MERL Coordinator

The MERL Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the quality and timely implementation of the MEAL framework of the BRAVE project funded by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The role supports gender transformative and disability inclusive sexual and reproductive health rights for children, adolescents, and youth in Oromia region, Ethiopia, working closely with project and partner staff to deliver MEAL products and build technical capacities.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the quality and timely delivery of all MEAL products as defined in the MEAL framework of the BRAVE project and aligned with the BRAVE program´s MEAL strategy and PIE’s new Country Strategy (2025-2029).
• Support the building of MEAL technical capacities of project staff and partners, especially considering Results-Based Monitoring (RBM) perspectives.
• Contribute to and strengthen evidence-based decision-making processes.
• Work in close collaboration with the project manager, SRHR Coordinators, SRHR Thematic Sector Lead, Insight Lead at Country Office, other project staff and relevant partner staff.
• Ensure 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.
• Ensure 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.
• Ensure 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.

Requirements

• University Degree, Masters degree in health, Statistics, Sociology/Social Sciences, Humanities/development studies, or related fields and at least 3 years of work experience.
• Bachelors degree in the above fields and a at least 5 years of work experience within the development/humanitarian sector advising or managing M&E processes.
• Experience in Results-Based Monitoring and PMERL is an asset.
• Experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.
• Experience in the use of Digital Data Collection tools or/and of data visualization software solutions is an asset.
• Experience in participatory facilitation and capacity development.
• Experience in working for an international organization and with local partners.
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken.
• Knowledge of Afaan Oromo languages is a requirement.
• Understanding qualitative and quantitative methodologies to MEAL initiatives for programme and influencing, including data collection and analysis, appropriate for different information needs, respondents, and contexts with a particular focus on those that are participatory, gender and age-sensitive, and inclusive.
• Understanding gender and inclusion attitudes and power dynamics, including why they exist, how they change, and how these attitudes and dynamics shape MEAL methods and approaches.
• Understanding sample strategies and frameworks appropriate for a wide range of data needs and MEAL initiatives.
• Understanding data visualization principles and approaches for a wide range of data types, and appropriate for different information needs.
• Ability to identify information and knowledge gaps at operational and strategic levels, strategizing for the provision of evidence from MEAL initiatives.
• Ability to promote and support young people, especially girls, to meaningfully participate and contribute to MEAL initiatives.
• Ability to support programme and influencing decisions at all levels through the provision of quality and appropriate evidence from ongoing monitoring, targeted research, and/or evaluative initiatives (baselines, midlines, evaluations, and reviews).
• Ability to operationalize MEAL initiatives with appropriate and aligned planning and budgeting processes.
• Ability to promote and support application of ethical requirements and principles in MEAL initiatives.
• Ability to deploy digital tools to support data collection, management, analysis, and reporting in line with the Principles of Digital Development.
• Ability to ensure data is of sufficient quality through embedding appropriate quality assurance approaches at all stages of the MEAL process.

Skills

• Results-Based Monitoring & Evaluation
• PMERL
• Qualitative Data Collection
• Quantitative Data Collection
• Data Analysis
• Digital Data Collection
• Data Visualization
• Participatory Facilitation
• Capacity Development
• MEAL Methodology
• Gender and Inclusion Analysis
• Sample Strategies
• Data Visualization Principles
• Evidence-Based Decision Making
• MEAL Planning and Budgeting
• Ethical MEAL Practices
• Digital Tools Deployment
• Quality Assurance in MEAL
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Baseline and Midline Evaluations

Languages

English, Afaan Oromo