Uganda MEL Research & Evaluation Lead

About One Acre Fund

Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund supplies 1 million smallholder farmers with the agricultural services they need to make their farms vastly more productive. Our 8,000+ team is drawn from diverse backgrounds and professions. With operations across six core countries in Africa, we make farmers more prosperous by providing quality farm supplies on credit, delivered within walking distance of farmers’ homes, and agricultural training to improve harvests. On average, the farmers we serve harvest 50 percent more food after working with One Acre Fund. 

To learn more about our work, take a look at our Why Work Here blog for more information.

About the Role

You will independently oversee the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) department, taking responsibility for impact evaluations and other studies aligned with program goals. Reporting directly to the Global MEL Regional Manager, you will manage a team responsible for MEL processes and are expected to foster creativity and process improvement. Your role involves representing the department and collaborating with One Acre Fund Leadership for strategic decision-making on MEL initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop survey designs, conduct field testing, and refine survey instruments.
• Perform data analysis and generate reports to draw meaningful conclusions and actionable insights.
• Oversee the management of the in-country MEL team which collectively supports a team of over 60 part-time Enumerators. Responsibilities include:
  • Mentor MEL department staff through field visits, meetings, career conversations, and professional reviews.
  • Conduct in-field supervision of critical MEL activities, maintaining a focus on achieving high data quality standards.
  • Supervise in-field follow-up procedures to address and rectify survey data quality issues promptly.
• Supervise the recruitment and growth of MEL staff, involving the following responsibilities:
  • Facilitate regular training sessions to enhance the skills of data collectors.
  • Address performance issues with underperforming staff.

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:

• Professional experience of 3+ years, reflecting an interest in international development.
• Academic or professional background in designing, implementing evaluations/research, and analyzing findings.
• Strong quantitative skills and experience with statistical software, preferably STATA or R.
• Preferred Master's degree in International Relations, Public Policy, Statistics, or a related field, but not strictly required.
• Proficiency in English is essential, and knowledge of Luganda and Lusoga is an added advantage.

Preferred Start Date

As soon as possible

Job Location

Jinja, Uganda

Benefits

Health insurance, housing, and comprehensive benefits

Eligibility

This role is only open to citizens or permanent residents of Uganda

Application Deadline

28 January 2025. Please note that we hire on a rolling basis which means that applications are reviewed and processed on a continuous basis until a hire is made.

One Acre Fund never asks candidates to pay any money or pay for tests at any stage of the interview process. Official One Acre Fund emails will always arrive from an @oneacrefund.org address. Please report any suspicious communication here ([email protected]), but do not send applications or application materials to this email address.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and anti-racism are deeply connected to our organization’s mission and purpose. One Acre Fund aspires to build a culture where all staff feel consistently valued, represented, and connected – so that our team can thrive as professionals, and achieve exceptional impact for the farmers we serve.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.