Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child. 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. In Zimbabwe, we have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 31 years. Plan International operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Coordinator (MERL) – Digital Skills 4 Youth Project

Location: Harare Program Area

Job Description

Reporting to the MERL Specialist, the MERL Coordinator with a direct working relationship with the MERL Manager, Project and Program Area Manager provides guidance and support on MERL activities in line with the MERL policy and standards, Program and Influence Quality Policy and Procedures.

Accountabilities

Monitoring and Performance Management

• Ensuring high-quality and timely delivery of all MERL products as defined in the specific project MERL framework.
• Performing quantitative and qualitative analysis of the information collected in the project, organizing it into reports for different purposes and different audiences. The analysis needs to be gender sensitive and inclusive.
• Plan and coordinate data quality assurance, including frequent data auditing and data spot checks for the Project.
• Ensure effective utilisation of PMERL for data collection, storage, analysis, reporting, data aggregation at different levels including use of data for reflective learning & feedback for the Project. The incumbent will also be responsible for ensuring quality and complete data entry; and reporting in the system
• Support the development and rollout of project targets and standards to ensure the delivery of quality outputs.
• Provide technical guidance in developing and maintaining the project M&E database, including overseeing and leading the continuous update of project milestones in the PMERL system
• Regularly track project progress and update the project indicator performance trackers to support the project reporting obligations to different stakeholders.
• Consolidate, track and share action points agreed upon monthly in all project review/reflection meetings and ensure all action points and next steps are comprehensively closed out promptly.

  Knowledge Management and Learning

  • Work collaboratively with project team to maintain a ‘knowledge hub’ for the project that will meet the information needs of the identified audiences.
  • Build a well-curated database for learnings from evaluations, intervention reports, and other relevant information; ensure that users can navigate and upload or retrieve information quickly.
  • Work collaboratively with the Communications team to support content management on the project and other information-sharing platforms; perform regular analytics to monitor utilisation and enhance user.
  • Contribute to the quarterly and annual reporting requirements by providing timely and quality data to the MERL Manager.
  • Contribute to the deployment of appropriate, gender sensitive and inclusive community feedback mechanisms, ensuring processes are in place for timely and adequate analysis and response.
  • Work with the MERL Team to ensure that strategies for monitoring, evaluation and learning are fully integrated into all of our activities and that lessons learned are incorporated into the design of new projects and funding windows.

    Evaluation and Research

    • Support planning, design and coordination of project evaluations and research initiatives to ensure delivery of quality initiatives including implementation of the sampling methodology and data collection for evaluation and research initiatives.
    • Review the project evaluation and research reports and give recommendations regarding approval to programme management
    • Esure dissemination of the project evaluation/research findings to donors, partners, key stakeholders and communities and their utilization in learning activities.

      Capacity Building

      Provide PIZ staff and stakeholders with technical advice and support, enabling them to carry out Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning according to best practices:

      • Conduct routine monitoring field visits of all the project activities to establish learning and development needs, using data collected to inform the learning and development of MERL interventions contributing to the knowledge and application of MERL best practices.
      • Monitor capacity as the project is ongoing and provide technical support needed to ensure effective results measurement & reporting.
      • Design and implement practical learning activities in collaboration with colleagues & stakeholders to facilitate effective knowledge capture and sharing
      • Build capacity of staff and partners on MERL initiatives in line with Plan` s MERL approach
      • Quarterly Consolidate, follow up and document best practices, case studies, lessons learnt, Most Significant Change Stories and reflection of the project to provide evidence on project impact, including inclusiveness

        Safeguarding, Gender Equality & Inclusion

        • Ensure that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People 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 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.

          Qualifications and Experience:

          • Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Quantitative Economics, Social Sciences, Social Work, Development Studies or a related field. Additional training at Post Graduate level in Monitoring and Evaluation, project planning and management or a related field is an asset