Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Specialist (Resilient BARMM Project)

The Organisation

Plan International Pilipinas is a girl-centered community-focused non-government organization, serving the Philippines for the last 64 years.

We are a newly locally registered Foundation, connected to 80+ Plan International offices worldwide.

We work with around 7,000 partner communities, or barangays across the country, delivering programs on (PIER) Protection from Violence, Inclusive Health, Education to Economic Empowerment, and Resilience and Humanitarian.

We have 30,000 sponsored children and 2.5 million program participants, co-creating lasting impact, especially for girls.

📢 We’re Hiring!

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Specialist

Resilient BARMM Project
📍 Based in Cotabato City (Project Sites: Mamasapano, Upi & Marantao)

🌱 About the Project: Resilient BARMM

Plan International Pilipinas, with support from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and Plan International Spain, is implementing Resilient BARMM, a transformative climate resilience initiative in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The project strengthens gender-sensitive and youth-led climate resilience by:

• Building local capacity
• Expanding access to sustainable and green livelihoods
• Institutionalizing inclusive and participatory climate governance

By empowering women, youth, and communities to actively lead climate action, the project supports inclusive and climate‑smart systems aligned with BARMM development goals.

👤 About the Role

The MERL Specialist plays a key role in ensuring evidence‑based, high‑quality, and gender‑responsive project implementation. You will lead the design, execution, monitoring, and evaluation of MERL activities across the Resilient BARMM Project.

You will provide technical leadership in:

• Designing MERL tools and systems
• Analyzing data to improve project strategies
• Documenting outcomes and lessons learned
• Ensuring consistent and quality application of MERL standards
• Supporting research and evaluation across all project components

You will also build MERL capacities of staff and partners, ensuring that monitoring, learning, and reporting processes are inclusive, participatory, and aligned with organizational policies.

🛠 Key Responsibilities

• Lead MERL activities at the project level and coordinate with stakeholders
• Work with the Project Manager, Specialists, and partner staff (HESED and MARADECA) to develop the project’s results and accountability framework
• Support regular reviews of MERL strategies and ensure the project adapts to evolving needs
• Maintain clean, accurate, and up‑to‑date data in MERL systems (SAP and PMERL)
• Design and conduct studies, assessments, and learning activities in collaboration with the team
• Develop downward accountability and feedback mechanisms, and ensure follow‑through on action plans

🎓 Qualifications & Experience

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Science, Statistics, Social Work, Community Development, or a related field

Technical Knowledge:

• Participatory, gender‑sensitive, and inclusive MERL approaches
• Data management, quality control, and validation processes
• Theory of Change

Experience & Competencies:

• At least four (4) years of MERL experience in community‑based or social development projects
• Strong skills in planning, implementation support, data collection, analysis, and reporting
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to use participatory development methodologies
• Ability to manage both quantitative and qualitative data
• Strong analytical skills to draw insights and lessons from MERL data

🌏 Why Join Us?

This role gives you the opportunity to:

• Contribute to an important climate resilience initiative in BARMM
• Work closely with women, youth, and communities driving climate solutions
• Support inclusive development, peacebuilding, and resilience efforts in Mindanao

Development professionals passionate about climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, and inclusive governance are strongly encouraged to apply.

Location: Cotabato City (base), with regular fieldwork to project areas

Type of Role: Project-based (until February 2028)

Reports to: Project Manager

Flexible working arrangements

Competitive compensation package (local T&C)

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.