MERL Officer -(Debark, Sekota & Kobo), Ethiopia

Job Description

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation 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 overall purpose of this role is to strengthen Plan’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) system of the BHA Multi sectoral emergency project in support of programme development, learning and accountability (PALS) and quality improvements in project woredas & 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 M&E requirements are in place and that cross-cutting issues of inclusion and DRR are properly incorporated.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES

Planning and Implementation of the Health and nutrition activities

• Developing MERL system, regularly tracking project progress and monitoring project’s contribution towards achieving wider objectives.
• Developing MERL planning system (tools for monitoring, Evaluation, learning and reporting).
• Ensures an effective performance tracking system is in place for inputs, activity, process, output, and outcome of project progress as per the set target.
• Undertake regular field monitoring visits and verify/assurance of data quality, data flow mapping, supervise quality of services provision, assess data collection system, storage, analysis and reporting process; share monitoring findings to implementing staff at project coordination office level and work with stakeholders.
• In collaboration with Project officers and coordinators, organize regular assessments and conduct a review of project progress, identify thematic areas for learning and future programming.
• Capture best experiences, organize learning and knowledge management activities from different events, training, workshops and findings collected from field works and; share lessons learned and produce progress reports of programs and prepare detailed implementation plans (DIP) for the programs.
• In collaboration with the Project Coordinator, other project staffs and stakeholders prepare plans and coordinate joint monitoring visits and project review sessions.
• Ensure necessary data is timely entered into the project database; properly analyze data and generate analytical summaries to be used for reporting and project improvement.
• Prepare and consolidated Monthly, quarterly, biannual and annual reports including success stories, Photos and timely submit them to the MERL coordinators and project managers
• Conduct timely baseline survey, midterm review, end-line survey and post-distribution monitoring

Technical Support and Capacity Building

• Train data collection and other M&E tools for field staff and develop a training manual
• Support data clerk on data management and development of reporting template
• Communicate with and support field staff to ensure the timely receipt of reports by communicating due dates, and regularly updating and maintaining project report tracking templates.
• Organize a platform and showcases learning and lesson-sharing events
• Provides technical support and conducts training for data collectors
• Facilitate and support in launching workshops, kick-off meeting and joint evaluation events
• Training colleagues in how to input and extract data
• Work to assist other members of the organization, including analysts, programmers and program coordinators who all require reports to collate information for planning, reference, reporting and communications purposes.

Monitoring and Supervision

• Conduct timely baseline surveys, midterm reviews, end-line surveys and post-distribution monitoring
• Collect and analyze community complaints and feedback regularly
• Facilitate/Conduct joint, supportive supervision with the government stakeholders and other partners
•        Facilitates and encourages regular review meeting and review schedules at all woreda levels and help the different institutions have institutionalized commitment;
•      Together with other Child protection, health and nutrition and WASH team sets project quality standards and action steps and monitor the performance accordingly;
•      Prepare a monthly program support plan that helps to visit field activities and provide formal and informal feedback to the program staff in terms of recommendations for improved performance;

•       Collect key client data and prepare reports on progress made, together with observations, challenges faced, and lessons learned

 Ensuring on time reporting, data quality and learning documentation

•        Prepare and submit weekly, monthly, and quarterly high-quality reports
•       Establishes and maintains documentation system for all program activities including, minutes of technical meetings
• Document project learning, success stories, case studies, and learning briefs
•        Ensure improved data collection and reporting systems during supportive supervision or monitoring field visits to each project’s operational areas

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

• Understand and put into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI
• policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC).
• Ensure that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and YoungPeople and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in day to day work.
•      Ensure 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.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications/Experience Essential:

•  MSc/MA or BA/BSc in Economics, Statistics, Sociology, public health, Information management and Developmental Studies
•     3 years and above relevant work experience in an NGO environment, involving the planning and implementation of both emergency and development programs out of which 1 year at the supervisory level

Qualifications/Experience Desirable:

• In-depth knowledge and experience in humanitarian program cycle/Project Cycle management, Business plan, child protection, health and nutrition, WASH and gender.
• In-depth knowledge of log frame and theory of change development
• In-depth knowledge of data collection and analysis tools
•   In-depth knowledge and experience in data quality assurance
•  Strong organizational and supervisory, Strong writing and reporting skills.
• In-depth computer and database development skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work within different cultural environments and Cross-cultural Awareness
•  Ability to work within a team structure, flexible, and can cope with stressful workloads and working with limited resources

Languages Required

·     Excellent English verbal and written skills.

·     Knowledge of the local language will be an asset

PLAN INTERNATIONAL’S VALUES IN PRACTICE

We are open and accountable

We create a climate of trust inside and outside the organization 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 b old, courageous, responsive, focused and innovative.

We work well together

We succeed by working effectively with others, inside and outside the organization, 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 programs 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.

Location: Debark, Sekota & Kobo

Type of Role: MERL Officer

Reports to: MERL Coordinator 

Grade: C1

Closing Date: June 13, 2023

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.