MERL Coordinator | Afar, 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.

Dimensions of the Role

The post holder is responsible to support project designing, overseeing qualities of implementation processes, monitor, evaluate and sharing of learning by using PALS standards in general and NOs’ MERL requirements in specific. She/he ensures integration as well as smooth teamwork within and across other county programs at the program Unit level.  Key components of the position also include supporting the development and implementation of MERL system in all projects, networking, developing and strengthening partnerships and mainstreaming of child centred community development.

There are no listed direct or indirect reports under this role.

Accountabilities

Program design, implementation, and reporting

• Ensure in all emergency and refugee projects of Afar Program Area donors’ programmatic compliances issues on Monitoring and Evaluations are adequately met.
• Facilitate implementation of research activities conducted by consultants or by internal capacities within standard qualities for emergency projects.
• Support knowledge management and learning efforts by producing periodic project monitoring reports, cases stories and articles for all emergency project of Afar Program Area.
• Ensure PALS standards and areas of enquires are mainstreamed in PCM processes.
• Ensure there are learning and reflection platforms on PALS as it is a core MERL business of Plan globally.
• Lead the Management and proper implementation of SAP program system for Afar Program Area.
• Produce PA level programs’ performance reports such as monthly updates, quarterly, APPR, CPPR, etc timely and with standard qualities and communicate to the CO and PAM.
• Lead programs’ mid-term and end evaluation and provide timely feedbacks to the project holders and country MERL specialist about the outcomes.
• Collaborate with project coordinators in the PA and with COs staffs (when required) to develop monitoring and evaluation frameworks for specific emergency program/ thematic areas.
• Strategies are mainstreamed across MERL tools and frameworks and are implemented accordingly.
• Ensure the mainstreaming of CP, DRR and inclusion in PCM process.
• Collaborate with other functions (finance, grant compliance coordinator and inclusion) to ensure that PALS standards and processes are integrated across functions.
• In consultation with country MERL specialist and PET leader contribute to the development of the wider work of Programme Effectiveness team on a flexible and supportive basis.

Policy engagement and networking

• Provide technical inputs for the development of networks and clusters to promote effective program designing and quality implementation.
• Participate and contribute for collaborative and positive partnerships and alliances, and to influence policy that maximizes the impact of the country program.
• Support the efforts to establish linkage and good relationships with relevant government authorities, NGOs, UN Agencies, academic and research institutions and the media to draw information and knowledge for program quality and effectiveness.
• Follow up and makes proper documentation of regional government policies, strategies and plans with respect to all projects in the PA

Partnership development and strengthening

• Assess capacities of implementing partners on MERL system in general and as per NOs requirements in particular and accordingly design necessary capacity strengthening mechanism.
• Participate in implementing partners’ selection and approval process representing MERL system.
• Contribute for the development of partnership principles and implementation to ensure program effectiveness and quality delivery.

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

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) 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. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

• Ensures that the team members under supervision are properly inducted on and understands their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies;
• 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 of programme/ project implementation.
• Integrate safeguarding and gender issues within the MERL framework.

LEADERSHIP MANAGMENT COMPETENCIES

• Courageous in taking a lead, focused on Plan International’s purpose and making the most effective contribution within my own work context.
• Behave in line with our values and safeguarding practices, inside and outside work.
• Challenge own attitudes, unconscious bias and behavior and speaks up when they see wrongdoing, especially by those who use their power over others to create fear or abuse.
• Understand and adhere to the policies, processes, practices and standards relevant to own work and keeps their knowledge and skills up to date.
• Honest and efficient in use of resources, including own time.
• Take responsibility for own performance and development: reflecting; seeking and listening to feedback; learning from mistakes; finding people or resources to help them learn.
• Constructive and optimistic in facing setbacks, challenges and change, using own initiative to analyse issues and improve things.
• Good team player, communicating effectively and being open and supportive towards those around them.

BUSINESS MANAGMENT COMPETENCIES

• Understand relevant sectoral context including how the sector operates in terms of funding and governance and awareness of Plan’s purpose, values, and global strategy
• Manage legal and reputational risk including risk assessment, communication, risk management and reporting in full compliance with risk-related standards, including in areas such as Child and Youth Safeguarding and Protection, Gender equality and inclusion, Counter Fraud, Safety and Security
• Manage activities and resources including skills in strategic thinking, planning and organising, financial planning and monitoring, negotiation and programme and project management

Qualifications/ experience essential:

• Bachelor Degree in fields such as Social science, Economics, Statistics or related fields.
• at least 5+ years of relevant experience out of which 3 year 3 years on a senior level experience.
• Practical knowledge of monitoring and evaluation methodologies, including development of log frames, result chains, theories of change, assessment/evaluations and sound analytical and problem-solving capability; ability to influence others’ behaviour through effective relationship building; thorough current knowledge and understanding of relevant policies, frameworks, etc.
• Experience in digital data gathering and analysis package is a plus.

Qualifications/ experience desirable:

• MERL experience in coordination qualitative and quantitative tools
• Experience in humanitarian contexts is preferable
• Experience using and problem solving with digital data collection tools

Knowledge

• In-depth knowledge of project cycle management.
• Knowledge of effective participatory Monitoring, Evaluation and Research systems
• In depth understanding of knowledge management principles, tools and processes.
• Proven knowledge of evidence-based learning including MERL data analysis and information sharing for learned decision making and project adjustment.
• Knowledge of current international development trends and thinking on programme effectiveness, learning and in Child Rights programming.

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
• Experience with M&E for Education programming in a refugee context.
• Skill of team coordination, supervision, leading and facilitation of different MEL events and data collections. Skills of Statistical data analysis
• Training delivery skill to different audiences in tehari of MEL and PCM.
• 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.

Languages required

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

Leadership Attitudes & Behaviours

• A predisposition to collaborative positive engagement with all other parts of the field office.
• A commitment to communicate in a timely manner.
• Relates to people in a friendly, open manner and engenders trust from other staff
• Creates strong sense of purpose within organization and with stakeholders
• Humble, supportive, ethical and service oriented
• Promotes innovation and learning.
• Pleasant and polite attitude at all times; ability to reflect professional standards
• Able to work with minimum supervision.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organization for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximize long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

Location: Afar 

Type of Role: MERL

Reports to: Program Area Manager 

Grade: D1

Closing Date: July 28,2023

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.