MERL Officer at Plan International Rwanda : Deadline: 01-06-2022

OUR ORGANISATION

Plan International is a rights-based development and humanitarian organisation working for a better life for all children. We are independent of the government and have no political or religious affiliation. Our purpose is to strive for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Our global strategy has a specific focus on girls, as they are often the most marginalised and most often left behind. We have committed ourselves to the ambitious target of reaching 100 million girls over 5 years, to ensure they can learn, lead, decide and thrive. This is our contribution to reaching the sustainable development goals, and in particular the goals on gender equality. Our organisation is transforming itself to meet this enormous challenge everywhere we work. We need bold, forward-thinking and innovative individuals to lead our country’s operations, driving change and delivering results that will allow us to reach our target of 100 million girls.

ROLE PURPOSE

The MERL Officer will lead the research, monitoring, evaluation, documentation and learning components of the DGD Project. He/she will build the capacity of project staff in M&E skills and lead learning-based documentation of program progress. She/he will lead the development of the DGD project M&E tools, and checklists including supporting the Project Manager and MERL Manager to produce quality project reports both for Donor and country program reporting obligations.

S/he will ensure effective tracking and measurement of outcome indicators for the overall project and leading learning and reflection initiatives and S/he will take lead in documenting change realised through routine monitoring, collection of most significant change stories on project implementation following established guidelines, as well as ensuring quality assurance and technical oversight of the DGD project management scope, reporting lines.

Direct reports- The post holder will report to the MERL Manager with dotted line to Project Manager

Key Relationships

Internal:

• Programme Operation
• Program Quality
• Finance Department
• Business Development

External:

• Partners
• Donors

LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN

• High level interaction with children.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

• Based at CO with frequent travel to the Camps and PUs

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES

M&E Design and Business Development:

• Support project design and work closely with the Project Manager and MERL Manager to ensure clarity of results and priorities, in alignment with programmatic objectives and indicators.
• Support the development of M&E plans and budgets for projects and ensure comprehensive and detailed M&E budgeting.
• Design and Implement program monitoring tools as per program quality standards and key performance indicators, and ensure use of appropriate tools in collection, compilation, analysis and utilisation of findings.
• Ensure Plan International and donor standards such as safeguarding children and young peoples’ policy, research protocols, knowledge management and MERL standards and Guidelines are adhered to.
• Monitoring PMERL system progress report and supporting the process of entering the project into PMERL.

Research and Evaluative Studies:

• Provide technical support in developing design/methodology of studies, quality assurance of consultant reports during evaluations and studies in line with Plan International guidelines.
• Support recruitment of external consultants for evaluations, coordinate evaluations and research activities in their thematic area
• Oversee and quality assure consultants’ work in coordination with field-based staff.
• Coordinate ethics approval for studies, manage enumerator training and identify, mitigate/manage risks related to studies and evaluations
• Ensure development of management responses and action plans.
• Support the maintenance of a programme level tracker on lessons and implementation of key action plans.

Capacity Building and Quality Assurance:

• Support other project team and officers in their thematic area in implementing M&E standards
• Support the capacity building of project and M&E staff, including training project teams on results, indicators and tools for the programme and their project.
• Conduct routine Monitoring field visits and document key improvement actions based on the findings
• Data quality (completeness, comprehensiveness and correctness)
• Quality of monitoring and evaluation of projects to inform the design
• Building Plan International Rwanda and partners’ research capacity
• Taking the lead in data audits and verification
• Ensuring the field teams are compliant as per data needs
• Timely submission of data for entry and updating of the database

Report, Documentation and dissemination of lessons learned and good practices:

• Implement routine data collection system and support the implementation of database for DGD project

• Analysis, synthesis, and dissemination of evaluation findings, including maintaining a database of evaluation findings and responses.
• Closely follow the implementation of the Knowledge Management strategy
• Document lessons learned and good practices, lessons, success
• Facilitate regular project implementation and performance review sessions and learning events.
• Maintain and update the Project M&E database to ensure timely and quality data for evidence-based reporting, decision making and learning
• Provide information or data input for quarterly and annual reports

Representation, partnership, advocacy and coordination:

• Represent MERL and program quality related networks, platforms and workshops related to DGD Project
• Represent Plan International Rwanda in Interagency Accountability working group
• Establish smooth relationships with partners and government stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively with Plan International staff, donors and relevant government bodies

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 Rwanda 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

• Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Quantitative Economics, Social Sciences, Social Work, Development Studies or any other related field. Additional training at Post-Graduate level in Monitoring and Evaluation is an asset.
• At least 3 years of experience in M&E for integrated programs in humanitarian and development contexts.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in report writing, donor compliance and budget management.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with people from diverse cultures
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• Analytical skills in Research methodology
• Demonstrated experience in capacity building, mentoring, and coaching staff.
• Proven computer skills and knowledge of Microsoft software including MS Word processing, Powerpoint presentation, Excel spreadsheets, and statistical analysis packages (SPSS or STATA)
• Ability to work and stay in hard areas and familiar with programming for vulnerable children especially young girls and boys.

LEADERSHIP AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

• Courageous in taking a lead, focused on Plan International’s purpose and making the most effective contribution in Rwanda context.
• Behave in line with our values and safeguarding practices, inside and outside work.
• Challenge own attitudes, unconscious bias and behaviour and speak up when they see wrong doing, 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 keep 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 MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES

• Understands Plan International in Context, including its purpose, values, and global strategy, and can communicate these to varied audiences, including how Plan International will deliver on its objectives through the theory of change
• 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
• Managing activities and resources including skills in strategic thinking, planning and organising, financial planning and monitoring, negotiation and programme and project management
• Managing people and information including skills in assessment and coaching, evidence-based management, communication skills, both speaking and writing, and digital working.

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

• Research: Conducting and managing original investigations undertaken to gain knowledge and understand about issues critical to Plan International, from conceptualisation through to use including specific ethics processes.
• Statistics/ quantitative methods: Design, planning, collection, analysis and use of numerical information that can be transformed into statistics for analysis of trends, frequencies and correlation, to test objective hypotheses.
• Qualitative methods: Design, planning, collection, analysis and use of non-numerical data (transcripts, reports, stories, discussions, pictures, recordings etc.) to explore meaning, perceptions, opinions and perspectives from individuals or groups, to uncover the deeper meaning and significance of human behaviour and experience, including contradictory beliefs, behaviours and emotions.
• M&E in humanitarian response: Applying MERL processes and concepts to conflict affected context, protracted and rapid emergencies and refugees.

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 a 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.

How to Apply

Click on the Apply button for application until 01st of June,2022