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

Plan International Ethiopia is looking for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Manager for a five-year project, “PlayMatters”, funded by the LEGO Foundation. This position will be a part of the larger PlayMatters initiative to increase play-based learning opportunities for 800.000 pre-primary and primary school aged refugee and host community children impacted by the humanitarian crises in East Africa and living in Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania. This project seeks to build children’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical and creative skills through play in their homes, schools, and communities and will be implemented in partnership with War Child, Plan International, Ubongo, Behavioural Insights Team and Innovations for Poverty Action.

The overall purpose of this role is to strengthen the Monitoring, Evaluation and Research (MER) as well as Accountability system of the LEGO Play Matters Project in support of programme development, learning and accountability (PALS) and quality improvements in Gambella, Afar and Benishnaguel Gumuz. He/she is expected to ensure that program quality is reflected within the entire project cycle and that all field program implementation (in Gameblla, Benishnaguel Gumuz and Afar) 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.

Dimenssions of the Role

• The post holder will report to the MEL Lead as well as to the LEGO Project Lead and will be responsible for the Lego PlayMatters project Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning
• The job holder is responsible for initiating, development and delivery of a Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Framework as part of the Lego Play Matters project.
• S/he provides managerial and technical leadership in the development of the Lego Play Matters project Monitoring, Evaluation and Research (MER) Plan.
• S/he will be responsible for providing technical leadership and support in program/project design, planning, information gathering and synthesis, reflection and reporting processes.
• The position will be based at the Country Office.

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.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Ensure Lego Play Matters project planning, monitoring and evaluation processes meet the Donor standards and comply with Donor accountability requirement.
• Co-managing databases and ensuring adherence to ethics and the standards established across the consortium and by relevant national policies,

• Provide quality guidance to Gambella, Afar and Benishnaguel Gumuz programs in implementing PALS in their planning, monitoring and evaluation processes of the Lego Play Matters project.
• Facilitate the monitoring, evaluation and research network in the country to promote good practice and identify ways to strengthen Lego Play Matters project’s planning, monitoring and evaluation processes.
• Contribute for the iteration of the MEL framework of PlayMatters project in the coming years.
• Ensure that M&E data from Gambella, Afar and Benishanguel Gumuz for both external and internal audiences as required are collected, analysed and availed for decisions
• Facilitate or carry out field level data collection for testing, research, and ongoing monitoring – going beyond tracking of MEAL indicators.
• Supporting learning and data use at various levels and groups, i.e. the field-based program teams, country-level Project Management Committees (PMCs), Content Development Committees (CDCs) and the Regional Project Team/Technical Working Group (TWG).
• Lead evaluation events such as baseline, midline and end line assessments by or contributing to draft terms of references, review and comment quantitative and qualitative data collection tools, facilitate/participate in data collection, data analysis and presentation of final reports also facilitate validations and reflections on key learning.
• Identify and respond to information requirements of different stakeholders and make information accessible on timely basis.
• Manage consultants and research partners to ensure that commissioned researches and evaluations are carried out to a high, international standard and successfully completed.
• Support knowledge management and learning by producing specific programme information resources.
• Produce Gambella, Afar and Benishanguel Gumuz level programs’ performance reports (quarterly, APPR and CPPR) to enable effective decision making by the management teams – both at PA and CO.
• Provide timely feedbacks to all relevant staff about the outcomes and quality of programs’ mid-term and end evaluation.
• Proactively seek and promote best practice as part of monitoring, evaluation and program effectiveness practice.
• Maintain consistency in monitoring and evaluation standards in the organization, leading the consistent application of MER system and donor’s compliance in programs’ cycle management process.
• Identifies weaknesses in monitoring and evaluation practice and develops targeted solutions alongside the identification and promotion of high-quality evaluation practice.
• Work closely with the Gambella, Afar and Benishanguel Gumuz Monitoring, Evaluation and Research coordinators to improve the quality of monitoring and evaluation and provide technical supports as needed to PAs and CO’s program team.

Accountability:

• In collaboration with the regional accountability adviser and filed level accountability coordinators roll out the accountability framework of PMs project.
• Responsible for accountability database and the overall system at plan country level.
• Managing accountability data and ensuring that community feedback cases are managed in line with PlayMatters’ accountability frameworks and PIE’s Safeguarding policy in cases where this applies,
• Facilitate regular monthly, quarterly and annually (joint) review and reflection sessions to discuss on project progress, lessons, best practice, challenges and way forwards as a key accountability mechanism
• Follow up the integration of feedbacks and complaints in the management decision and project quality improvement accordingly.

Learning/Research:

• Facilitate implementation of research activities conducted by consultants or by internal capacities within standard qualities
• Overall responsibility for research related data collections within Plan’s PMs project intervention sites (Afar, Gambella and Benishangul).
• Responsible for managing data quality.
• Coordinate the hiring and on-boarding of data collection staff including MEL and accountability coordinators Officers and lead enumerators.
• Coordinate enumerator logistics including hiring, on-boarding, and day-to-day management mainly at the time of different data collection activities.

Project Design:

• Support project designing, overseeing qualities of implementation processes, monitor, evaluate and sharing of leanings by using PALS standards in general and LEGOs M&E requirements in particular.
• Ensure PALS standards and areas of enquires are mainstreamed in PCM processes.

Program Integration and Mainstreaming

• Mainstream child centred community development approach in the project cycle to achieve appropriate participation of stakeholders and help them play a leading role;
• Mainstream child protection in the project and be vigilant to report all child protection and safeguarding concerns
• Foster collaboration and support at program level to develop plans for integrating programs with other thematic areas

Staff Management and Development:

• Supervise and coordinate the work of external consultant(s) during project evaluations, and other M&E activities where consultants are required under the PlayMatters project
• Build the technical capacity of the PlayMatters project and other staff and also ensure optimum community involvement in the conceptualization, development, management, monitoring and evaluation of the interventions.
• Organise regular performance review meetings to assess progress but also to agree on and communicate any changes in strategy with the key project stakeholders

Budget Management

• Manage M&E work plans and ensures relevant log-frame milestones and annual expenditure is achieved.

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 signed safeguarding policies;
• Implement Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in day to day work.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications/ experience essential:

• BA/Master’s degree in related field of study with 7+ years of work experience in an NGO setting

Relevant Experience: The successful candidate will have experience of:

• Establishing and implementing monitoring, evaluation, verification and learning frameworks, systems and tools within complex multi-country, multi-year development programmes, preferably focused education and/or girls’ empowerment programmes
• Developing and participating in monitoring processes, gained at least in part in a developing country setting
• Exceptional quantitative and qualitative data processing and analysis skills, including adapting/developing monitoring tools and surveys.
• Collating and analysing comprehensive monitoring and evaluation data from multiple sources to prepare succinct reports and creative materials tailored for the needs of diverse audiences.
• Providing technical leadership and capacity-building support for staff with regards to monitoring, evaluation and learning processes and tools.
• Using participatory monitoring and evaluation methodologies, ideally with children and young people
• Working in a development and developing country context
• Commissioning and/ or supervising monitoring and evaluation work by others
• Documenting and effectively communicating evidence and learning to improve practice, as part of an adaptive programming approach
• Utilising technology in innovative monitoring and evaluation methodologies

Skills specific to the post

• Supporting systems for learning, knowledge management and communications.
• CSPro and/or SPSS and of using ICT to collect, analyse and present monitoring information
• A range of qualitative and quantitative M&E approaches, methods and tools, including participatory methodologies, gained at least in part from the completion of relevant qualifications and/or training or through extensive experience in a developing country setting
• Current theoretical debates in the M&E of international development assistance.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships with colleagues.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including presentation
• Good team player
• Strong negotiation, influencing and problem solving skills.
• Demonstrated decision making and risk management capabilities
• Numeracy and the ability to interpret programs’ related MER findings and statistical data.
• Skills in developing monitoring tools, leading the process and reporting
• Ability to analyse information and evaluate options including of program planning, monitoring and Evaluation.
• Proficient in computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications

Languages required:

• Fluency in English language is essential
• In addition to Amharic other local 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.

Location: Addis Ababa

Type of Role: Monitoring and Evaluation

Reports to: LEGO Project Lead

Grade: D2

Closing Date: July 15, 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.