MERL Coordinator

Job Description

The Organization

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years, and are now active in more than 80 countries.

ROLE PURPOSE

The MERL Coordinator will be responsible to implement a functional M&E system at project level in response to emergencies. She/he will work closely with partners and will support the Field Emergency Response Manager/coordinator and the program teams with technical oversight and direction from the Senior MERL Coordinator on all monitoring and evaluation needs across implementing areas. The MERL Coordinator will support the provision of program staff at Plan and partner organizations with the information and training to capture monitoring metrics regularly and efficiently.

Plan International Ethiopia is looking for MEAL coordinator for its humanitarian response project in Borena zone in Oromia. The overall purpose of this role is to strengthen Plan’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) system & accountability in our humanitarian response endeavours in targeted woredas of Borena zone. He/she ensures that program quality is reflected within the project cycle and the project implementation is undertaken efficiently and effectively by reflecting that all MERL requirements are in place and that cross-cutting issues of inclusion and DRR are properly incorporated.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Accountability (100%):

KPI 1: Ensures M&E is integrated into all Child Protection and Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) in Emergency new project designs & DIP ensuring that appropriate frameworks are incorporated and MERL planning is integrated across the project life cycle

• Identify performance indicators, develops quality assurance protocol, and ensure all program aspects comply with Plan International MERL requirements.
• Establish and identify specific, measurable, and relevant indicators for Child Protection and MPCA in an emergency project.
• Engage in proposal preparations and ensure the establishment of logical frameworks, M&E work plans, and targets in child protection and MPCA project.  
• Engage and contribute to the PIE learning agenda as it relates to gender transformation in all child protection and MPCA project
• Collaborate with child protection and MPCA project staff to translate project learning and results into accessible technical products for global and country stakeholders.

KPI 2: Engage in the design of quality data collection tools, and ensure that quality data are collected, analysed, and used to improve ongoing Child protection and MPCA project implementation.

• Ensure data management system and result-based management in all child protection and MPCA project.
• Develop quantitative and qualitative tools and analysis frameworks for each of the child protection and MPCA interventions, including data collection instruments
• Use data to make programmatic recommendations to support the Programme Director’s presentation to the Country Leadership Team.  
• Develop routine data collection and validation tools/systems that optimize statistical efficiency and quality that ensure the results feed meaningfully into Child Protection and MPCA in the emergency project design and implementation plans.
• Engage in usage and implementation of programmatic data to PMERL through Taro work -offline mobile data collection, analysis metrics, and managing fieldwork in real-time.

KPI 3: Support program quality section in data synthesis and consistently make sure the submission of high-quality evidence results-based reports that informs Plan International  child protection and MPCA project’s performance indicators.

• Conduct and oversee the analysis of data from day-to-day child protection and MPCA project.
• Engage in the review of all child protection and MPCA project quarterly, bi-annual, and annual narrative reports and ensure accuracy and evidence and result based before submission to the heads for endorsement
• Support the MPCA and child protection in emergency project’s quality implementation and that they deliver as per action plans and according to high-quality standards.
• Support the implementation of the program quality framework and Program and Influencing Program Quality Policy

KPI 4: Develop and oversee monitoring and evaluation activities to track the outcome and impact of child protection and MPCA response implementation

• Ensure child protection and MPCA in emergencies adhere to the annual plans and M&E framework through regular monitoring visits to detect gaps and initiate corrective measures.
• Ensure that child protection in emergency and MPCA project activities has a robust monitoring plan in place and indicator trackers.
• Engage in the design and preparation of baseline, midline, and end-line surveys including preparation of Terms of References and protocol for all PIE child protection and MPCA in emergencies
• Supporting child protection and MPCA in emergencies through primary data collection efforts, coding, analysis, and interpretation, and cooperation with local consultants or firms

KPI 5: Manage Operational Systems Support and Capacity building programs for program personnel to help update their skills,

• Support in the capacity assessment of partners to identify strengths and capability gaps across the partners’ organization and develop a capacity development plan
• Explore and provide recommendations for innovative technologies to streamline MERL and other operational functions.
• Coordinate training, mentorship, and technical assistance support to the project staff of both PIE and partners, in the use of the MERL system and accurate data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Maintain positive contact with child protection and MPCA project implementing stakeholders & all parties enable to share and access knowledge and information.
• Work with child protection and MPCA in the emergency project teams to identify opportunities to streamline data management activities and provide Quality Control support

KPI 6: Engage with Child Protection and MPCA project staff to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of the thematically focused project,

• Perform duties assigned in relation to Child Protection and MPCA from the viewpoints of MERL.
• Understand tasks and complete assignments on time, and alert the field emergency coordinator/Manager if any bottleneck is expected.
• Ensure understanding and compliance with the Program Quality Framework and provide guidance and support to program staff.
• Play in the team and create a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence. 
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEIP) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility.

Dealing with Problems

• This position requires a very high degree of conceptual, analytical and deductive thinking. It requires ability to investigate into and solve complex problems that the project focuses on.
• The position requires an objective, integrated and multidisciplinary approach to programming.
• The post holder requires a clear understanding of the policies, procedures, strategic direction of the organization and the ability to conceptualize the existing interrelationships, organizational working environment and other prevailing conditions.   Ensures that Plan Ethiopia contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted. 
• Raise children’s rights/protection awareness and important of gender equality and respect to diversity within Plan and amongst partners and community members.
• Ensure equal participation and benefit of boys and girls and children with disabilities in all phases project cycle.
• Integrate safeguarding and gender issues within the M&E framework of Protection & MPCA intervention.

Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI)

• Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
• Ensures that all staff signed safeguarding policies;
• Implement Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in day to day work.

Job Requirement

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications/ experience essential:

• Bachelor Degree in fields such as Social science, Economics, Statistics or related fields.
• Practical knowledge on MERL and at least 5 years of relevant professional experience in this area in an NGO environment, preferably in humanitarian sector.
• Practical knowledge of establishing & MERL system and implementation, including development of different feedback receiving mechanisms and forms, feedback recording database, production of regular accountability report.
• Excellent skills and demonstrated experience of using MS Office and ICT.

Qualifications/ experience desirable:

• Experience in humanitarian contexts is preferable.

Knowledge

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of the core humanitarian standards.
• Knowledge of effective participatory accountability systems.
• Knowledge of current international development trends and thinking on programme effectiveness, learning and in Child Rights programming, Gender & Inclusion.

Skills specific to the post

• Excellent conceptual and strategic thinking skills
• Strong analytical skills and high attention to detail
• Negotiation and influencing skills
• Excellent writing and editing skills
• Strong team building and motivational skills
• Skills of Statistical data analysis
• Strong organizational and project management skills, and ability to deliver within tight deadlines
• Establishes strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures.
• An understanding of and commitment to the aims and values of Plan.

Competencies

• Able to perform under stress, innovative, build relationships, communicate effectively, coach and mentor, facilitate change, develop teams, initiate action, strategic decision making, planning and organizing and a personal commitment to children’s development and protection.

Languages required

• Fluency in English language is essential.
• In addition to Amharic, Knowledge of Afan Oromo is a requirement.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

We create a climate of trust inside and outside the organisation by being open, honest and transparent. We hold ourselves and others to account for the decisions we make and for our impact on others, while doing what we say we will do.

We strive for lasting impact

We strive to achieve significant and lasting impact on the lives of children and young people, and to secure equality for girls. We challenge ourselves to be bold, courageous, responsive, focused and innovative.

We work well together

We succeed by working effectively with others, inside and outside the organisation, including our sponsors and donors. We actively support our colleagues, helping them to achieve their goals. We come together to create and implement solutions in our teams, across Plan International, with children, girls, young people, communities and our partners.

We are inclusive and empowering

We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge inequality in our programmes and our workplace. We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives. We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential.