Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Lead Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports the Government of Uganda in transforming agrifood systems to become more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable, to contribute food security, improved nutrition, poverty reduction and sustainable natural resource management.
FAO Uganda delivers its programme through the Country Programming Framework (CPF), organized around the strategic priorities of ENABLE, SUSTAIN and PROSPER, in collaboration with government institutions, development partners, UN agencies, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders.

Effective implementation of the CPF requires a coherent, results-oriented approach to monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) that tracks progress across the country programme portfolio, strengthens accountability for results, supports adaptive management and generates credible evidence for policy dialogue, investment prioritization and resource mobilization.
In this context, FAO Uganda seeks to recruit a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Specialist to strengthen country-level results management and institutional learning, to develop and provide evidence that can be used to drive resource mobilization, to lead FAOUG’s contributions to UN and Government results frameworks, and to ensure systematic tracking of progress and results under the CPF 2026-2030.
The position will help consolidate a coherent, evidence-based approach to monitoring performance across FAO’s programme portfolio, enhance accountability for results, and ensure that monitoring and evaluation findings inform strategic decision-making, adaptive programming, policy dialogue and resource mobilization.
Through this function, FAO Uganda aims to strengthen its capacity to demonstrate its contribution to national agrifood systems transformation and to continuously improve the relevance, effectiveness and impact of its interventions.

Reporting Lines

The MEAL Lead Specialist reports to the FAO Representative and works under the technical supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programmes). The Specialist works closely with programme and project managers, technical teams, operations colleagues, government counterparts and implementing partners to ensure consistent application of results-based management principles and effective use of performance evidence across the FAO Uganda programme portfolio.

Technical Focus

The MEAL Specialist will lead the development and operationalization of an integrated country-level MEAL system to track the delivery of the CPF 2026-2030 and contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and national agrifood systems transformation priorities.
The position will strengthen results-based management across projects and programmes; support the development and monitoring of theories of change, results frameworks, indicators and targets; assure the quality and use of performance data; facilitate accountability and organizational learning; and generate strategic evidence to inform programme adaptation, policy dialogue, investment decisions and resource mobilization.
The Specialist will promote alignment with FAO corporate and regional results frameworks and relevant national monitoring systems, while fostering collaboration, institutional learning and evidence-based decision-making across the country programme.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate MEAL team performance, accountability and reporting to strengthen CPF implementation, results-based management and strategic decision-making.
• Oversee the availability and effective use of data and M&E tools to strengthen evidence-based decision-making.
• Develop and review data collection tools to address monitoring requirements, evaluation objectives, data quality and evidence needs effectively.
• Lead and coordinate FAO Uganda’s M&E team, strengthening capacity and ensuring effective implementation of routine M&E activities.
• As a national M&E focal person in ensuring that the entire FAO Uganda data request passes through him/her for approval.
• Provide technical support to other FAO Uganda Technical Teams in matters related to M&E, both to project staff and Field office level.
• Plan, organize and oversee project data review meetings to strengthen data quality, performance monitoring, reporting and evidence-based decision-making.
• Respond to FAO Uganda data and reporting requests from subregional, regional and corporate levels, ensuring timely and accurate information
• Collaborate with Communication, Resource Mobilization and Policy teams to support integrated programme planning, implementation, visibility and strategic engagement.
• Support routine implementation of Data Quality assurance Reviews in accordance with FAO protocols, disseminate findings, and monitor overtime
• Demonstrate in-depth understanding and practice use of FAO systems such as FPMIS, PIRES and IMIS for ensure the FAO Uganda reports and inputs are well captured.
• Represent FAO in external M&E, quality assurance and coordination forums with UN, government, donors and development partners.
• Coordinate and lead projects, corporate, thematic and country evaluations, ensuring effective planning, implementation and use of evaluation findings.
• Plan, organize and contribute to conceptualization of thematic evaluation studies relevant to the CPF results
• Lead country-level MEAL, learning and Knowledge management initiatives to generate evidence, improve programmes, strengthen accountability and informed decision-making
• Facilitate and coordinate periodic reflection and learning sessions involving FAO staff, government counterparts, implementing partners and other stakeholders, ensuring that findings inform programme design, implementation and scaling-up decisions.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree/University degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in monitoring and evaluation, development studies, agricultural economics, statistics, public policy, social sciences, international development or any other discipline relevant to the work of the Organization.
• At least10 years of relevant experience in advanced information data management, processing and statistical techniques, quantitative survey specialist or MEAL position, 5 of which should be in a leadership position.
• Working knowledge of English
• National of Uganda

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Results-based management and strategic programme monitoring.
• Quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis and interpretation.
• Evaluation planning, quality assurance and recommendation follow-up.
• Knowledge management, facilitation and organizational learning.
• Stakeholder engagement, communication and capacity development.
• Proficiency in relevant data management, visualization and digital reporting tools.
• Strong analytical, organizational, writing and interpersonal skills.

Selection Criteria

• Relevant professional experience in monitoring, evaluation, results-based management, programme performance analysis or organizational learning, commensurate with the applicable FAO contract category.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and operationalizing results frameworks, theories of change, logical frameworks, indicators, baselines, targets and MEAL plans.
• Experience in data analysis, quality assurance, evaluation methodologies and preparation of analytical reports for programme management and development partners.
• Experience working with government institutions, development partners, implementing partners and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience in agrifood systems, agriculture, food security, nutrition, climate resilience or related development programmes would be an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to translate performance data and evaluation findings into practical recommendations for management, policy dialogue and programme improvement.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION