The Organisation

Plan International is a girls’ rights organization that partners with adolescents and children around the world to overcome oppression and gender inequality, providing the support and resources that are unique to their needs and the needs of their communities. Working in more than 75 countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas, Plan’s holistic, rights-based approach ensures that our project participants achieve their full potential with dignity, opportunity and safety. Our projects are designed in partnership with communities and strategically address systemic issues that often transcend sectors. As such, Plan demonstrates technical expertise across a range of intervention areas: education, health, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), protection and youth economic empowerment. In addition, Plan has a robust humanitarian response and disaster preparedness practice. With extensive local networks and community reach, Plan drives positive change through broad community participation, achieving sustainable results by actively engaging and providing services to individuals, families, communities and governments. Plan International has been working in Malawi since 1994.

Position Description

Plan International is seeking a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Advisor for the anticipated USAID-funded Secondary Success Activity. The MERL Advisor will be responsible for leading the design and implementation of the program monitoring and evaluation framework and information system to track delivery against targets, outcomes and impacts. S/he will lead analysis of data collected for assessment of progress and areas of improvement and overall data management. S/he will guide reporting processes amongst technical staff and consolidates program reports, and promote learning and knowledge sharing of best practices and lessons learned. The position is contingent upon award of the project by the donor.

Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the design, implementation, and ongoing revision of the program’s MERL plan ensuring that it responds to the needs of the program and adheres to USAID guidance.
• Develop data collection methodologies and tools.
• Train staff and local implementing partners on MERL plan, systems, concepts, tools, and processes.
• Ensure data quality by conducting routine data quality assurance activities.
• Collaborate with technical leads to develop a comprehensive research and learning agenda that contributes to program implementation and documenting of program results through gender-sensitive project indicators, sex- and age-disaggregated data, and data-gathering and analysis modalities.
• Oversee all research related activities, including developing terms of reference, reviewing research methodologies, and overseeing data collection of third party research partners.
• In coordination with the program team, help with the identification, analysis, and synthesis of lessons learned and best practices.
• Oversee donor reporting.
• Work closely with the MERL Advisor at Plan USA to ensure that the program’s M&E systems are compliant with Plan USA policies and procedures and USAID rules and regulations.
• Ensure Plan’s Child Protection Policy and Guidelines and Research Standards are adhered to during project implementation.
• Represent the program positively and professionally to internal and external stakeholders.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• A masters’ degree in a relevant discipline, such as business, statistics, or international relations.
• At least seven (7) years of experience designing and implementing monitoring and evaluating activities for complex programs.
• Demonstrated experience managing MERL activities on USAID-funded projects;
• A firm command of MERL issues with respect to improvements in USAID-funded programs.
• Demonstrated experience in setting up and managing MERL systems that track performance as per the objectives of this project (e.g. service integration and performance against each result area).
• Demonstrated analytical skills to measure the outcomes of the project’s activities and support project supervision.
• Strong writing and organizational skills for monitoring and reporting on program and program outcomes and impacts.
• Experience supervising a team of MERL specialists and officers.
• Work experience in Malawi or East Africa strongly preferred.
• Fluency in English and excellent oral and written skills required.

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 organisation 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 maximise 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.

We are inclusive and empowering

• We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential
• We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace
• We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives.

Location: Country Office, Lilongwe.

Type of Role: Fixed Term

Reports to: Chief of Party

Grade: Level 16

Closing Date: 20 May 2024

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

Qualified females are encouraged to apply!

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.