MERL Coordinator Job at Plan International

Full Time Tz Rukwa March 1, 2025 Administrative

Job Overview

MERL Coordinator

Plan International

Functional Area: MERL
Reports to: Head of MERL with dotted line management to PIAM
Location: Rukwa
Travel required: 50%
Effective Date: 1st March, 2025

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BACKGROUND

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan has over 80 years’ experience and works in more than 75 countries across the world. We strive for a just world, working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners.

Plan International has been working in Tanzania since 1991. Our work supports marginalised children and youth, especially adolescent girls, to grow up physically and mentally healthy and ready to shape their future. We create an enabling environment and empower girls to be active drivers of change in realising their rights. We prioritise working with partners, and ensuring all of our work is evidence based.

Plan Tanzania has launched a new country strategy and its programme results framework to guide evidence-based and quality programme delivery to communities. The programmes include development and humanitarians mainly to enable vulnerable population’s access to quality Health services (Maternal Neonatal Child Health, Sexual Reproductive Health and Nutrition), Education, Water and Sanitation (including Menstrual Hygiene Management), Youth Economic Empowerment, and Child Protection. These programmes are in 21 districts within Eleven regions across the country – Dar es Salaam, Pwani, Mwanza, Geita, Rukwa, Dodoma, Morogoro, Lindi, Mtwara, Katavi, Kigoma and Mara.

Plan Tanzania has a MERL department to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and results of the programmes/projects for all the thematic areas, to inform evidence-based programming and influencing work, and to be accountable to National offices, donors, Government of Tanzania, and national and local stakeholders we are working with. This Job descriptions is detailing roles of MERL Coordinator who will be supporting for the Projects and Sponsorship activities in the Southern Zone.

ROLE PURPOSE and Dimensions

The position holder for the role of MERL Coordinator will coordinate MERL technical initiatives to all projects (grants and sponsorship funded) in Southern Programme Implementation Area, mainly in ensuring quality MERL initiatives in GGE and SPAD projects in all their circles from the design, planning, implementation, and the transit phase as per project duration, and lead routine monitoring of project’s relevance and coherence in accordance to Southern PIA local government and the community. The person is responsible to develop and implement M&E framework and the M&E plan for Southern PIA. He/She will lead documentation of learning from the project processes and tracking adoptability of the projects’ existing data collection tools for the grants and sponsorship projects within the location. Further the position is to ensure MERL ethics and safeguarding ethical standards are adhered to in the Southern Program areas. He/She will also ensure thorough qualitative and quantitative data analysis and reporting, and at most ensure PMERL systems inputs and usage.

The position will work closely with Sponsorship and Grants implementers in the Southern Zone and all related M&E staff in the country office including the provision of MERL technical support to project staff, and staffs to partner Organizations in the areas of Monitoring and Evaluation. This position has a direct report to HoMERL, and dotted to Programme Implementation Area Manager and the Project Lead .

The MERL Coordinator is responsible for ensuring comprehensive and effective performance in Monitoring and Evaluation plans, and Accountability and Learning trackers are in place for all projects in the locations. Conduct frequent quality monitoring visits against Quality Benchmarks as agreed by the respective project coordinators, and capacitate the program team on regular MERL template/format/form of data collection and reporting as well as reviewing Indicator Performance Tracking Tables (IPTTs) of all existing projects and Multi Year SPAD. Making sure the complaint & feedback mechanisms are well functional in the designated area. Keep good coordination and collaboration with all program team and partner staffs as well in all aspects of data management and information use for quality and results-based project management. Maintain regular report preparations and share with proper channel.

The post-holder is expected to coordinate MERL activities, and system implementation including monitoring program quality; rolling out accountability initiatives, coordinating implementation of projects evaluations, studies, and assessment and MERL budgeting process. The MERL coordinator will support project research works, dissemination of results, promoting and facilitating data use for innovative programming to achieve the project-desired change. The post-holder will also support MERL teams, and partner staff in data consolidation and management of quality project implementation. While the post-holder reports to the HoMERL he/she will sometimes be required to consult the Thematic Leads to ensure efficiency of work in the specific areas.

Accountabilities

MERL Design and Planning

Coordinate technical revisions and adaptation of log-frames, theories of change and M&E frameworks and plans for GGE project and sponsorship projects in Southern PIA.
Design and roll-out M&E tools for tracking outputs and results for Project and the Multi Year SPAD indicators, including coaching and providing capacity building to Plan International and partners staff to use the tools.
Support business development department in proposal design through consultation with community members to identify cultural and social norms that perpetuate inequalities between girls and boys. Map required interventions in resolving them that will fit to the Global priorities of the country strategic plan
Develop Terms of references for location-based studies and evaluations, with clear objectives, evaluation questions, and questionnaires, that adheres with PlT Ethical and MERL standards be it internal or external evaluation.
Work closely with project and support staff to ensure adequate budget allocation for monitoring activities in Rukwa PIA for sponsorship and grants projects.

MERL Implementation

Support roll out of PMERL systems in Southern PIA, including capacity building to staff to update data in the system and produce quarterly monitoring reports as generated from the system.
Lead use of PMERL system to track SPAD and GGE projects’ outcomes performance indicators; develop and review indicator’s performance from PMERL to share to management meetings and programme platforms.
Rollout GGE and SPAD results frameworks, M&E frameworks, and M&E plans in line with Plan International MERL standards in Southern PIA.
Consult relevant technical leads at Country office and work with implementers to ensure quality project implementation in alignment with country programme quality & influencing plans and appropriate approaches.
Roll out M&E tools as required for the active projects in the implementation area, including coaching and providing capacity building to external and government stakeholders who are directly involved in projects work.
Lead Coordination and implementation of VSLA/YSLA Health checks exercise, champion of change feedback assessment and implementation of the safeguarding assessment.
Ensure timely and accuracy data collection with quality acceptable for input in the project database including specific project MIS SAVIX and P-MERL system.
Updating the gender transformative marker based on agreed timeline from design, implementation to end line.
Periodic analysis and tracking, and updating of objectives, outputs, activities, indicators, and results efficiently over the life of the project;
Coordinate and supervise data collections for both internal and external evaluations, to ensure project standards and Plan Tanzania MERL standards are followed by the external evaluators.
Follow up implementation of evaluation recommendations by implementers at PIA level

Evidence and Results Based Reporting

Assist with timely and high-quality narrative reporting for both GGE project and Multiyear SPAD (monthly, quarterly, and final) and submit to PIAM and HoMERL.
Lead Southern PIA project’s (GGE and SPAD) beneficiaries counting Data quality assurance and development of related report.
Organize result dissemination workshop at community levels. Updating of PIA learning tracker which are very useful in tracking and documentation.
Every year, Collect and document the Most Significant Change stories as a result of each project implementation (GEE and SPAD) and share to MERLCO for further review and publication processes.
Together with the project coordinator, organize reflection and feedback meetings with project beneficiaries of the project’s implementation areas
Contribute in the internal reporting process of the PIAs to the Country Office.

Learning and Knowledge Management

Track projects’ learning as per GH learning trackers and develop and Project specific dissemination plan to ensure achievements of both grants and sponsorship projects are widely shared locally and internationally.
Every quarter use a GLH Learning trackers to document on positive and negative impacts the project interventions has realized across the intervention communities and share.
Provide appropriate information on the project(s) to facilitate effective engagement with donor and authorities from multiple levels of Tanzania government as required. He/She will ensure Plan International is preferably considered an active partner in Tanzania
Ensure GGE and SPAD projects Rukwa have their indicator tracking table updated every month, and share the status of project implementation with project implementers for project review.
Work together with the project coordinator on reflection and feedback meetings with GGE and SPAD project beneficiaries, and escalate learnings for project improvement.
Assist dissemination of evaluation findings to GGE and SPAD stakeholders at the PIA, including close out workshops of projects closed in the locations.
Ensure lessons learnt, successful practices and recommendations, are analysed, documented and disseminated for GGE and SPAD projects.
Develop abstracts and present projects achievements gained in Southern PIA assigned and disseminate in the conferences locally

MERL Capacity Building

Lead feedback and accountability mechanism training to Rukwa staffs and partners as well projects’ beneficiaries, and ensure all learning from feedback are used to improve project progresses and performance.
In collaboration with the Project Coordinator, Identify MERL training needs of GGE and SPAD project implementers and provide capacity building as needed.
Support and ensure GGE and SPAD implementation staff understand and are able to perform their role in MERL and Results based programming.
Building capacity and knowledge of staff in the locations on PMERL system usage and other grants specific MIS, datasheet, and dashboards.
Coordinate the project and partner’s team in the MERL associated issues make analysis of evaluation and survey’s findings including report-writing,

PMERL and Other Program Databases.

Coordinate Project set up and design in PMERL system, ensure project managers and coordinators are active with their roles in the PMERL system.
Serve as key support to Project Managers in creating projects within the system, with a specific focus on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) section.
For project assigned in PMERL system, ensure accurate and comprehensive inclusion of M&E components in PMERL system, aligning with project requirements and organizational standards.
For assigned project in PMERL system assigned as M&E manager or Officer, updated with output data on quarterly/annual basis for outputs indicators and develop dashboards and presentation.
Developing routine data collection and validation system and implementing data analyses for internal evaluations, and other strategies that optimize statistical efficiency and quality;
Manage and lead functionalities and usage of existing Programmatic reporting systems (i.e., BEST, DHIS2, MIS-SAVIX.) as well as the customized data asset based tools e.g TWB

Human Resources

Support recruitment and management of M&E volunteers, and data collectors and support them through appropriate coaching, mentoring, training and development when assigned in the locations;

Other

Participate in the Learning events/programme coordination meetings and planning sessions;
Other duties as requested by the Supervisors.

Key relationships

Internal (High): The position reports to the Head of MERL, closest working Relationship with PIAM and Project Managers, this position will work closely with M&E staff members, and project implementation team in the locations.
External (Low): Implementing partners (for DQA and capacity building), external Consultants, and functional networks within Plan.

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

Self-Leadership: Courageous in taking a lead, focused on Plan International Tanzania’s purpose and making the most effective contribution within own work context. Behaves in line with our values and safeguarding practices, inside and outside work. Challenges own attitudes, unconscious bias and behavior and speaks up when they see wrong doing, especially by those who use their power over others to create fear or abuse. Understand and adhere to the policies, processes, practices and standards relevant to own work and keeps their knowledge and skills up to date. Honest and efficient in use of resources, including own time. Takes responsibility for own performance and development: reflecting; seeking and listening to feedback; learning from mistakes; finding people or resources to help them learn. Constructive and optimistic in facing setbacks, challenges and change, using own initiative to analyze issues and improve things. Good team player, communicating effectively and being open and supportive towards those around them.
Leading Others: Setting and communicating ambitious but realistic work goals and priorities, explaining how these contribute to Plan International Tanzania’s purpose. Setting high standards for self and others’ behavior, inside and outside work. Championing our values and commitment to rights, gender equality and safeguarding. Supporting the health, well-being and both physical and psychological safety of our staff, including their safety to speak out. Holding self and others to account for what we have agreed, dealing with poor performance quickly, firmly and constructively. Creating a positive team spirit, helping people work well together, to reflect and continuously improve the efficiency and quality of what we do. Collaborating with team members, colleagues and partners in finding creative solutions to problems by sharing information, experience and ideas and actively seeking their input. Motivating and developing others by taking an interest, giving constructive feedback and praise, ensuring they are properly trained and helping them develop their potential. Positive about change and supporting others in adjusting to it, helping them understand.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES

Understands relevant functional and sectoral context including how the sector operates in terms of funding and governance and awareness of Plan’s purpose, values, global and country strategy
Manages administrative, financial, operational and reputational risk including risk assessment, communication, risk management and reporting in full compliance with risk-related standards, including in areas such as Child and Youth Safeguarding and Protection, Gender equality and inclusion, Counter Fraud, Safety and Security, and Ethical Corporate Engagement
Managing activities and resources including skills in strategic thinking, planning and organizing, financial planning and monitoring, negotiation and programme and project management
Managing people and information including skills in assessment and coaching, evidence-based management, communication skills, both speaking and writing, and digital working, including personal digital skills

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Bachelor Degree or equivalent in Computer Science, Statistics, Development Studies, Social Studies, or a related field, Having a Masters degree is an added advantage.
More than 5 years of relevant field-based M&E experience, including significant time in monitoring and evaluation for development, research experience is an asset.
Minimum of 5 years of providing training, and in a supervisory and/or management role, in monitoring and evaluation to all levels of stakeholders;
Experiences in M&E of Education projects, Child protection, Livelihood projects, and VSLA projects, and youth empowerment Projects.
Good knowledge of conducting qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, principles, statistical definitions, scientific tools, and techniques
Strong conceptual and analytical skills for planning, monitoring, evaluation, learning, and accountability
Ability to use cost effective and online applications for mobile data collection and data management
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
Ability and willingness to travel within the supported districts
This position requires high computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications, i.e., MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Internet and analysis statistical packages such as SPSS, STATA,, Epi-Info and others related packages.
Fluent written and spoken English language skills required.
Experience with rights based participatory MER approaches including social audit.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

In-depth knowledge of the M&E and preferably minimum 5 years of experience in international girls first, none profit making organization

DESIRABLE

Working with the project team and ensure project results are achieved timely without compromising with quality
Good command over conflict resolution while maintaining important relationships: Capability to resolve conflicts
Plan and schedule own work, interpreting instructions and selecting appropriate methods/tools for delivery.
Operate in a high-pressure deadline-driven environment with professionalism
Managing donor grants with strict reporting deadlines

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable: 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 organization for all children, girls & young people
We strive for lasting impact: 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 maximize long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises. Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.
We work well together: 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.
We are inclusive and empowering: 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

STAFF CARE & WELLBEING

Monitor personal wellbeing and practice self-care
Accessing support as needed
Ensure teams are cared for and look after each other
Manage KPIs and ensure wellbeing accountability

Physical Environment

Office environment with 70% travel to the field

LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN

High level: Frequent interaction with children during reflection meetings, evaluations, and research

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