Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Specialist - WVL at Plan International

About The Job

Dimensions of Role:

• The MEL Specialist will be responsible and ultimately accountable for developing and implementing the project’s feminist MEL system, providing capacity development in M&E to local women’s organizations, and developing and implementing the project’s knowledge management system, all with the ultimate objective of improving program effectiveness. 
• Feminist principles of co-creation of knowledge, collaboration, participation, transparency and respect for the agency of women’s organizations will be integrated in all aspects of this role. 
• The post-holder will be based in Addis Ababa yet travel to the project locations in Amhara, Oromia and SNNPR for approximately 30 - 40% of their time.

Typical Responsibilities - Key End Results of Position:
“What” is done and “why”, but not “how”; include indicators for success

• Feminist MEL System: 
  • Lead the participatory development and implementation of the project’s feminist MEL system. 
  • A strong understanding of results-based management, feminist principles, and technical proficiency in mixed methods, data collection, analysis and presentation is essential.

Expected Outcomes:

• Feminist monitoring and evaluation system, tools and processes are developed in a participatory manner with local women’s organizations and structured for measuring the results of the project
• Performance measurement frameworks and plans are finalized and validated with relevant stakeholders, and are inclusive of women’s empowerment domains and indicators
• Ability to integrate indices designed as composite measurements that aggregate, rank and summarize multiple indicators and data points.
• Creativity in developing qualitative and quantitative monitoring tools suited to the needs and capacities of WROs operating at different levels.
• Routine project monitoring is undertaken inclusive of tool design and development; data collection, cleaning and compilation; analysis, validation and sharing with relevant stakeholders.
• Management Information System is established and maintained to systematically collect, store and analyze output and activity information.
• Technical oversight and direction for baseline and endline studies inclusive of developing Terms of Reference and ensuring consultants deliver high quality reports (support in verifying the methodology, the relevance of the tools, and the quality of the report submitted) and value for money.
• Ensures M&E strategies in gender equality and women’s empowerment are responsive to the context, implemented consistently across all project activities (start-up to close-out), and adhere to best practices in the sector. 
• Advise on design and implementation to ensure achievement of results and advance project and organizational learning
• Responsible for ensuring all monitoring and evaluation activities are conducted in line with Plan International’s child protection/safeguarding and ethical principles and promote accountability to beneficiaries
• Performs any other duties to be assigned to support the achievement of organizational goals
• Capacity Development & Relationships: 
• Through participatory approaches, the MEL Specialist will provide capacity development and ongoing coaching to local women’s organizations. 
• Cultivating strong and respectful relationships with women’s organizations will be an essential component of this accountability.

Expected Outcomes:

• Contribute to the design, coordination and oversight of the organizational self-assessments and capacity building strategies for women’s organizations operating at different levels and in diverse socio-cultural contexts.
• Provide inputs and support in developing tools, guidelines and capacity building modules and reviewing all the material developed through the project and share its cutting-edge competencies in gender equality and evidence based programming with women’s organizations
• Provide capacity development and ongoing coaching directly to women’s organizations, specifically in strengthening their MEL systems
• Facilitate and guide the project team and women’s organizations in determining data sourcing, collection and reporting protocols, procedures and mechanisms
• Provide technical support and guidance to women’s organizations to fulfil grant monitoring and reporting requirements 
• Foster strong coordination and collaboration with women’s organizations through open and transparent communication, participation and joint decision-making, and respect for their agency and technical expertise.

Knowledge Management & Reporting: 

• Best practices and lessons learned are documented, shared, and integrated into programming.

Expected Outcomes:

• In collaboration with the project team, stakeholders and consultants (when relevant), compile raw data, choose data representations, and document lessons learned and best practices 
• Design and implement dissemination plans to share knowledge and findings with relevant stakeholders, including women’s organizations, government, donor agency, etc.
• As an integral member of the project team, ensure high quality data and learnings are available to inform planning, implementation and decisions
• Contribute to regular project narrative reports, ensuring high quality data and learnings are available to complete reports on time
• Identify and develop / improve opportunities for continuous improvement of systems, processes and overall learning and development with Plan International Ghana.
• Communications and Working Relationships:
  • Working contacts inside and outside the organization; include the purpose and level (high, medium, low) of the contact
• High level contact: Internal: 
  • The Project level program team, women’s rights organizations and Plan International Canada
• Medium level contact: 
  • The Project operations team, the CO based technical advisors; contact with Plan International partner organizations (WROs) to ensure compliance;
• Low level contact:  
  • Maintains low contact with other staff from the Program Unit and country offices to offer support for understanding and implementation of the Women’s Voices and Leadership related activities

Knowledge, Skills, Behaviours, and Experience Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives: Gained through education, training, & experience
Qualification and Experience:

• Advanced degree in statistics, measurement, planning, monitoring & evaluation, development research, or other relevant fields.
• Strong understanding of results-based management tools and approaches
• Demonstratable expertise in developing and implementing M&E systems
• In-depth knowledge of the processes, procedures and systems in project planning, management, monitoring and evaluation.
• A minimum of 8 years experience in program planning, monitoring, evaluation and research of complex development projects
• Knowledge of statistical analysis, quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques
• Coaching and mentoring skills for building the capacity of women’s organizations in M&E and learning
• Proven experience in facilitating and delivering various trainings using participatory approaches.  
• Knowledge in Gender programming and working with WROs is an advantage.
• Capacity building experience in project design, implementation, reporting, and evaluation.
• Demonstrated behaviours needed by the postholder to successfully perform the role:
• Passion for feminist principles, mission driven work and personal values aligned with Plan International.
• Commitment to working transparently and with integrity.
• Inclusive and empowering approach to leadership and project management.
• Demonstrated creativity and willingness to innovate.
• Flexible and adaptable work style to respond to an evolving context.
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Communicates clearly and effectively
• Committed to respecting  deadlines

Skills Specific to the post needed to put knowledge into practice:

• Demonstrable experience in implementing M&E framework in multimillion-dollar institutional grants through donors such as Global Affairs Canada, USAID, DFID and European Union. 
• Strong understanding of feminist principles, gender equality, and women’s empowerment.
• Strong understanding of feminist monitoring and evaluation, and results-based management tools and approaches.
• Strong understanding and proven application of project cycle management.
• Skills in the design, entry, analysis of data in Microsoft Excel  and Access as well as for Microsoft word and PowerPoint; knowledge of statistical software (e.g. SPSS) preferred
• Experience in SAP is an advantage
• Solid writing skills (report writing etc.)
• Self-starter takes initiative and works with minimal direct supervision.
• Strong inter-personal and cross-cultural skills.
• Flexible, able to shift directions quickly and occasionally work long hours to meet tight reporting deadlines.

Physical Environment and Demands:

• May be “typical office environment”; note if heavy lifting, climbing, excess travel, etc.

Travel requirements:

• This post holder will be stationed in the Country Office in Accra with regular travel (approximately 30% of time) to project locations where women’s rights organizations operate. 

Level of Contact with Children:

• Responsibilities of this job require a low level of contact with children. 
• Plan International’s global policy on safeguarding children and young people will be adhered to at all times.