MERL Coordinator

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.

Plan started working in Egypt in 1981 and has a presence in ten of the 27 governorates in which the country including Cairo, Alexandria, Giza, Beheira, Kalyoubia, Damietta, Qena, Assuit and Sohag. Plan international Egypt implements programmes designed to enable communities to improve the lives of the most marginalised children and their families. Plan Egypt’s Country Strategy focuses on five strategic objectives.

Through a five-interconnected, gender transformative and context-fit country objectives, PIE intends along with the various stakeholders at all levels to continue delivering positive and transformative changes so that “Children, especially girls, and young people grow up in an enabling environment, realizing their rights and contributing in both development and humanitarian settings as active agents of change”.

 Purpose

The purpose of the role is to oversee the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework for projects or programs, ensuring that activities are effectively tracked, outcomes are accurately measured, and insights are generated to inform decision-making and improve future performance. This role drives the effective implementation of Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) initiatives within Plan, ensuring that programs and projects are systematically monitored, evaluated, and documented to enhance their impact and contribute to organizational learning and accountability. MERL Coordinator plays a vital role in supporting evidence-based decision-making, improving program quality, and maximizing the organization's ability to achieve its development and humanitarian objectives.

Scope

MERL Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the planning, implementation, and management of all Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) activities within the organization. This includes developing and implementing MERL frameworks, designing data collection tools and methodologies, conducting evaluations and assessments, analysing data, synthesizing findings, and disseminating lessons learned. The MERL Coordinator collaborates closely with program teams to ensure that MERL activities are integrated into project cycles and contribute to evidence-based decision-making and program improvement. Additionally, the MERL Coordinator is responsible for building capacity among staff and partners in MERL-related skills and competencies.

Accountabilities:

Planning and Framework Development:

• Develop and implement Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) frameworks, plans, and systems across all programmatic areas and projects within the organization
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure that MERL frameworks are aligned with organizational priorities and donor requirements.
• Establish clear indicators, targets, and milestones within MERL frameworks to measure progress, outcomes, and impact effectively.
• Tool Design and Methodology
• Design and implement data collection tools, methodologies, and processes to effectively capture relevant indicators and outcomes, ensuring alignment with project objectives and donor requirements
• Incorporate innovative approaches, such as mobile data collection, participatory methods, and mixed-methods approaches, into MERL activities to enhance data reliability and validity
• Provide guidance and support to MERL staff and partners on the implementation of data collection activities, ensuring adherence to ethical standards, and quality assurance measures.
• Monitor data collection processes and activities to ensure they are conducted efficiently, accurately, and within established timelines.

            Evaluation and Assessment

• Lead and /or and/or support the planning and execution of baseline assessments, mid-term evaluations, final evaluations, and other MERL activities to assess program effectiveness, impact, and sustainability

• Lead and facilitate evaluations and assessments using various qualitative and quantitative methods, including surveys, interviews, focus groups, and participatory approaches.
• Analyse collected data and qualitative analysis techniques to identify trends, patterns, and insights relevant to program effectiveness, efficiency, and impact.
• Interpret evaluation findings in collaboration with stakeholders to generate actionable recommendations for program improvement, adaptation, and scale-up.

         Reporting and Dissemination

• Synthesize evaluation findings and lessons learned into comprehensive reports and presentations for internal and external stakeholders, ensuring they are accessible, engaging, and relevant.
• Represent the organization in MERL-related forums, networks, and working groups, fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and partnerships with peer organizations and stakeholders

     Integration and Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with program teams, technical advisors, and implementing partners to integrate MERL activities into project cycles, annual work plans, decision-making processes and reporting processes, promoting a culture of learning, reflection, and adaptive management
• Facilitate participatory processes, such as Theory of Change workshops and outcome mapping, to promote stakeholder engagement, ownership, and alignment around MERL priorities and activities.
• Ensure compliance with organizational MERL standards, principles, and guidelines, as well as donor requirements
• Contribute to the development of funding proposals, concept notes, and reports by providing MERL-related inputs, evidence, and insights
• Monitor and evaluate the performance of MERL activities and initiatives, identifying areas for improvement and innovation to enhance the organization's MERL capabilities and impact

  Capacity Building:

• Provide technical assistance, mentorship, and training to partners on MERL-related skills, competencies, and tools, fostering a culture of learning, reflection, and adaptive management.
• Develop and deliver training modules, workshops, and communities of practice on topics such as MERL fundamentals, research design and data analysis.

Safeguarding Children and Young People 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 in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in project design, during implementation and as principles applied in day-to-day work of Programme team;

Please click here to view and download the JD

Location: Delta Program Area, Alexandria.

Type of Role: One-year fixed term contract.

Reports to: MERL Manager  

Closing Date: 05/02/2025

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.