Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning Specialist Jobs Vacancy at Plan International February, 2022
- Work closely with other project specalists to support the design, management and implementation of VUMA Project MERL systems, and key components of the gender transformative M&E system, and the use of gender data to contribute to annual work planning and budgeting processes;
- Develop and ensure application of effective data collection, tracking, and reporting to monitor project results, outputs, outcomes, training pre-post test results, knowledge acquisition, change of behaviours.
- Lead the baseline and end-line evaluation that can include primary and secondary data collection, household survey, KII and FGDs, Facility Assessment, Gender Assessment based on the project needs.
- Ensure the integrity and relevance of data collected from the project are reliable to support project achievements, and suggest timely adjustments to better serve project objectives and priorities
- Contribute to narrative reporting and donor compliance requirements, including reviewing data in Performance Measurement Frameworks, and work plans and ensuring VUMA Quality reports and work plans are results-focused
- Identify and proactively address all challenges and potential implementation issues the hinder project performance
- Monitor and supervise the project team to achieve its mandated targets in accordance to project plans.
- Keep Project Director abreast of significant threats, implementation deficiencies and opportunities.
- Coordinate, implementation, monitoring and reporting of VUMA project as prioritized in the project document
- Ensure the Integration of sustainable approaches, gender responsive and inclusion into all project activities as appropriate
- Ensure timely development of high quality both narrative and financial reports for the donor and government as needed.
- Work with project director and Finance manager on project financial analysis, review and oversight of project budgets and financial reporting.
- Work with the Finance Manager to monitor compliance issues and promote timely and solution-oriented follow up and action
- Drive results by ensuring compliance to donor contracts and operational plan is in place for timely and effectively inputs support from the CO to meet project obligations
- Oversee project management for all related project field activities;
- Oversee operational systems and structures to ensure effective administrative and logistics support to the project;
- Lead project team and Implementing partners in the capturing ongoing implementation learning
- Manage and monitor project team to apply results based monitoring and lessons learned to refine activities and implementation.
- Lead the project’s aspects of a qualitative and quantitative evaluations,
- Lead development of research protocols, data collection instruments, study operation procedures, analytic plans, training materials and request for permit submissions.
- Contribute to the project evaluation and formative research studies, including contributing to the development of tools and protocols and/or managing external consultants/partners.
- Provide support to quantitative research and evaluation studies led by external partners.
- Provide leadership on interpreting and synthesizing quantitative and qualitative evaluation findings in order to form a cohesive and coherent understanding of the project’s progress, learning, and impact.
- Cultivate relationships with internal and external stakeholders to partner with in designing high-quality research for the VUMA project.
- Lead and collaborate with project staff to translate project learning and results into accessible technical products for global and country stakeholders.
- Lead project’s data visualization efforts.
- Lead or contribute to regular project’s donor reporting, including preparing presentations or other deliverables to Country office, Plan Management, the National office, and donor.
- Conceptualize, convene, and present in technical consultations, webinars, and other engagements internally and externally.
- Design standardized templates and tools that ensure quality and facilitate the acquisition, aggregation and flow of information in programs
- Provide leadership, training and mentoring in the areas of MERL learning agendas, and other skills required for assessing the impact of programs.
- Lead a project team in planning for large-scale assessments and/or broad surveys (e.g. baselines, end-lines).
- Coordinate with project leadership and senior management to encourage a culture of learning within project staff.
- Lead a project team in planning for and oversight of external evaluations in partnership with program leadership.
- Ensure project use appropriate M&E systems and tools, to inform and improve each individual program, as well as feed into the broader country-level M&E system and country strategy.
- Support project and other teams in collecting sex and age disaggregated data and using gender sensitive data- collection methods in order to understand and respond to program results with diverse participants.
- Participate in the facilitation of project planning sessions, assisting team leaders in the development of their annual plans.
- Collaborate with HR on recruitment and on-boarding of new MERL team members.
- Develop and oversee implementation of a capacity building strategy for team members and partners.
- Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
- Active contributor and collaborator with Country Office counterparts to promote the use of MERL best practices.
- Strengthen linkages with other internal resources to enhance organizational learning where relevant to MERL.
- Maintain close working relationships with MERL counterparts in the country by attending MERL reflection meetings, and other relevant international NGOs, and local NGOs and associations in the project areas.
- Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
- Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of Safeguarding policies.
- Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
- Ensure compliance to COVID-19 and other outbreaks safety measures
- This position works closely with Project Director (high)
- This position works closely with the project M&E and other specialists staff within the project (high)
- This position work closely with other Head of MERL and other M&E staff across Plan (Medium)
- This position works closely with Thematic heads (medium)
- This Position works closely with MERL team in Plan Canada
- This position works closely with MERL staff of implementing partner organizations (medium)
- Master’s Degree or its international equivalent degree in development studies, social sciences, M&E, Demography, gender studies, or statistics, ideally with a focus on M&E;
- A minimum of five years of relevant practical experience in designing, implementing, and managing gender transformative M&E systems for donor-funded development projects, with specific experience in education, ASRH, gender equality and child protection projects;
- Experience managing real-time end-to-end data management systems and solutions, including ICT, enabling data collection, analysis, and rapid feedback loops;
- Experience with the development and overseeing the implementation of data collection tools and systems for the entry, analysis, and storage of data;
- Minimum of 5 years of providing training, and in a supervisory and/or management role, in monitoring and evaluation to all levels of stakeholders;
- Experience with adaptive management, iterative M&E, and effective feedback loops to ensure the use of data in strategic and programmatic decision-making;
- Advanced experience and skills in using quantitative and qualitative data analysis tools (statistical package) (e.g., SPSS, STATA, NVIVO, etc.) is an asset;
- Experience in designing and implementing digital data collection tools, for monitoring purposes as well as periodic data collection
- Experience in providing remote support or willingness to learn effective remote facilitation and support skills;
- Excellent report writing, analytical, and communication skills, including oral and virtual presentation skills
- In-depth knowledge of the M&E and preferably minimum 2 years of experience in Non-profit making organisation
- Knowledge of gender analysis and assessments, including approaches, methods, and frameworks;
- Demonstrated knowledge in developing and leading gender-transformative MERL strategy to guide large program delivery
- Knowledge in leading a diverse team and in context of multiple stakeholders with complex relationshipsa
- Analytical and problem-solving skills
- Proficient computer skills and use of relevant accounting packages
- Ability to work under multidisciplinary and multicultural environment
- Excellent communication skills, with demonstrated ability to write technical reports
- Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
- Fluent spoken and written English and Kiswahili
- Hardworking with capacity to work independently with minimum supervision
- Honest, integrity, open and transparent personality.
- Working towards achieving a team goal
- Be able to Respect all groups of people in the community and culturally sensitive
- Persuasive and able to work with different cultural settings
- Motivated, energetic and strives to develop and support others
- Result oriented and a team player
- Working for the best interest of the organisation and children
- Appreciate of child rights and gender equality
- Knowledge and experience with Global Affairs Canada’s (GAC’s) results-based management tools, donor requirements, and reporting processes, including M&E gender equality results is an added advantage.
- Experience managing rigorous M&E and knowledge of programs that support girls’ education.
- Data-driven, detail-oriented, self-starter with excellent analytic skills
- Demonstrated experience in data management and analysis.
- Demonstrated experience with data quality assessments and audits.
- Strong program management, presentation, team-building and interpersonal skills
- Advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Commitment to girls’ development and a values-driven work environment.
- Operate in a high-pressure deadline-driven environment with professionalism
- Managing project with strict reporting deadlines
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Working environment will include both typical office environment and field environment