Position Title: Project Assistant
Project Title: EMPOWER – MERL Project
Reports to: Principal Investigator, MERL Project at Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH).
The Empowering Women for Better Reproductive Health Outcomes (EMPOWER) Programme is an initiative funded by the Government of the United Kingdom (UK), acting through the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), led by Pathfinder International, with MakSPH as the independent provider for Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL). The EMPOWER programme aims to strengthen Uganda’s health system to provide quality reproductive and maternal health services while empowering women and girls through informed family planning choices and addressing harmful norms and misinformation to ensure equitable access to care across 80 intervention districts.
The EMPOWER-MERL Project seeks to recruit a Project Assistant (MERL) who will provide day-to-day coordination and administrative support for MERL activities, ensuring timely planning, documentation, quality assurance of deliverables, and efficient communication among field-based stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
- Support communication between the MakSPH MERL team, MoH/District partners, and other field-based stakeholders; prepare and circulate action points.
- Support in organizing field visits and stakeholder engagements.
- Support in the supervision of field data collection activities and field activity implementation progress tracking
- Assist with curation of project documentation (approvals, data collection tools, training materials, attendance registers, and minutes).
- Track deliverables and timelines; maintain action trackers and follow up on owners.
- Support data management workflows (e.g., DHIS2 exports, cleaning logs, among others) in collaboration with the MERL team.
- Assist with preparation of progress reports, slide decks, briefs, and knowledge products.
- Maintain a secure and updated project M&E database and filing system.
- Assist in preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual progress reports.
Support work‑planning and scheduling for MERL activities (meetings, workshops, trainings, and field visits).
- The PI may assign additional duties related to project coordination.
Qualifications, Skills, and Experience:
Suitable applicants MUST have the following:
- A Master’s degree in project management, Public Health, or any related field with a strong Monitoring & Evaluation focus is a prerequisite. Postgraduate training in Monitoring and Evaluation will be an added advantage.
- 5+ years of progressive M&E experience in health programmes (e.g., RMNCAH) at facility and community levels across multiple districts.
- Demonstrated proficiency with HMIS/DHIS2 data systems (data extraction and routine reporting) and mobile data collection (ODK/KoBo/CSPro).
- Applied data analysis and visualization skills using Excel or other software.
- Proven capacity‑building track record: designing and delivering training for data officers; supportive supervision and mentoring.
- Strong data quality verification and assurance (DQA) skills
- Excellent planning, coordination, and communication skills and the ability to manage timelines and documentation.
Desirable
- Certifications in Good Clinical Practice (GCP/ICH‑GCP) and Human Subjects Protection; training in grants administration/management.
How to apply:
Suitably qualified candidates should submit one (1) PDF containing:
- A one-page application letter addressed to the Dean, Makerere University School of Public Health, with the subject line: “Application – Project Assistant (MERL), EMPOWER Project.”
- An up-to-date 5-page Curriculum Vitae highlighting key achievements in line with the job descriptions above.
- Copies of relevant academic certificates and transcripts.
Deadline: Friday, 5th September 2025, midnight (2400 hours).
Email applications to: recruitment@musph.ac.ug
Email subject line: Application – Project Assistant (MERL), EMPOWER Project
NB: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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