Program MEL Officer (SRHR Next Project)

Job Description

JOB PURPOSE

The Programme Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer will be responsible for strengthening the generation, analysis, interpretation and utilization of evidence to support programme performance, learning, accountability and impact measurement. The Officer will coordinate implementation of the programme MEL framework, track progress against agreed results and indicators, and facilitate systematic measurement and documentation of outcomes and the programme's contribution to longer-term impact. The role will place particular emphasis on institutionalizing learning and adaptive management, generating credible evidence of programme effectiveness, and producing high-quality analytical reports that demonstrate results, emerging changes, lessons learned and programme contributions to improved sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The Officer will work closely with programme partners, district stakeholders and programme teams to ensure that evidence consistently informs programme decisions, innovation and sustainability.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• MEL framework and results architecture: Operationalize the contextualized Theory of Change, indicator reference sheets, indicator definitions, disaggregation requirements, results framework and MEL plan across the three result areas; maintain baseline, annual and endline targets and clearly document assumptions and data limitations.
• Outcome and impact measurement: Apply mixed methods approaches to measure programme outcomes and contributions to impact across the three result areas, triangulating routine data, qualitative evidence and community feedback to demonstrate changes in SRHR service utilization, knowledge, agency, social norms, policy implementation and accountability.
• Contribution analysis: Assess the programme’s plausible contribution to observed outcomes by examining implementation intensity, trends, context, alternative explanations and ToC assumptions. Distinguish outputs, outcomes and longer-term impact; avoid attributing district-level changes to the programme without adequate evidence.
• Country learning agenda: Coordinate learning questions on adolescent-responsive and disability-inclusive services; knowledge-to-action and service uptake; youth participation, accountability and advocacy; the One Programme Approach; localization and sustainability; and climate-sensitive service continuity in flood-prone Butaleja.
• Learning and adaptive management: Coordinate the programme learning agenda, outcome harvesting, reflection sessions and documentation of lessons learned, emerging outcomes and promising practices. Facilitate evidence sharing and application of learning to improve programme effectiveness and adaptive management.
• Evidence use and adaptive management: Convene and facilitate routine data-use sessions, quarterly partner reflection and performance review meetings; present concise interpretation of findings, identify bottlenecks, maintain an action-and-learning tracker and verify that decisions lead to corrective actions.
• Routine monitoring and digital systems: Coordinate harmonized data collection, verification, analysis and dashboards for Amref and implementing partners; ensure timely updating of approved programme results databases and Amref systems, including AIMS where applicable, and appropriate use of DHIS2/HMIS and digital data collection platforms.
• Data quality and assurance: Plan and conduct regular data quality assessments, spot checks, source-document verification, indicator reconciliation and joint monitoring with districts and partners; document errors and corrective actions, ensure consistency of numerators, denominators, reporting periods and disaggregation.
• Performance analysis and forecasting: Analyze programme performance against targets, assess coverage and equity gaps across facilities and target groups, identify implementation risks, and support realistic forecasts and recovery plans; integrate findings on commodity continuity, referral pathways, quality of care and service readiness.
• Reporting and evidence synthesis: Coordinate the preparation of timely, accurate and analytical programme and donor reports, ensuring data quality, consistency with agreed indicators and targets, and credible documentation of achievements, outcomes, contributions to impact, lessons learned and programme adaptations.
• Support national reporting into the SRHR Next Programme MIS, AIMS and other global reporting platforms.
• Lead development and maintenance of programme performance dashboards and visualization products for internal management and donor reporting.
• Evaluations and research: Support evaluation designs, terms of reference, ethical protocols, sampling, tools, consultant coordination and quality assurance for baseline follow-up, periodic studies, midterm/endline evaluation and targeted outcome assessments; track management responses to recommendations.
• Inclusion, participation and accountability: Integrate age, sex, disability and other appropriate disaggregation; work with youth advisory and community accountability structures to capture feedback safely, document whether concerns result in decisions and report to communities in accessible formats.
• Develop and monitor mechanisms to assess meaningful and inclusive youth participation (MIYP) in programme governance, implementation and learning.
• Partner and district capacity strengthening: Mentor partner staff, district biostatisticians, health-facility teams, schools, VHTs and community actors on indicator interpretation, data quality, meaningful analysis, ethical data handling, evidence use and results storytelling.
• Safeguarding and responsible evidence: Uphold safeguarding, PSEAH, informed consent, confidentiality and secure handling of sensitive SRHR/SGBV information; use survivor-centred, do-no-harm and conflict-sensitive approaches, including in qualitative documentation and outcome harvesting.
• Coordination and stewardship: Work closely with the Programme Manager and Country MEL Manager, programme partner MEL focal persons, district leadership and relevant programme governance structures; contribute to work planning, reporting calendars, learning budgets, risk reviews and donor evidence requests.
• Monitor and document localization outcomes, equitable partnership practices and partner capacity development progress.
• Risk monitoring and sustainability: Track programme risks, mitigation measures and sustainability outcomes, providing evidence to inform management decisions and programme adaptations.
• Represent the MEL function in programme technical working groups, consortium coordination platforms and relevant district-level review meetings.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, ICT/IT, Computer Science, Demography, Public Health, Epidemiology, Social Sciences or a related discipline. A postgraduate qualification in Monitoring & evaluation, public health, research methods or a related field is an added advantage.
• At least five years of relevant MEL experience, preferably in SRHR/SGBV, adolescent health, health systems strengthening or rights-based multisectoral programmes.
• Demonstrated experience designing outcome/impact measurement approaches, implementing mixed-methods evaluations or learning studies, and producing analytical donor reports.
• Experience coordinating MEL across multiple implementing partners and working with district health information systems, including HMIS/DHIS2, data quality assessments and facility/community data.

Technical and behavioural competencies

• Strong command of Theory of Change, results-based management, indicator design, baseline/target management, contribution analysis and robust interpretation of programme outcomes and impact.
• Practical skills in qualitative and participatory methods, outcome harvesting, facilitation of reflection and learning, knowledge management and adaptive management.
• Advanced quantitative analysis, data visualization and analytical writing skills; strong Excel and at least one statistical/visualization package (e.g., Power BI, Qlik, SPSS, Stata or R). Experience with KoboToolbox/ODK is advantageous.
• Ability to translate complex data into accurate, concise and compelling reports, presentations, impact stories and actionable management recommendations without overstating causal attribution.
• Understanding of gender-transformative, disability-inclusive, youth-centred, safeguarding and ethical research principles, including confidential handling of sensitive SGBV data.
• Excellent facilitation, partnership coordination, mentoring, critical thinking, communication, organization and deadline management skills; willingness to travel frequently within the programme district.

Essential Competencies

• Experience with donor-funded consortium programmes.
• Experience managing MEL for SRHR, adolescent health or gender programmes.
• Experience conducting Data Quality Assessments (DQAs).
• Experience using Power BI or similar dashboard tools.
• Demonstrated expertise in outcome and impact measurement, programme learning, evidence synthesis and preparation of high-quality analytical donor reports.

Desirable Competencies

• Experience with Outcome Harvesting.
• Experience measuring advocacy and policy outcomes.
• Experience supporting external evaluations.
• Familiarity with localization and partnership effectiveness frameworks.

Additional Information

Please submit your CV or resume highlighting relevant skills and experience along with a cover letter detailing why you are the best fit for this position. The closing date for applications will be Friday November 20th, 2026 at 23:59 (EAT). Amref Health Africa in Uganda is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful workplace. Qualified women and Youth are encouraged to apply. 

Amref Health Africa does not charge applicants any fees at any stage of the recruitment and selection process and has not appointed any agent to facilitate recruitment on its behalf. While vacancies may occasionally be advertised on external job boards, all legitimate opportunities are published on our official website and social media channels. Please note that official Amref communications will come from an @amref.org email address. If you are asked to make a payment in connection with an Amref recruitment process, please treat the request as fraudulent.

Amref Health Africa is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Amref Health Africa is dedicated to diversity and is an equal-opportunity employer with a non-smoking environment policy.

Company Description

Amref Health Africa was founded in 1957 and has since grown to become the largest African-based international health development organization; currently implementing more than 180 programmes, reaching more than 40 million people across 35 African countries; and a staff complement of over 2,000. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, Amref Health Africa has offices in ten countries in Africa – Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea (Conakry), Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. An additional eleven advocacy and fundraising offices are located in Europe and North America.

Amref Health Africa is driven by its vision of ‘Lasting health change in Africa’ and its mission ‘To catalyze and drive community-led and people-centred health systems while addressing social determinants of health’. We believe that the power to transform Africa's health lies within its communities, and therefore strive to ensure that health systems are not only functional but that communities are empowered to hold these systems accountable for the delivery of quality and affordable health care.

About the Programme

SRHR Next is a 2.5 year SRHR programme bringing together 11 Dutch international organizations and local partners in eight countries, including Uganda. This programme aims to protect and strengthen sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in a context of limited resources, weakened health systems, and increasing pressure on civic space. The programme is implemented through a consortium of organizations committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights for women, adolescents, young people and marginalized populations through coordinated action, evidence-informed advocacy, health systems strengthening and meaningful community engagement.  The Uganda programme contributes to a broader multi-country initiative aimed at strengthening national SRHR ecosystems by promoting locally led solutions, reinforcing strategic partnerships and enhancing collaboration among government institutions, civil society organizations, youth-led organizations, women's rights organizations, organizations of persons with disabilities and development partners. The programme will contribute to improved and equitable SRHR outcomes through three mutually reinforcing strategic pillars: strengthening health systems to deliver quality, integrated and rights-based SRHR services; expanding access to accurate SRHR information through comprehensive sexuality education, social and behaviour change interventions and community engagement and creating an enabling environment through policy advocacy, gender-transformative programming, social norm change and strengthened accountability mechanisms. The programme places particular emphasis on government ownership, meaningful youth participation, gender equality, disability inclusion, safeguarding, evidence-informed programming and sustainable institutional capacity strengthening.