• Conduct value-for-money assessments of operations
• Develop and implement Results & Impact (R&I) function operational plans and budgets; ensure that resource management (both financial and HR) is in line with allocated budgets and donor policies
• Follow data collection, analysis, and reporting protocols detailed within the program monitoring & evaluation frameworks
• Design and implement monitoring systems that capture relevant data and indicators.  Create data collection tools, establish data collection schedules, and ensure accurate and consistent data collection from various program activities.

M&E Processes

• Oversee the gathering and entry of outreach clinic data reporting forms
• Collect data forms from communities and health facilities where HAC has activities
• Compile and analyze data from the national Health Management Information System (HMIS)
• Create and oversee survey collection
• Work with community members, healthcare workers, HAC staff, and other stakeholders to better understand data and the relevance of analyses
• Oversee the collection of testimonials, feedback surveys, Success stories and other qualitative data
• Conduct data quality audits and establish continuous quality improvement initiatives
• Oversee data collection, analysis of results, and compilation of lessons learned; ensuring that data is accurate, valid, and analysed in a way that generates meaningful insights for HAC and wider stakeholders

Reporting

• Oversee the compiling and submission of reports to funders, government partners, leadership team, Board of Directors, and other stakeholders
• Prepare regular progress reports and impact assessments for various stakeholders, including districts, Donors and internal leadership
• Lead the preparation of reports (quarterly, annual, etc) for HAC and for the different programs

Research 

• Lead the teams to ensure that research plans and protocols are fit for purpose and compliant with good practice
• Build and maintain research collaborations with partner researchers and organizations
• Conduct background research, drafting, and editing research protocols and forms when necessary
• Maintain Internal Review Board (IRB) approvals
• Oversee M&E interns and temporary research staff

Grant writing & Communications

• Assist with funding opportunity research and compilation
• Ensure timely and consistent dissemination of research outputs and lessons learnt from programs. 
• Write updates on newsletter and other social media when requested
• Attend Board meetings and M&E Committee meetings when requested

Qualifications, Technical Competences, Skills, and Experience

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Development Economics, Statistics, Health sciences, Demography or related field.
• Advanced certificate or postgraduate training in M&E, statistics or quantitative economics is an added advantage.
• At least five (5) years of working experience in an NGO or research organization
• Experience in project performance measurement, including indicator selection, target setting, reporting, database management, and developing M&E and performance monitoring plans.
• Experience collaborating with staff and partners to document impact, achieve targets, and compile reports.
• Experience using data and evidence to inform operations decisions and evaluations
• Experience with grant writing and/or grant reporting.
• Skills and experience in report writing and oral presentations.
• Excellent management and organizational skills.
• A self-driven individual who works under minimum supervision; meeting timelines regarding planning, and submission of reporting (narrative and financial)
• A team player with the zeal of working in close collaboration with other project members to deliver quality outputs and results

Preferred

• Experience in implementing public health programs
• Experience with data analysis and presentation software
• Experience with querying and analyzing data from the national Health Management Information System (HMIS)
• Some experience in the use of software applications including Excel, Google Drive, Kobo Toolbox (survey and report collection), Microsoft Power BI, Google Looker Studio, and Slack (messaging).
• Thorough familiarity with principles and current approaches to MRM using participatory quantitative and qualitative approaches, including evaluation approaches. 
• Knowledge of research methods and techniques, with strong data analysis skills
• Excellent spoken and written English language communication skills

Compensation

This position is designed as a full-time (40 hours/week) position. Compensation will be 4,200,000/= before taxes. Health insurance will be provided to you and your immediate dependent. Field travel expenses will be paid for by Health Access Connect. Candidates must submit previous or current basic salary in their job applications.

How to Apply

Visit the MEAL Manager Job Application where you can answer a few questions, provide references and submit a CV, cover letter and academic credentials by 26th September 2024.

Apply now