Track whether a project is delivering what it promised. M&E officers work on projects - usually funded by donors, development banks or government - and follow them from start to finish. They build the M&E framework and logframe, set indicators and baselines, collect and check data, run midline and endline evaluations, and produce the progress reports that funders require. Projects exist in almost every field, including health, education, agriculture, environment, social protection, infrastructure and youth development. Many posts are contracts that last as long as the project.
Salary Breakdown
Project M&E Officer / Analyst in government (GMG/SEG 2, Band 8) - $4,266,270 per annum (example: MOH&W, February and August 2026). Posts ask for three to four years' research or project experience, so graduates often start as project or research assistants. Donor-funded and NGO project posts set their own pay.
Estimated Take-Home Pay
Based on the midpoint of the Entry salary range ($4,266,270 JMD), after NIS, NHT, Education Tax, and PAYE.
Show deduction breakdown
- Gross (annual)
- $4,266,270 JMD
- NIS (3%)
- −$127,988 JMD
- NHT (2%)
- −$85,325 JMD
- Education Tax
- −$93,111 JMD
- PAYE Income Tax
- −$558,980 JMD
- Net (annual)
- $3,400,864 JMD
Estimate only — illustrative rates and thresholds, not tax advice. Confirm current figures with Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).
Career Path Roadmap
- 1
High School & CXC Subjects
Pass CSEC Mathematics, English, Social Studies and Principles of Business. CAPE Sociology, Economics or Management of Business are useful.
5 years (Forms 1-5) - 2
Bachelor's Degree
Social Sciences, Development Studies, Economics, Management or Public Policy are the usual routes; a degree in a project sector (agriculture, education, health, environment, engineering) also works. Take statistics, research methods and project management courses.
3 years - 3
Project Assistant / Research Assistant
Join a project team at a ministry, agency, NGO or donor-funded programme. Collect field data, keep project records, and support progress reporting.
2 - 4 years - 4
Results-Based M&E and Project Management Training
Train in results-based management, logframes and theory of change (for example, through MIND or UWI). Project management certification (CAPM or PMP) is often required for project monitoring posts.
3 - 12 months - 5
Project M&E Officer
Own a project's M&E plan: baseline data, indicator tracking, data quality checks, quarterly reviews of planned versus actual outputs, and reports that meet the grant agreement.
2 - 4 years - 6
Senior M&E Specialist / Programme M&E Manager
Lead M&E across several projects or a whole programme, commission midterm and final evaluations, and turn lessons learned into new project designs. Many experienced officers go on to independent evaluation consultancies.
4+ years
Required Education
- CSEC/CXC Mathematics, English, Social Studies
- Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Management, Economics, Public Policy or the project's sector
- Training in Results-Based Management / M&E frameworks (logframes, theory of change)
- Project management certification - CAPM or PMP (often required)
- Master's degree (for senior and specialist posts)
Common Local Certifications
- Results-Based Management / Monitoring & Evaluation training
- Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) or Project Management Professional (PMP)
Where to Train
University of Technology, Jamaica
A recommended place to train as a Monitoring & Evaluation Officer
Northern Caribbean University
A recommended place to train as a Monitoring & Evaluation Officer
University of the West Indies, Mona
A recommended place to train as a Monitoring & Evaluation Officer
Management Institute for National Development
A recommended place to train as a Monitoring & Evaluation Officer
Local Institutions Offering Programs
- Management Institute for National Development (MIND)
- University of the West Indies, Mona (UWI) - Faculty of Social Sciences
- University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech)
- Northern Caribbean University (NCU)