MEAL Officer (OCHA Project) job at ZOA Uganda

About ZOA

We are here for people who have lost everything due to armed conflict or natural disaster. ZOA, as an international NGO, supports people who have lost everything due to armed conflict or natural disaster. Together, we can come to their aid in emergencies and remain faithful to communities as they recover – providing new opportunities for them to help themselves again. The work of ZOA is coordinated from the Netherlands. We are active in multiple countries in Africa, South America, the Middle East Region, and Asia. We work with approximately 900 employees worldwide and with (local) partners. We invite you to join our team of committed colleagues.

Our work in Uganda

In Uganda, ZOA has offices in Kampala, West Nile (Arua), Acholi (Gulu), and Karamoja (Amudat). ZOA Uganda works both in relief and recovery on the themes of food security & livelihoods, education, and conflict management with a special focus on land Rights.

About the OCHA Project

From October 2026 to July 2027, ZOA will implement WASH activities as a consortium partner with other partners implementing Protection and Nutrition related activities. The funding from OCHA will be used to meet immediate life saving needs including:

• Extending water supply systems
• Rehabilitating reserve tanks and water system components
• Support operations of motorised water supply systems
• Rehabilitate water points
• Facecal desludging
• Support to household latrine construction
• Latrine block construction
• Emergency preparedness and response in flood prone areas.

Your challenge

The MEAL Officer has the responsibility of undertaking all MEAL activities to document output, outcome and impact changes as defined in the MEAL Framework for the OCHA WASH project. S/he will identify information gaps and make recommendations for the collection of data on all indicators as checks against processes and contexts to measure progress, results, and impact.

The MEAL Officer will ensure that all OCHA WASH project MEAL activities shall result in timely tracking and documentation for project activities, quality data generated and processed in support of project reporting, increased accountability to different stakeholders, facilitates and upholds learning within the OCHA WASH project and across the organization as described in the project MEAL Plan.

The MEAL Officer WASH will support MEAL for WASH activities under the OCHA funded humanitarian project in Kiryandongo, Palorinya and Rhino Camp refugee settlements. He/She will oversee implementation of activities in two Outcome areas:

1. Improved access to safe, reliable and equitable water supply for vulnerable communities in Palorinya, Rhino Camp and Kiryandongo refugee settlements.
2. Reduced risk of WASH-related disease outbreaks through emergency sanitation and hygiene support for vulnerable refugee and host-community communities in Palorinya, Rhino Camp and Kiryandongo refugee settlements.

Your main tasks and responsibilities

Monitoring

The MEAL Officer works closely with the project and other MEAL colleagues as well as partners to create and operate a functional MEAL framework, system, tools and processes in alignment with ZOA guidelines, standards and localized MEAL contexts to gather performance data at output, outcome and impact level based on objectives and indicators contained in the MEAL Frameworks.

Leads in the drafting and development of the project MEAL plan, Indicator tracking table, field Data Protocols/SOPs, ToRs, and data collection tools to facilitate field procedures and execution.

Work with Project staff to ensure the collection of relevant and appropriate data for Knowledge Management and Learning.

Organise joint project monitoring with other stakeholders, partners and project teams

Strengthen the utilization of technology and where feasible enhance data collection, analysis, and reporting considering the limited infrastructure and internet connectivity challenges of ZOA operation areas.

Lead and facilitates local analysis, visualization, presentations and interpretation of contextualized MEAL information as inputs to regular narrative reports covering progress.

Facilitate capacity building initiatives on MEAL for project staffs and partners ensuring they have the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively apply and implement MEAL system, frameworks, tools, and other MEAL processes to enhance activities, data collection, analysis, application of data and information for measuring progress, reporting, making necessary adjustments and improving programme impact(s).

In coordination with MEAL Coordinator, plan and undertake Data Quality Audits and Assessment exercises to ensure data quality.

Ensure visibility materials (pop ups, team clothing, project sheets, flyers, leaflets) to be used for meetings, contact with communities, donors, and partners are produced to high quality.

Evaluation

Get involved in the drafting and design of ToRs for project assessments, evaluations and other studies

Participate in the evaluation of proposal bids and selection of individual consultants and firms for consultancy assignments.

Coordinate internal and external assessments, studies, evaluations and other research for the project in close collaboration with the MEAL Coordinator, PGM, Coordinators, Project Manager, and PQ team.

Drafting and/or reviewing evaluation reports for internal and external use.

The MEAL Officer acts as the main contact person for the MEAL related support in the OCHA WASH project

Accountability

Oversee ZOA’s commitments to the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) in line with the project, ensuring that the Feedback and Complaints Mechanism (FCM) operated either at ZOA or project partner is fit for purpose and that complaints and feedback received are monitored and followed up appropriately.

Promote participatory approaches and methodologies, engaging affected population to ensure their voices and perspectives are captured in order to address specific needs and expectations.

Sensitise and educate team members and stakeholders (beneficiaries, service providers, partners, government authorities and others) on Feedback and Complaint Mechanisms implemented by ZOA Uganda.

Ensure appropriate documentation of feedback and complaints received following correct reporting procedures and tools.

In coordination with MEAL Coordinator conduct regular analysis and presentation of feedback and complaints portraying context and trends in the project implementation to guide necessary improvements.

Promote understanding to ZOA’s Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policies, ensuring adherence to these policies at all times and that project activities are implemented with a “Do No Harm” approach.

Learning

Lead drafting and development of Project level Learning Agendas and Questions to guide relevant data collection and learning activities.

Promote a culture of learning and knowledge sharing through utilization of project/programme data collected, key assessments, evaluations, any other study findings and lessons learned for adaptive management, adjustments and improving impact(s).

Documentation of good practices, success stories, innovative approaches and learning products to be utilized for programming, advocacy and other dissemination.

Planning and organising joint project monitoring, reviews, and learning workshops/events internally and externally sharing results with programme teams and other stakeholders.

Convene and chair regular meetings with project team involving other MEAL colleagues as well as partners using available platforms to collectively analyse and interpret MEAL information, discuss MEAL related issues, exchange MEAL expertise and experiences.

Foster coordination and collaboration between project and MEAL teams as well as with key stakeholders (government authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, and implementing partners) in order to enhance MEAL practices such as MEAL coordination mechanisms, networks, and working groups.

• Works closely with the project and other MEAL colleagues as well as partners to create and operate a functional MEAL framework, system, tools and processes in alignment with ZOA guidelines, standards and localized MEAL contexts to gather performance data at output, outcome and impact level based on objectives and indicators contained in the MEAL Frameworks.
• Leads in the drafting and development of the project MEAL plan, Indicator tracking table, field Data Protocols/SOPs, ToRs, and data collection tools to facilitate field procedures and execution.
• Work with Project staff to ensure the collection of relevant and appropriate data for Knowledge Management and Learning.
• Organise joint project monitoring with other stakeholders, partners and project teams
• Strengthen the utilization of technology and where feasible enhance data collection, analysis, and reporting considering the limited infrastructure and internet connectivity challenges of ZOA operation areas.
• Lead and facilitates local analysis, visualization, presentations and interpretation of contextualized MEAL information as inputs to regular narrative reports covering progress.
• Facilitate capacity building initiatives on MEAL for project staffs and partners ensuring they have the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively apply and implement MEAL system, frameworks, tools, and other MEAL processes to enhance activities, data collection, analysis, application of data and information for measuring progress, reporting, making necessary adjustments and improving programme impact(s).
• In coordination with MEAL Coordinator, plan and undertake Data Quality Audits and Assessment exercises to ensure data quality.
• Ensure visibility materials (pop ups, team clothing, project sheets, flyers, leaflets) to be used for meetings, contact with communities, donors, and partners are produced to high quality.
• Get involved in the drafting and design of ToRs for project assessments, evaluations and other studies
• Participate in the evaluation of proposal bids and selection of individual consultants and firms for consultancy assignments.
• Coordinate internal and external assessments, studies, evaluations and other research for the project in close collaboration with the MEAL Coordinator, PGM, Coordinators, Project Manager, and PQ team.
• Drafting and/or reviewing evaluation reports for internal and external use.
• Acts as the main contact person for the MEAL related support in the OCHA WASH project
• Oversee ZOA’s commitments to the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) in line with the project, ensuring that the Feedback and Complaints Mechanism (FCM) operated either at ZOA or project partner is fit for purpose and that complaints and feedback received are monitored and followed up appropriately.
• Promote participatory approaches and methodologies, engaging affected population to ensure their voices and perspectives are captured in order to address specific needs and expectations.
• Sensitise and educate team members and stakeholders (beneficiaries, service providers, partners, government authorities and others) on Feedback and Complaint Mechanisms implemented by ZOA Uganda.
• Ensure appropriate documentation of feedback and complaints received following correct reporting procedures and tools.
• In coordination with MEAL Coordinator conduct regular analysis and presentation of feedback and complaints portraying context and trends in the project implementation to guide necessary improvements.
• Promote understanding to ZOA’s Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policies, ensuring adherence to these policies at all times and that project activities are implemented with a “Do No Harm” approach.
• Lead drafting and development of Project level Learning Agendas and Questions to guide relevant data collection and learning activities.
• Promote a culture of learning and knowledge sharing through utilization of project/programme data collected, key assessments, evaluations, any other study findings and lessons learned for adaptive management, adjustments and improving impact(s).
• Documentation of good practices, success stories, innovative approaches and learning products to be utilized for programming, advocacy and other dissemination.
• Planning and organising joint project monitoring, reviews, and learning workshops/events internally and externally sharing results with programme teams and other stakeholders.
• Convene and chair regular meetings with project team involving other MEAL colleagues as well as partners using available platforms to collectively analyse and interpret MEAL information, discuss MEAL related issues, exchange MEAL expertise and experiences.
• Foster coordination and collaboration between project and MEAL teams as well as with key stakeholders (government authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, and implementing partners) in order to enhance MEAL practices such as MEAL coordination mechanisms, networks, and working groups.