Position: MERL Officer
WHO WE ARE
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 its 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 80 years, and are now active in more than 87 countries.
Plan International has opened an office in Somalia/Somaliland and started programmes that focus on child protection, education and youth economic empowerment programming both humanitarian and development setting, working with/through partners and providing technical support to INGOs, Somaliland NGOs and the Government of Somaliland in Plan’s areas of expertise
ROLE PURPOSE
Plan International in Somalia is seeking to recruit a MERL (Monitoring, Evaluation research and Learning) Officer responding to both development and humanitarian programmes, and in particular to the needs of the most at-risk population – children and youth (especially girls and boys). The MERL Officer will be based in the Hargeisa with travel to project’s locations as needed.
The MERL officer will contribute to the design, implementation, and ongoing revision of the MERL system that meets the needs of the programme for learning, analysis, and reporting. Also, to support on activity-level and program-level monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning to ensure quality and consistency across the programme
MANAGEMENT SCOPE, REPORTING LINES, KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Reports to: MERL Coordinator
Key relationships:
Internal: Plan International staff including; Country Director, PMs, TS, Finance, HR, and Administration.
External: Project partners, government line ministries, target beneficiaries and other agencies and groups working in the child protection sector in Somalia.
LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN
The contact with children will be frequent.
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
This position is based in Hargeisa with frequent travel to field sites and partners’ offices in the country.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES
Monitoring, Implementation and Reporting (50%)
• To support in the development of M&E Framework and monitoring & evaluation plan for programme activities and indicators and ensure adherence to the plans and systems
• To support the analysis and reporting on programme and project progress and trends in terms of achieving results, using existing monitoring and evaluation tools and introducing new mechanisms and systems; identify constraints and resource deficiencies, and recommend corrective actions.
• Monitor and faciliatate regular upadate of database for regular reporting and data utilization
• Facilitate timely and regular programme monitoring in collaboration with project M&E team
• Coordinate/support documentations of trainings, review meetings, preparation of case studies.
• Coordinate, prepare, and consolidate all reporting (monthly, quarterly/biannual and annual) activities of the programme in collaboration with MERL Coordinator and others as needed.
• To lead the development and implementation of regular, participatory assessments/feedback and complaint surveys and mechanism with and for affected communities in accordance to Plan international regulations, Child Protection in Emergency Minimum Standards, Core Humanitarian Standards as well ensuring the alignment with already established systems and policies available;
• With the support of the CP team, develop and maintain the accountability mechanism within Plan field location and in coordination with partners.
Programme Design, Development and Implementation (20%)
• With the support of the project technical leads, to support in leading rapid and detailed mappings and assessments.
• Ensure that the quality of project supported M&E trainings, review meetings and supportive supervisions are maintained;
• Provide monitoring and evaluation training to relevant project staff, partner staff and government staff engaged in data management and utilization.
• Provides technical support to field teams in project activity monitoring, data organization and utilization and report writing.
Communication (10%)
• To attend regular calls, meetings, etc. as required by Plan International;
• In coordination with the Country Office Program manager and the Country/ Regional Programme Coordinator, the MERL Officer ensures that issues of gender equality, inclusion, child protection and safeguarding, accountability, risk and vulnerability are addressed and monitored throughout all programs.
Human Resources – Staff Supervision and Development (10%)
• To maintain open and professional relations with all the team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions and different task assigned to them;
• To coordinate and/or implement training and briefing of Plan International partners, and other key stakeholders on MERL.
• Ensure timely completion and submission of regular program and staff reporting and annual performance reviews, as appropriate;
Child protection, Gender Equality and Inclusion (5%)
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children, Young People and Programme Participants and Gender Equality and Inclusion 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
Other Duties (5%)
• Other duties outside your job description may be assigned from time to time.
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
Qualifications/ experience essential
• Bachelor degree or equivalent in Statistics or Social Sciences or another related field.
• 2 years of progressively responsible experience in working with M&E systems in an INGO, preferable in humanitarian, post-conflict recovery and/or development settings.
• Previous experience working within a team in a cross-cultural setting.
• Good understanding of gender and ability to engage on gender equality issues.
• Knowledge and understanding of best practices in M&E including global practices.
• Experience of conducting assessments in emergency contexts.
• Experience of training on relevant technical areas with a variety of audiences.
Desirable
• Excellent understanding of MERL tools.
• Experience working with partners to implement programming desired.
• Strong knowledge in planning, monitoring, evaluating programs and ongoing developments in evaluation tools and processes for protection projects.
• Previous experience with mobile data collection (Kobo, ODK, CsPro), SPSS, STATA and GIS mapping an asset.
Skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with excellent command of spoken and written English and Somali
• Excellent interpersonal qualities and the ability to work with people from a range of backgrounds, promote teamwork, flexible and able to handle pressure and conflict well in a calm and constructive manner;
• Excellent negotiation, representation, and facilitation skills and the ability to work comfortably in a very sensitive environment;
• Strong organizational and work prioritization skills and attention to detail;
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work cooperatively.
• Proven facilitation skills and demonstrated experience in leading joint group efforts;
• A passion for mission driven work and personal values aligned with those of Plan International’s purpose and values.
Languages required
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Somali is also mandatory (As the role is for the Nationals only)
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.
How to apply
To apply please click on the link below.
Career Opportunities: MERL Officer (46551) (successfactors.eu)
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.
Disclaimer: Plan International is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate applicants on any basis. We also do not charge Job seekers any fees at any point of the recruitment process.
Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply for this position.
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