Senior Project Officer - MEAL (Livelihoods, Agriculture & Market Systems)

Job Title: Senior Project Officer - MEAL (Livelihoods, Agriculture and Market Systems)

Reports to: Program Manager - MEAL

Department: Programming

Location: Kampala

This position is open to Ugandan nationals only

Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply by November 6, 2026 no later than 5pm.

Background

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer for livelihoods, Agriculture and market systems program. CRS Uganda's livelihoods strategy leverages market systems development, private sector partnerships and church land investments including regenerative agroforestry to create sustainable livelihoods, resilient farming systems, and inclusive economic opportunities for vulnerable communities. 

Job Summary 

The Senior MEAL Officer will lead the design, implementation, and management of MEAL systems for livelihoods, private sector engagement, market systems development, economic inclusion, agricultural value chains, and resilience programming. The successful candidate will ensure robust results measurement, evidence generation, accountability, learning, and adaptive management while supporting project teams to demonstrate sustainable impact among households, enterprises, market actors, and market systems in line with CRS MEAL policies and procedures and donor requirements. 

This position requires proven experience using the DCED Standard for Results Measurement and Market Systems Development (MSD) monitoring approaches. You must be skilled at tracking private sector partnerships, demonstrating impact and using field evidence to support smart, data-driven decisions including communicating results to wider community to drive learning and scale opportunities.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

Monitoring, Evaluation and Results Measurement

• Lead the development and implementation of program MEAL system in line with CRS program quality principles, standards and MEAL policies, procedures, and practices; donor MEAL requirements, and industry good practices.
• Design and operationalize monitoring systems that measure outputs, outcomes, impact, sustainability, and systemic change.
• Develop and maintain data collection tools, databases, dashboards, and reporting systems.
• Ensure timely collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of project data. Analyze implementation challenges and report any inconsistencies and gaps to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
• Coordinate baseline, midline, end-line surveys, market assessments, studies, and evaluations.

Private Sector and Market Actors Monitoring

• Track performance and business growth of private sector partners, producer groups, MSMEs, cooperatives, financial institutions, buyers, and service providers.
• Track private-sector co-investment, additional capital mobilised, access to finance, and the extent to which successful models attract follow-on investment – potential for scale or replication.
• Monitor key indicators related to income growth, job creation, productivity, business performance, investment leveraged, and market access.
• Conduct market actor analyses and value chain performance assessments.
• Work with co-investing private sector actors (PSAs) to refine and improve their results frameworks so they can easily track business changes and manage growth
• Generate and disseminate evidence on business and market system outcomes to inform adaptive management.
• Assess changes in market relationships, incentives, service delivery models and the participation of smallholder farmers, women and youth in agroforestry value chains.

Learning, Knowledge Management and Adaptive Management

• Facilitate reflection meetings, pause-and-reflect sessions, after action reviews, learning events and MEAL communities of practice.
• Document best practices, success stories, innovations, and lessons learned.
• Produce learning briefs, case studies, dashboards, and analytical reports.
• Support programs to use evidence for strategic and operational decision-making.

Accountability and Data Quality

• Lead the program Data Quality Assessments (DQAs) and routine verification exercises.
• Lead the roll-out and implementation of the program’s feedback, complaints and response mechanism (FCRM). Support actively seeking and responding to feedback from all members of targeted communities and other stakeholders as defined by the FCRM. 
• Ensure compliance with data protection, ethical standards, and organizational policies.
• Maintain high standards of data accuracy, reliability, completeness, and timeliness through supervision and ad hoc inspections of various MEAL processes and resources at program sites to ensure adherence to established process standards and procedures. 
• Ensure proper tracking of resource use for program MEAL activities through periodic budget reviews and follow-up with and assistance to the private sector, dioceses and other implementing partners.
• Coordinate and oversee MEAL-related working relationships with the private sector, dioceses and other program stakeholders and serve as the liaison between them and the program team to mobilize local actors and promote project activities and impact. Identify and respond to key stakeholders’ information needs in MEAL activities, using a range of appropriate communication methods.
• Ensure safe, ethical and confidential management of data collected from farmers, enterprises, communities and institutional partners (dioceses and other market actors).

Capacity Strengthening

• Coordinate and facilitate consultations with the private sector, dioceses and other key stakeholders to identify MEAL system strengths, gaps, priorities, and opportunities for strengthening, and support the development and implementation of agreed capacity strengthening plans.
• Provide technical assistance and mentoring to the private sector and dioceses MEAL personnel and local partners to strengthen data collection, reporting, analysis, learning, and use.
• Provide ongoing mentoring and technical support to field teams and implementing partners.
• Develop and facilitate MEAL-related training and coaching programs.

Required Languages - Strong written and spoken English required

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 30% to project locations and field offices outside Kampala

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Analysis and problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgments.
• Good relationship management skills and the ability to work closely with local partners.
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented mindset.
• Attention to detail, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities.
• Ability to effectively use MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), data analysis software such as Excel, Power BI, SPSS, STATA, R, or similar packages.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with partners, participatory action planning and community engagement.
• Staff supervision experience a plus.
• Experience monitoring projects and collecting relevant data.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

 Supervisory Responsibilities - No

 Key Working Relationships - Livelihoods, Agriculture and Market Systems program team, CP MEAL team and partner staff 

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Economics, Agricultural Economics, Development Studies, Business Administration, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• A master’s degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Development Studies, or a related discipline is an added advantage.
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning within livelihoods, agriculture, private sector development, market systems development, economic inclusion, resilience, or value chain programs.

Preferred Qualifications and experience

• Strong understanding of Market Systems Development (MSD) and Private Sector Engagement approaches.
• Experience measuring and reporting results from Market Systems Development (MSD/M4P) interventions 
• Experience using digital data collection platforms such as CommCare, KoboToolbox, ODK, ArcGIS, or similar systems.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills.
• Expertise in dashboard development and data visualization.
• Staff supervision experience.

 Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions. 
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Please Note: 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer: We encourage all qualified candidates to apply for this position, including individuals from marginalized backgrounds and people with disabilities. Please ensure you follow the instructions outlined below when applying.

This position is open to Ugandan nationals only

Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply by November 6 2026 no later than 5pm.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.