Senior MEAL Officer

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

PlayMatters 3.0 (PM 3.0) is a 4-year education initiative (2026-2030) in partnership  with the LEGO Foundation  has  a goal of improving the well-being and holistic learning outcomes of pre-primary and primary school aged children (ages 3-12+), including those who are affected by conflict and crisis, in Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Uganda by strengthening education systems to deliver quality education services using active teaching and learning through play approaches.  

More information on PlayMatters can be found here: https://www.playmatters.org

Job Overview/ Summary: 

PlayMatters 3.0 prioritizes strengthening education systems to be resilient and scaling impact by working with and through existing systems rather than establishing parallel systems. In accordance with this system-strengthening objectives and cognizance of the importance of strengthening the inclusion of refugee and host community data within national systems, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is recruiting a Senior MEAL Officer to be seconded directly to the MoES Education Response Plan Secretariat. The incumbent will be based in Kampala and will provide dedicated technical support to refugee-hosting districts (RHDs), including Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).

The role is instrumental in enhancing Information Management (IM) functions in RHDs and strengthening the Education Management Information System (EMIS) across national, district, settlement, and school levels. Through close collaboration with MoES, District Education Officers (DEOs), UNHCR, KCCA, and key operating/implementing partners, the engagement seeks to achieve:

• Effective Dissemination & Contextualization: Ensuring widespread awareness, clear understanding, and operational alignment with ERP frameworks across all administrative levels.
• Data Management Efficiency: Strengthening data collection oversight and data quality assurance mechanisms implemented by DLGs and partner organizations.
• Inclusive EMIS Integration: Accelerating full integration of refugee and asylum-seeker education data into the national EMIS platform.
• Targeted & Costed Planning: Ensuring all 13 Refugee Hosting Districts (DLGs) and Kampala Urban possess costed and prioritized education action plans based on rigorous gap analyses.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the joint supervision of Ministry of Education and Sports and the IRC Sr. MEAL Manager the Senior MEAL Officer will perform the following duties:

• Technical Support & Data Utilization: Support District Local Governments in managing, analyzing, and utilizing education data for ERP operational planning and execution.
• Monitoring & Evaluation: Monitor and evaluate implementation progress against ERP priority indicators across all target refugee-hosting districts.
• Annual ERP Progress Reporting: Generate comprehensive annual district-specific ERP progress reports highlighting key achievements, implementation challenges, lessons learned, and actionable recommendations.
• Financial Tracking: Support financial tracking and expenditure monitoring for ERP implementation at both national and district levels.
• Gap Analysis & Integration: Support the ERP Secretariat in incorporating district- and settlement-level priorities—identified via gap analyses—into overarching ERP operational plans.
• Information Products Generation: Lead the collection, collation, and analysis of education data from both settlement and host community schools to produce district-specific gap analyses and information products.
• System Capacity Building: Build and strengthen the technical capacity of school-level actors and DEO staff across all RHDs in using EMIS and the ERP harmonized database.
• Partner Mapping & Coordination: Conduct comprehensive operational mapping of education implementing and operating partners across all RHDs, including Kampala Urban.
• System Integration & ActivityInfo: Support the Secretariat in integrating the ERP harmonized school-level database with ActivityInfo and other relevant national IM systems.
• Data Quality Validation: Execute quarterly data validation exercises in settlements and host communities to enhance data integrity, accuracy, and reporting reliability.
• Standardized Tool Development: Develop and roll out standard reporting tools for DLGs and partners to ensure streamlined ERP progress reporting.
• Action Matrix & Tracking Tools: Develop standard districts action matrix tools to systematically track action points and decisions arising from education coordination meetings.
• Data Quality Guidelines & Training: Draft comprehensive data quality assurance guidelines, update partner M&E guidelines, and train partner teams for effective operationalization.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES & EXPECTED OUTPUTS

The Senior MEAL Officer will be held accountable for delivering against the following core outputs:

• Reliable Enrolment & Learner Data: Ensure MoES and partners possess reliable, validated data on refugee and national learner enrolment across all RHDs and urban Kampala.
• Data Analysis & Decision Support: Continuously analyze EMIS trend and pattern data to provide strategic insights, interpretation, and policy recommendations to leadership.
• Information Products & Reporting: Regularly produce standardized and ad-hoc information products, dashboards, and analytical reporting packages.
• Accountability Mechanisms: Strengthen district-level accountability and feedback mechanisms to ensure community and stakeholder feedback effectively informs response planning.
• Active Coordination & Technical Representation: Actively participate in Education Working Group (EWG) engagements, thematic task teams, and inter-agency coordination mechanisms.
• Review of evaluation reports for decision making

REQUIREMENTS:  

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Data Science, Database Management, Information Technology, Demography, Statistics, Social Sciences, or a closely related field.
• Postgraduate qualification (Diploma or Master's) in Statistics, Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), or Data Analytics is highly desirable.

 Work Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years of relevant professional experience in data management, statistical analysis, and high-quality technical report writing.
• For candidates holding a Master's/Postgraduate degree, a minimum of 4 years of relevant professional experience is required.
• Direct working experience with the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), Ministry of Local Government (MoLG), or Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience working with refugee data management systems and humanitarian response frameworks is desirable.

Key Working Relationships

• The position will report Administratively to the MEAL Coordinator but day to day delegation will be under the Ministry of Education/ERP.

TECHNICAL & COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS

• Technical Data Skills: Exceptional technical skills in data architecture, relational database management, data cleaning, and statistical analysis.
• Software Proficiency: Advanced mastery of Microsoft Excel and standard statistical packages (e.g., SPSS, STATA, or R).
• Data Visualization: Proven experience using Power BI or similar BI tools to create dynamic dashboards, charts, and visual graphics from complex datasets.
• Database & CRM Systems: Working knowledge and experience with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) and/or Microsoft Dynamics Customer Relationship Management (CRM).Standards & Procedures: Deep knowledge and understanding of humanitarian data standards, data protection protocols, and confidential data management methodologies.
• Policy & Institutional Alignment: Familiarity with MoES administrative structures, ERP frameworks, and Information Management Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Ethics & Values: High level of personal integrity and full adherence to Uganda's National Ethical Values Policy and United Nations/IRC humanitarian principles, including deep respect for refugees and asylum seekers.
• Interpersonal & Stress Resilience: Strong interpersonal skills with proven ability to collaborate effectively in diverse, multi-cultural teams and perform under high-pressure, fast-paced environments.

NB: This advert will close on 21-Aug-2026

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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