MEAL Assistant job at Action Against Hunger

Background

Action Against Hunger (Action contre la Faim) has been operating in Uganda since 1980, providing critical humanitarian aid and sustainable development programs. Under the leadership of Country Director Ritah Kabanyoro, the organization addresses both immediate nutritional emergencies and long-term food security across 16 vulnerable districts and multiple refugee settlements.

Job Summary

The MEAL Assistant will support day-to-day implementation of the project’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) plan across the five target districts. Working under the line supervision of the Karamoja Field Coordinator and the technical oversight of the Head of MEAL, Research & Innovation, and in close collaboration with the Karamoja MEAL Officer, the Emergency Project Manager and the Nutrition, WASH and Cash teams, she/he will be responsible for: (1) collecting, verifying and entering good-quality monitoring data and keeping the Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT) and beneficiary database up to date; (2) supporting the baseline, post-distribution monitoring (PDM) and endline exercises, including enumerator supervision and data cleaning; (3) running the Complaints and Feedback Mechanism (CFM) at field level and ensuring every piece of feedback is logged, referred and closed; and (4) documenting learning and supporting timely, accurate reporting to OCHA/UHF in line with Action Against Hunger MEAL minimum standards. Because the project runs for only three months in flood-affected, hard-to-reach locations, the role requires someone who can start immediately, work flexibly in the field and produce reliable data under tight timelines.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Objective 1: Support implementation of the project MEAL plan and monitoring system

• Support the MEAL Officer to roll out the project MEAL plan and IPTT, ensuring each approved OneGMS indicator has a clear data source, collection tool, frequency and disaggregation by sex, age, disability and location.
• Collect monthly output data from the Nutrition, WASH and Cash teams, update the IPTT, and flag off-track indicators to the MEAL Officer and Emergency Project Manager.
• Maintain the project beneficiary database using unique household/participant identifiers, support deduplication across Nutrition, WASH and Cash caseloads, and update the multisector convergence dashboard that tracks cross-sector referrals and uptake.
• Conduct monthly process monitoring and spot-checks of MUAC screening, OTP/ITC/SFP sites, IYCF-E dialogues, water-point repairs and distributions using standard checklists, and record findings and agreed corrective actions in the action tracker.
• Compile nutrition data from OTP/ITC/SFP registers, MUAC tally sheets and HMIS 106a reports, and verify admissions and exits (cure, default and death rates) against Sphere standards.
• Carry out routine data quality checks (completeness, accuracy, timeliness and consistency) on KoboCollect submissions and field records, and give feedback to programme staff and VHTs.
• Support inclusion monitoring and beneficiary verification before cash and kit distributions, including checking targeting lists against the agreed vulnerability criteria.
• Provide data, tables and charts for monthly updates, 5W/cluster reporting and the OCHA/UHF narrative report, and keep an organised archive of all means of verification.

Objective 2: Support baseline, post-distribution monitoring and endline data collection

• Support the MEAL Officer to adapt, digitise and pre-test survey tools on KoboToolbox, including household survey, PDM, market monitoring, water-point functionality and AAP satisfaction questionnaires.
• Support the rapid verification and baseline assessment in the first month to establish benchmark values for the Coping Strategy Index, Food Consumption Score, Household Dietary Diversity Score, WASH access and beneficiary satisfaction.
• Coordinate post-distribution monitoring after each cash disbursement round and after hygiene and safe-water kit distributions, including distribution observation, reconciliation of distribution lists and waybills, and household sampling.
• Support recruitment, training and daily supervision of enumerators, including field back-checks to ensure adherence to sampling, informed consent and data protection protocols.
• Clean data and run basic analysis in Excel, SPSS or Stata, and prepare draft summary tables and charts for review by the MEAL Officer.
• Support the endline assessment and compile evidence for outcome indicators, including the percentage of households with an acceptable Coping Strategy Index and the percentage of people who report that assistance was safe, accessible, accountable and participatory.

Objective 3: Operate the Complaints and Feedback Mechanism (CFM)

• Inform communities about the project, their entitlements, selection criteria and the available feedback channels (toll-free line, on-site helpdesks, complaints registers and community meetings) in local languages and accessible formats.
• Staff helpdesks during distributions and screening activities, and register all feedback and complaints in Opinion-ADS promptly, in line with Action Against Hunger CFM procedures.
• Refer feedback to the responsible teams, follow up on resolution, and make sure the feedback loop is closed with complainants and communities, including through monthly community feedback meetings.
• Refer sensitive complaints (safeguarding, sexual exploitation and abuse, GBV and child protection) immediately and confidentially to the designated focal point through Action Against Hunger safeguarding procedures, without investigating or recording details beyond what is required.
• Support community feedback sessions and PSEA consultation focus group discussions in the five districts, ensuring the participation of women, girls, older persons and persons with disabilities.
• Prepare the monthly anonymised CFM log and response-tracking summary for submission to OCHA.

Objective 4: Support learning, documentation and coordination

• Help facilitate and document monthly performance review meetings, the mid-implementation review and the project close-out and lessons-learnt session.
• Document case studies, human-interest stories and photographs, with informed consent, that illustrate project results, in line with Action Against Hunger data protection and communications guidelines.
• Track action points from District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) meetings and community feedback, and follow up with teams on agreed actions.
• Participate in district coordination and HINGO-Karamoja Working Group meetings when requested, and share relevant monitoring data.
• Apply Action Against Hunger data protection standards at all times, including secure storage of personal data, password-protected devices and restricted access to sensitive information.

Required Qualifications and Competencies

• Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Population Studies, Public Health, Human Nutrition, Social Sciences, Development Studies or a related field. A certificate or short course in Monitoring and Evaluation is an added advantage.
• At least 1–2 years’ experience in data collection, monitoring or MEAL in a humanitarian or development project with an NGO, UN agency or government programme.
• Experience in emergency response, cash assistance (including PDM) and/or nutrition (CMAM) programmes is an added advantage; familiarity with OCHA pooled-fund (CBPF) or other donor reporting is desirable.
• Good command of mobile data collection tools (KoboToolbox/KoboCollect, ODK) and MS Excel (data cleaning, pivot tables and charts); basic knowledge of SPSS, Stata or Power BI is an advantage.
• Basic understanding of nutrition indicators (MUAC, SAM/MAM, cure and default rates), food security indicators (FCS, rCSI) and Sphere minimum standards.
• Knowledge of Accountability to Affected Populations, complaints and feedback mechanisms, and PSEA principles.
• Ability to supervise enumerators and work effectively with VHTs, community leaders and district officials.
• Good report writing skills, strong attention to detail and the ability to produce accurate data under tight deadlines.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required; ability to speak Ngakarimojong and/or Pokot is a strong advantage.
• Willingness to travel frequently and work in remote, flood-affected locations in Karamoja under challenging conditions; availability to start immediately.
• Strong interpersonal skills, the ability to work in multicultural teams, and respect for community norms.
• Commitment to Action Against Hunger values, Code of Conduct, and safeguarding and PSEA policies.

• Support the MEAL Officer to roll out the project MEAL plan and IPTT, ensuring each approved OneGMS indicator has a clear data source, collection tool, frequency and disaggregation by sex, age, disability and location.
• Collect monthly output data from the Nutrition, WASH and Cash teams, update the IPTT, and flag off-track indicators to the MEAL Officer and Emergency Project Manager.
• Maintain the project beneficiary database using unique household/participant identifiers, support deduplication across Nutrition, WASH and Cash caseloads, and update the multisector convergence dashboard that tracks cross-sector referrals and uptake.
• Conduct monthly process monitoring and spot-checks of MUAC screening, OTP/ITC/SFP sites, IYCF-E dialogues, water-point repairs and distributions using standard checklists, and record findings and agreed corrective actions in the action tracker.
• Compile nutrition data from OTP/ITC/SFP registers, MUAC tally sheets and HMIS 106a reports, and verify admissions and exits (cure, default and death rates) against Sphere standards.
• Carry out routine data quality checks (completeness, accuracy, timeliness and consistency) on KoboCollect submissions and field records, and give feedback to programme staff and VHTs.
• Support inclusion monitoring and beneficiary verification before cash and kit distributions, including checking targeting lists against the agreed vulnerability criteria.
• Provide data, tables and charts for monthly updates, 5W/cluster reporting and the OCHA/UHF narrative report, and keep an organised archive of all means of verification.
• Support the MEAL Officer to adapt, digitise and pre-test survey tools on KoboToolbox, including household survey, PDM, market monitoring, water-point functionality and AAP satisfaction questionnaires.
• Support the rapid verification and baseline assessment in the first month to establish benchmark values for the Coping Strategy Index, Food Consumption Score, Household Dietary Diversity Score, WASH access and beneficiary satisfaction.
• Coordinate post-distribution monitoring after each cash disbursement round and after hygiene and safe-water kit distributions, including distribution observation, reconciliation of distribution lists and waybills, and household sampling.
• Support recruitment, training and daily supervision of enumerators, including field back-checks to ensure adherence to sampling, informed consent and data protection protocols.
• Clean data and run basic analysis in Excel, SPSS or Stata, and prepare draft summary tables and charts for review by the MEAL Officer.
• Support the endline assessment and compile evidence for outcome indicators, including the percentage of households with an acceptable Coping Strategy Index and the percentage of people who report that assistance was safe, accessible, accountable and participatory.
• Inform communities about the project, their entitlements, selection criteria and the available feedback channels (toll-free line, on-site helpdesks, complaints registers and community meetings) in local languages and accessible formats.
• Staff helpdesks during distributions and screening activities, and register all feedback and complaints in Opinion-ADS promptly, in line with Action Against Hunger CFM procedures.
• Refer feedback to the responsible teams, follow up on resolution, and make sure the feedback loop is closed with complainants and communities, including through monthly community feedback meetings.
• Refer sensitive complaints (safeguarding, sexual exploitation and abuse, GBV and child protection) immediately and confidentially to the designated focal point through Action Against Hunger safeguarding procedures, without investigating or recording details beyond what is required.
• Support community feedback sessions and PSEA consultation focus group discussions in the five districts, ensuring the participation of women, girls, older persons and persons with disabilities.
• Prepare the monthly anonymised CFM log and response-tracking summary for submission to OCHA.
• Help facilitate and document monthly performance review meetings, the mid-implementation review and the project close-out and lessons-learnt session.
• Document case studies, human-interest stories and photographs, with informed consent, that illustrate project results, in line with Action Against Hunger data protection and communications guidelines.
• Track action points from District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) meetings and community feedback, and follow up with teams on agreed actions.
• Participate in district coordination and HINGO-Karamoja Working Group meetings when requested, and share relevant monitoring data.
• Apply Action Against Hunger data protection standards at all times, including secure storage of personal data, password-protected devices and restricted access to sensitive information.

• Mobile data collection tools (KoboToolbox/KoboCollect, ODK)
• MS Excel (data cleaning, pivot tables and charts)
• Basic knowledge of SPSS, Stata or Power BI
• Basic understanding of nutrition indicators (MUAC, SAM/MAM, cure and default rates), food security indicators (FCS, rCSI) and Sphere minimum standards.
• Knowledge of Accountability to Affected Populations, complaints and feedback mechanisms, and PSEA principles.
• Ability to supervise enumerators and work effectively with VHTs, community leaders and district officials.
• Good report writing skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to produce accurate data under tight deadlines.
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Ability to speak Ngakarimojong and/or Pokot
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to work in multicultural teams
• Respect for community norms

• Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Population Studies, Public Health, Human Nutrition, Social Sciences, Development Studies or a related field.
• A certificate or short course in Monitoring and Evaluation is an added advantage.
• At least 1–2 years’ experience in data collection, monitoring or MEAL in a humanitarian or development project with an NGO, UN agency or government programme.
• Experience in emergency response, cash assistance (including PDM) and/or nutrition (CMAM) programmes is an added advantage; familiarity with OCHA pooled-fund (CBPF) or other donor reporting is desirable.
• Good command of mobile data collection tools (KoboToolbox/KoboCollect, ODK) and MS Excel (data cleaning, pivot tables and charts); basic knowledge of SPSS, Stata or Power BI is an advantage.
• Basic understanding of nutrition indicators (MUAC, SAM/MAM, cure and default rates), food security indicators (FCS, rCSI) and Sphere minimum standards.
• Knowledge of Accountability to Affected Populations, complaints and feedback mechanisms, and PSEA principles.
• Ability to supervise enumerators and work effectively with VHTs, community leaders and district officials.
• Good report writing skills, strong attention to detail and the ability to produce accurate data under tight deadlines.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required; ability to speak Ngakarimojong and/or Pokot is a strong advantage.
• Willingness to travel frequently and work in remote, flood-affected locations in Karamoja under challenging conditions; availability to start immediately.
• Strong interpersonal skills, the ability to work in multicultural teams, and respect for community norms.
• Commitment to Action Against Hunger values, Code of Conduct, and safeguarding and PSEA policies.