MERL Manager

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 know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. 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.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

The Opportunity

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Manager for ECHO project, “IHOPE – Integrated Humanitarian Operation for Protective Education in Conflict-Affected Communities and Refugee Settings across the regions”, funded by DG ECHO. The MERL Manager for the ECHO-funded consortium project will oversee all MERL activities within the project, which is implemented across different project intervention regions. The project includes education in emergencies and child protection for conflict and displacement-affected populations. The position will lead the development and implementation of MERL systems, ensuring timely and quality data collection, analysis, and reporting, and will support adaptive learning, accountability, and compliance with donor requirements.

The MERL Manager leads the planning, monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities, including conducting assessments, conducting baseline and end-line surveys, and outcome harvesting to track progress and impact with high visibility and communication. He/she provides technical guidance to programme teams and partners, ensures that all MERL activities are sensitive to girls and women, and builds staff capacity in MERL practices. The role requires close coordination with consortium partners, stakeholders, and affected communities to ensure participatory approaches, accountability, and continuous learning, ultimately strengthening the programme’s ability to respond to the complex needs of conflict-affected and refugee communities.

The Individual

• BA/Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Statistics, Development Studies, or related field.
• At least 7 years of relevant MERL experience in humanitarian or development programming, including at least 3 years in a managerial role.
• Experience working on multi-sectoral humanitarian projects (e.g., Education, Child Protection, WASH and FSL).
• Well-experienced in developing tracking systems and preparing performance progress narrative, periodic donor and internal reports using internal and donor standard tools and newly developed tools. DRM reports, HRP and RRP reports.
• Experience in managing consortia projects in complex humanitarian settings, specifically life-saving assistance.
• Strong knowledge of donor requirements (it is an advantage EU/ECHO) and international humanitarian standards (e.g., Sphere, CHS).
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing MERL frameworks and tools.
• Experience managing evaluations, assessments, and research, including both qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Excellent data analysis skills using software such as Excel, SPSS, or Kobo Toolbox/ONA.

Please click here to review the full job description

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 per the appropriate procedures.
• Ensures that all staff in the unit/function/department are properly inducted on and understand their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies;
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in day-to-day work.
• Ensures that Plan Ethiopia contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.

Location: Addis Ababa, Country Office

Type of Role: ECHO project 

Reports to: Consortium Manager 

Grade: D2

Closing Date: June 22, 2025

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.