MEAL Consortium Team Lead

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.

The IRC has been working in Uganda since 1998 supporting refugees, vulnerable host communities, and various institutions in the country notably the government, community-based organizations, civil society, and the private sector. Currently, the IRC in Uganda has a presence across five sub-regions and six refugee settlements, implementing programming in the sectors of Health, Protection and Rule of Law (PRoL), Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE), Economic Recovery and Development (ERD), and Education. IRC Uganda also implements cross-cutting programming focused on systems strengthening and accountability to affected persons. IRC Uganda has a head office in Kampala, field offices in Lamwo, Kiryandongo, and West Nile. 

PROGRAMME CONTEXT

The Refugee Support, Empowerment and Transformation (ReSET) programme is an anticipated FCDO-funded initiative designed to make Uganda’s refugee response more sustainable and locally owned. ReSET will be delivered across two pillars:

• Pillar 1 – Lifesaving Assistance: Meeting core needs through multisectoral assistance and protection for new arrivals and the most vulnerable, applying a cash-first principle.
• Pillar 2 – Self-Reliance & Resilience: Improving the self-reliance and resilience of refugees and host communities through evidence-based graduation or lump-sum cash interventions.

ReSET will be implemented across refugee settlements in Uganda in close coordination with OPM, UN agencies, INGOs, national NGOs, and consortium partners.

SCOPE OF WORK

The MEAL Consortium Team Lead provides strategic leadership and technical oversight for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) across the FCDO RESET consortium. The role is responsible for designing and leading a harmonised, high-quality MEAL system that ensures data integrity, robust evidence generation, accountability to affected populations, and adaptive programming across all consortium partners. The position ensures that MEAL systems are fully embedded in programme design, implementation, and decision-making processes, enabling real-time learning, donor compliance, and strategic programme adaptation. The role also plays a critical leadership function in ensuring that consortium results are credible, comparable, and aligned with FCDO reporting standards, while supporting evidence-based decision-making at both operational and strategic levels.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous strengthening of a=consortium MEAL strategy aligned with IRC global MEAL standards and FCDO requirements.

• Ensure MEAL systems are designed to support adaptive management, strategic decision-making, and donor accountability at all levels.
• Establish and chair consortium MEAL governance structures and technical working groups to ensure alignment and quality assurance.
• Ensure MEAL systems generate high-quality evidence for programme steering, strategic planning, and donor engagement.

• Lead the design and oversight of a robust consortium-wide monitoring system ensuring consistency, reliability, and comparability of data across partners.
• Standardise indicators, measurement frameworks, and reporting methodologies in line with FCDO and IRC requirements.
• Lead Data Quality Assurance (DQA) systems, including audits, verification exercises, and routine data quality checks.
• Ensure monitoring systems capture both quantitative performance data and qualitative insights for adaptive programming.

• Lead design and oversight of mixed-methods research including contribution analysis, outcome harvesting, and cost-effectiveness studies.
• Ensure evidence is translated into actionable recommendations for programme adaptation, scaling, and policy influence.
• Promote use of evaluation findings in donor reporting, sector learning, and strategic decision-making.

• Provide strategic leadership for the design and implementation of consortium-wide accountability systems ensuring meaningful participation of affected populations.
• Establish harmonised, accessible, and safe feedback and complaint mechanisms across all programme locations.
• Integrate safeguarding, SEA, and protection-sensitive reporting into all MEAL systems.
• Ensure accountability data is systematically used to inform programme adaptation and service delivery improvements.

• Lead institutionalisation of a consortium-wide Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) system. .
• Embed learning into programme steering mechanisms and donor reporting cycles.
• Promote a strong organisational culture of evidence-based decision-making and adaptive management.

• Lead integration of FCDO VfM framework (economy, efficiency, effectiveness, equity) into all MEAL systems.
• Conduct consortium-wide cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness analysis to inform strategic decision-making.
• Ensure VfM evidence informs donor reporting, programme design, and strategic investment decisions.

• Develop and enforce consortium MEAL standards, tools, and reporting frameworks.
• Strengthen partner MEAL capacity in results-based management, adaptive programming, and data quality assurance.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Master’s degree in economics, Social Sciences, Education, Statistics, Monitoring & Evaluation, Project Planning and Management, Development Studies, Public Policy, or a related field.
•  A Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring & Evaluation or equivalent professional qualification is an added advantage.

• Minimum 7–10 years of progressive experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) within humanitarian or development programmes, including at least 5 years in senior technical or leadership roles.
•  Proven experience leading MEAL systems for large-scale, multi-year, multi-partner donor-funded programmes (FCDO, USAID, EU/ECHO or equivalent), with responsibility for harmonised frameworks, reporting systems, and performance tracking.
• Demonstrated expertise in refugee response and resilience programming, including livelihoods, cash-based programming, graduation approaches, and self-reliance models.
• Strong background in designing and implementing evaluation systems, including baselines, midline/endline studies, Value for Money (VfM) analysis, and adaptive learning frameworks.
• Experience managing MEAL functions in complex consortium or multi-stakeholder environments, including coordination with government, UN agencies, NGOs, and donor partners.
• Proven ability to develop and manage integrated MEAL systems, including logframes, Theories of Change, indicator tracking systems, and data quality assurance mechanisms.
• Demonstrated capacity to translate complex quantitative and qualitative data into clear donor reports, strategic learning products, and actionable programme recommendations.
• Advanced quantitative and qualitative analysis skills, including ability to triangulate data from multiple sources to generate evidence for decision-making and donor reporting.
• Strong MEAL system design expertise, including logframe development, Theories of Change, indicator performance frameworks, and results-based management systems.
• Proficiency in MEAL data collection, management, and visualization tools, including Power BI, KoboToolbox, CommCare, STATA, SPSS, and equivalent platforms.
• Excellent communication skills in English, with demonstrated ability to produce high-quality analytical reports, donor briefs, and evidence-based recommendations.
• Proficiency in additional languages relevant to the Uganda context is an added advantage.

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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The interview process typically includes three rounds, though the number may vary depending on the role and level of seniority. It usually begins with a conversation with our recruiting team to learn more about you and your goals. This is followed by an interview with a hiring manager or business stakeholder to explore your background and provide more insight into the role. The final round focuses on assessing your role-specific expertise and may be conducted as a panel interview to evaluate your cross-functional strengths. Before extending an offer, we generally conduct reference checks, and after an offer is made, a standard background check is completed. While we strive for consistency, the process may differ based on the role, business unit, location, job type, legal requirements, and other factors.

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