National Consultant: MEAL and Data Management

Result of Service

Deliverable 1 – End of Month 1 Submit the first monthly programme monitoring and reporting package, including: (i) reporting compliance tracker; (ii) updated performance monitoring framework covering programme indicators, milestones and Schedule C commitments; (iii) verified programme datasets; and (iv) a summary of reporting compliance, data quality issues and corrective actions undertaken during the reporting period. Deliverable 2 – End of Month 2 Submit the second monthly programme monitoring and reporting package, including: (i) updated compliance tracker; (ii) updated performance monitoring framework; (iii) verified reporting datasets; (iv) evidence of partner coordination and reporting support activities; and (v) updated programme records in relevant ITC corporate systems and repositories. Deliverable 3 – End of Month 3 Submit the third monthly programme monitoring and reporting package, including: (i) updated compliance tracker; (ii) updated performance monitoring framework; (iii) consolidated activity tracking records for missions, workshops, events and technical assistance activities; (iv) verified supporting documentation and evidence files; and (v) analytical performance summary highlighting progress, challenges and recommendations. Deliverable 4 – End of Month 4 Submit the fourth monthly programme monitoring and reporting package, including: (i) updated compliance tracker; (ii) updated performance monitoring framework; (iii) validated datasets for programme reporting; (iv) updated programme dashboards and KPI scorecards; and (v) a management brief summarizing implementation progress, risks and mitigation measures. Deliverable 5 – End of Month 5 Submit the fifth monthly programme monitoring and reporting package, including: (i) updated compliance tracker; (ii) updated performance monitoring framework; (iii) verified programme datasets and supporting evidence; (iv) updated dashboards and management reporting tools; and (v) donor and corporate reporting inputs prepared during the reporting period. Deliverable 6 – End of Month 6 Submit the sixth monthly programme monitoring and reporting package, together with a Final Consultancy Report summarizing activities undertaken during the assignment, key achievements, reporting compliance performance, programme monitoring results, lessons learned, recommendations, and an audit-ready repository of supporting documentation, datasets and evidence.

Work Location

Home-based in Uganda

Expected duration

6 months from ASAP

Duties and Responsibilities

Established in 1964, the International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint technical cooperation agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization (WTO) in charge of the sustainable promotion of trade and in particular of exports from developing countries and economies in transition. The goal of the ITC is to make businesses in developing countries more competitive in global markets, accelerate economic development and contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thus, the organization contributes to the creation of jobs at the level of segments of agricultural value chains and promising services, especially for young people and women. This post is located within the Women, Youth and Vulnerable Communities (WYVC) section in the Division of Sustainable and Inclusive Trade (DSIT) About the project The 3-year initiative, “Enhancing Skills and Enabling Financial Inclusion for Young Women in the Creative Economy”, will engage over 84,000 financially disadvantaged young women in Uganda and directly enable 40,000 to have access to dignified work within the creative economy. It aligns with Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy and Uganda’s 2030 private-sector-driven vision. The Program will advance gender- inclusive skills development, financial inclusion, and entrepreneurial growth in the creative sector. Activities will include skills training, market access support, financial literacy programs, and advocacy for inclusive policies, especially around intellectual property and access to finance. The project is now in the implementation phase and requires a MEAL and Data Management Associate to support programme performance tracking, partner reporting, data quality assurance, digital MEAL systems, and donor reporting across consortium partners.  Description of Duties/Responsibilities The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Chief, WYVC, under the direct supervision of the Youth and Trade Programme Officer and the Project Manager, and in close cooperation with the project team. The consultant will carry out the following duties: Digital MEAL System support with data quality • Support the implementation and day-to-day operation of the CREATE programme's digital MEAL system. • Serve as the primary focal point between consortium partners, MEAL coordinators and the ITC MEAL focal point. • Support data collection and data curation activities to ensure accuracy and completeness of programme records. • Monitor data quality issues and follow up with partners to resolve inconsistencies, missing information, and duplicate records. • Support the testing of new forms, workflows, and system functionalities. • Support tracking of programme results, targets, milestones and deliverables against approved workplans and Schedule C commitments. Partner Support and Capacity Building • Provide ongoing technical support to consortium partners and programme coordinators on the use of the digital MEAL system. • Organize refresher sessions and training activities on data collection procedures, reporting requirements, and system utilization. • Monitor partner reporting compliance and follow up on outstanding submissions, data quality issues and reporting requirements. • Support onboarding of new partners and staff on programme MEAL systems, tools and reporting requirements. Activity and Mission Tracking • Maintain an up-to-date record of programme activities, missions, workshops, events, and technical assistance interventions delivered by ITC teams. • Cordinate with programme staff and partners to ensure timely reporting of activities, missions and results through designated reporting channels and systems. • Ensure supporting documentation, attendance sheets, participant lists, and event records are properly archived and uploaded to relevant ITC platforms, including the ITC Events Portal. Reporting and MEAL Support • Support the preparation of monthly, quarterly, annual, and ad hoc programme reports for donors and ITC corporate reporting requirements and verification of reported results against supporting evidence. • Collect, consolidate, and verify data from implementing partners and programme teams. • Assist in the analysis and presentation of programme results, indicators, and beneficiary data. • Support the MEAL focal point and programme managers in maintaining accurate reporting against project targets and donor indicators. • Contribute to the preparation of dashboards, data summaries, success stories, and reporting products as required. • Maintain records and evidence files for audits, evaluations, donor reviews and programme reporting requirements. • Support consolidation of lessons learned, success stories and programme knowledge products. Coordination and Communication • Participate in weekly meetings with ITC project management to provide updates on MEAL progress, monitor deliverables, and address and escalate any issues as they arise. • Facilitate coordination among consortium partners to ensure their MEAL activities align with the overall project framework and donor requirements. • Support ITC and donor led evaluations Programme Performance Tracking • Support tracking of programme implementation against approved workplans, targets and milestones. • Flag delays, data gaps and reporting risks to the Project Manager and MEAL focal point. • Produce periodic performance summaries to support programme management and decision-making. The Consultant is obliged to provide full access to ITC external and internal auditors to documents and information. In addition, the contractor shall comply with any audit undertaken in line with the financial regulations and rules of the United Nations. Copyright clause: The consultant has to ensure that she has obtained the necessary permissions with regard to intellectual property rights required to perform her services under this consultancy contract and for the subsequent dissemination by ITC in any form. Documentary proof is to be submitted to ITC. Should any license fee be due for the use of copyrighted materials of third parties, the consultant shall request the prior written permission from ITC. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons - of all genders - equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.

Qualifications/special skills

• Undergraduate degree in Monitoring & Evaluation, Statistics, Economics, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Information Systems, Public Administration or related field. • Extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a university degree. • At least 5 years of professional experience in monitoring and evaluation, data management, programme reporting, programme coordination or related areas, preferably within donor-funded programmes. • Experience in project management, Monitoring and Evaluation required. • Experience working in Uganda required. • Proven ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, including external agencies and consortium partners. Skills • Strong analytical, reporting and data quality assurance skills. • Ability to manage multiple reporting timelines and work with consortium partners. • Ability to work with cross-functional teams and skilled in project coordination, monitoring and evaluation. • Organisation and administration of information and communication to teams is required. • Knowledge of the creative industries is a plus. • Experience using digital data collection and management platforms (e.g. Airtable, Jotform, Power BI, Kobo, DHIS2 or similar) is a plus. • Ability to work with cross-functional teams and skilled in project coordination, monitoring and evaluation. • Organisation and administration of information and communication to teams is required. • Knowledge of the creative industries is required.

Languages

Advanced knowledge of English is required. Another Ugandan language is an asset.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.