MERL Specialist - ECHO Project

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.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES

 Plan has a performance management and accountability matrix SOP. Every position holder is expected to adhere to the SOP and review and review her/his responsibility against the accountability matrix.

KPI 1: Ensures M&E is integrated into all Child Protection and Education in Emergency new project designs 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 Education 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 education in emergency projects.  
• Engage and contribute to the PIE learning agenda as it relates to gender transformation in all child protection and education in emergency projects
• Collaborate with child protection and education in emergency 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, analyzed, and used to improve ongoing Child Protection and Education in Emergency project implementation.

• Ensure data management system and result-based management in all child protection and education in emergency projects.
• Develop quantitative and qualitative tools and analysis frameworks for each of the child protection and education in emergency 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 Education 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 PIE child protection and education in emergencies projects performance indicators.

• Conduct and oversee the analysis of data from day-to-day child protection and education in emergency projects.
• Engage in the review of all child protection and education in emergency 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 education 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 Programme and Influencing Program Quality Policy

KPI 4: Develop and oversee monitoring and evaluation activities to track the outcome and impact of child protection and education emergency program implementation

• Ensure child protection and education 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 education 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 education in emergencies
• Supporting child protection and education 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 education in the emergency project implementing partners and stakeholders and enable all parties to share and access knowledge and information.
• Work with child protection and education in the emergency project teams to identify opportunities to streamline data management activities and provide Quality Control support

KPI 6: Engage in Organizational Strategic Planning, Monitoring, and Program quality management

• Ensure that donor and CLT data queries related to Child Protection and Education In the emergency area are addressed in an accurate and timely manner.
• Build an organizational knowledge base through research
• Collaborate with the management team to set Child Protection and Education In the emergency milestones and Key Performance Indicators.
• Work closely with Child Protection and Education In the emergency to support the design, management, and implementation of MERL systems. 
• Support Child Protection and Education In the emergency teams to apply results-based monitoring and lessons learned to refine activities and implementation
• Track the execution and application of the Country Strategic Plan (CSP) in the Child Protection and Education In the emergency program design

KPI 7: Design of quantitative data analysis frameworks for internal evaluations and assessment and digitalizing quantitative data collections tools for PIE ECHO-funded Child Protection and Education in Emergency projects

• Management of data quality through the digitalization of data collection and ensuring child protection and education in emergency projects MERL staff have the capacity of using KOBO
• Ensure child protection and education in emergency projects MERL staff uses data management software such as SPSS, STATA, etc. in data analysis and quality interpretation.
• Support the operationalization and usage of the new PMERL System, through monitoring and validation of the Child Protection and Education In the emergency project quantitative data input in the PMERL system
• Based on child protection and education in emergency program demand, develop data dashboards, graphs, and visualizations for child protection and education programmatic quantitative data for program improvement

KPI 8: Engage with Child Protection and Education project staff to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of the thematically focused project,

• Perform duties assigned in relation to Child Protection and Education In the emergency area MERL.
• Understand tasks and complete assignments on time, and alert the MERL Manager if a 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.

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 in the unit/function/department are properly inducted on and understands their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies;
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in day to day work.
• 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.

Job Requirement

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications/ experience essential:

• Education at BA/BSC/ Master’s Degree level or equivalent in Social science, Development studies, Economics, Statistics, and Management
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience working on gender transformative monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning.
• programs/ projects or demonstrated equivalent combination.
• Practical knowledge of monitoring and evaluation methodologies, including log frames, result chains, theories of change, and assessment/evaluations.
• Experience in staff/team management, coaching, mentoring, capacity building, and performance review and appraisal.
• Demonstrated knowledge of strategic planning processes
• Depth and breadth of knowledge of Plan’s global and national strategies and policies.
• Ability to communicate effectively and authoritatively in area of expertise. 
• Ability to develop effective working relationships across a network.

Qualifications/ experience desirable:

• Demonstrated experience in operational and programming processes, systems, and principles, and the ability to provide leadership and support to staff working at regional & community levels.
• Sound understanding of integrated development issues and critical analysis of child poverty
• Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts.

Languages required

• Fluency in the English language is essential
• In addition to Amharic, Knowledge of Local Languages is a desirable

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.