Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Team Leader – Kampala – Protection and Human Rights

Retrak’s Vision: A world where no child is forced to live on the street.
Retrak’s Mission: Retrak works to transform highly vulnerable children’s lives; preserve families; empower communities and give each of them a voice. We put children at the very heart of everything we do and will be fearless and tenacious in defending and promoting their rights.
Retrak’s Values: Boldness, Excellence, Innovation, Respect. Retrak’s values are underpinned by our Christian faith through which we embrace all people, valuing their diversity and difference so that none are excluded, forgotten or ignored. Retrak values express what Retrak believes in and how Retrak seeks to behave.

Purpose of Post:
1) Provide overall oversight of monitoring, evaluation and learning activities, across Retrak Uganda’s projects and partners, in order to measure the outcomes and impact of Retrak’s work and inform organisational learning and future practice.

2) Hold direct responsibility for MEL activities for special projects which have an emphasis on learning and innovation through combining reintegration and prevention of separation activities and generate learning and evidence to inform future policy and practice.

3) As a member of the Senior Management Team, provide oversight, management and leadership of Retrak’s services to street children and families in Uganda.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Management of MEL activities
1.1 Oversee all MEL activities through the management and supervision of the MEL team’s delivery of capacity building, monitoring data collection, analysis and sharing, and evaluation and learning activities.
1.2 Work with M&E Managers and Officers to ensure monthly compilation of data and analysis and presentation to aid decision-making.
1.3 Oversee collection of outcome level data, working together with Programme Team Leader to maximise use of data in case management system for monitoring purposes, as well as implementing the use of other tools such as Most Significant Change stories, community mapping and household surveys.
1.4 Guide regular analysis and use of outcome data, including through qualitative means.
1.5 Ensure new projects have well thought through MEL systems, including innovative methods to track outcomes.
1.6 Lead the planning and implementation of baseline, mid-term and final evaluations, in consultation with Retrak’s Monitoring and Research Advisor.
1.7 Provide training and support to Retrak’s project and partner staff in collecting and using monitoring data, and undertaking and building on evaluations.

Development of a learning culture
2.1 Work closely with the Senior Management Team (SMT) to encourage regular times of reflection and learning for all staff.
2.2 Ensure monitoring and evaluation findings are presented and discussed at regular staff meetings.
2.3 Work with Retrak’s Monitoring and Research Advisor on the development and dissemination of Standard Operating Procedures and linked research projects
2.4 Maintain an awareness of external research and learning projects and bring relevant reports or pieces of evidence to learning forums within Retrak’s projects and partners.
2.5 Seek ways to build the skills of critical reflection across Retrak’s projects and partners.
2.6 Build links with learning-oriented organisations, including universities and other NGOs, to explore opportunities for collaborative learning.

Coordination of and participation in MEL activities for special projects and partnerships (initially USAID (DOVCU and FARE) and Comic Relief funded projects)
3.1 Together with lead project partners (such as ChildFund and AVSI), develop a clear set of data collection tools to track outputs and outcomes of the project, especially for new activities (such as support to remand centres, self-help groups, community education etc).
3.2 Support project and partner staff to collect quality data by providing initial guidance, setting clear timeframes for collection, liaising with project managers and offering ongoing support on data collection tools.
3.3 Regularly quality check data which has been collected and feed back any areas of concern to the project managers and partner staff.
3.4 Ensure data is entered into excel and/or database programmes as required.
3.5 Review and analyse data to assess progress and aid decision-making, learning and impact evaluation and present to relevant staff and partners.
3.6 Provide the data for regular project updates to, and in responding to specific requests from, project staff, coalition staff and the wider Retrak staff.
3.7 Together with lead project partners, lead the implementation of learning activities and periodic evaluations.

SMT
4.1 Provide leadership and direction for Retrak Uganda projects consistent with Retrak’s Vision, Mission, and Values.
4.2 Develop and oversee the delivery of plans and services that support Retrak Uganda’s aims and objectives.
4.3 Support the Finance Manager to ensure effective management of financial resources.
4.4 Manage and monitor organisational activities in order to ensure that Retrak Uganda fulfils its contractual obligations and achieves its objectives.
4.5 Represent and develop Retrak’s interests through proactive management of positive relationships with key in-country service providers, clients, stakeholders, partners, governments and regulatory bodies.
4.6 Provide information to and report to the Retrak’s Executive Team as required.

General
5.1 Uphold and work within Retrak’s policies and procedures, including Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and Child & Vulnerable Adult Protection policies.
5.2 Undertake all activities in line with Retrak’s core values of boldness, innovation, excellence and respect, including promoting and advocating these to others.
5.4 Travel to Retrak field operations as and when required.
5.4 Undertake any other duties, as appropriate to the post, as delegated by the Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Person Specification
MEL Team Leader

SELECTION CRITERIA
Experience Essential
• Significant experience of managing M&E activities within an NGO environment
• Experience of establishing monitoring systems which capture outcome level data
• Experience of leading learning activities to ensure M&E information is utilised to improve service delivery
• Experience of facilitating training and ongoing support to staff and partner staff in MEL activities
Desirable
• Experience of participating in senior management groups
• Experience of working within the field of child protection

Education/ Qualifications Essential
• A degree in a relevant field, preferably statistics or IT, or in behavioural or social sciences

Skills and Knowledge Essential
• Understanding of the functioning of monitoring systems including data collection (methods and tools), storage and analysis which promotes learning
• Understanding of how to make the most use of monitoring information to inform decision-making and learning
• Knowledge of and a commitment to child-friendly and participatory data collection, analysis and reporting
• High level capacity in using both word-processing and spreadsheet computer software, as well as database and statistical packages
• Capacity to write clear and relevant reports with a high level of English
• Strong interpersonal and relational skills.
• Able to work and be empathetic with children, families and communities from all backgrounds,
• Ability to manage, motivate, develop and inspire people to perform to their best ability.
• Ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines.

Aptitude Essential
• Have an active and vibrant Christian faith and be able to promote this when called upon.
• Well organised, self-directed, flexible and committed to achieving high standards.
• Willingness to contribute to staff meetings, staff away days/retreats as they arise.
• Results-oriented with the ability to be creative and innovative.
• Demonstrable commitment to and the ability to uphold and promote Retrak’s core values of boldness, innovation, excellence and respect in all activities.

HOW TO APPLY:
Send in your application, CV and a 2 page capability statement with contact addresses of 2 referees, copies of testimonials/ certificates to the following address Frida.Safina@retrak.org (the address is case sensitive so ensure you don’t change the case) or hand deliver to Retrak Uganda Office, Plot 17-21, Old Kampala Road, the building next to Gadhafi Mosque. Please, include your telephone lines. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interviews. Lobbying for favours will lead to automatic disqualification of the candidate. This is a national position open to Ugandan nationals only.