Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Lead - Inclusive Quality Education Project

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.

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

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.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Plan International Malawi commenced its work in 1994 and currently supports programmes in 13/28 districts. Plan International Malawi currently has a new country strategy (2022-27) Core sectors of programming include Sexual reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), Inclusive Quality Education, and Skills and Opportunities for Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship (SOYEE)

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

ROLE PURPOSE

Plan International is looking for a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Lead, to effectively lead the monitoring, evaluation and learning activities for a 5-year project titled “Design, Implementation and Management of International Development Inclusive Education Programme”, in Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia. The programme will manage the distribution of scholarships for women and girls for completing secondary school/transitioning to tertiary education and/or TVET in Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia, aiming to remove barriers to access and increase girls and women’s participation in TVET and STEM subjects.

DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE

The Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Lead will be responsible and ultimately accountable for design and delivery of effective participatory MEL arrangements for the programme, including developing a MEL framework in conjunction with the Scottish Government’s International Development Team and stakeholders in the three countries, all with the ultimate objective of improving programme effectiveness. The post-holder will provide regional oversight and support across Rwanda and Zambia, whilst also delivering MEL requirements for the programme within Malawi. The post-holder will be based in the Country Office yet may travel to the project locations for some of their time.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND MAIN ACTIVITIES

MEL System: Lead the participatory development and implementation of the project’s MEL system. A strong understanding of participatory evaluation methodologies, feminist principles, and technical proficiency in mixed methods, data collection, analysis and presentation are essential.

Expected Outcomes:

• Work with wider MEL team to ensure participatory monitoring and evaluation system, tools and processes are developed for measuring the results of the project, and project data is collected, and validated by and shared with relevant stakeholders.
• Creation and implementation of participatory, inclusive, and empowering MEL frameworks.
• Co-designing the monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) methodology, system, tools and processes in a participatory manner with the core partners, key stakeholders (involving government, civil society and women and girls) and the donor.
• Monitor and evaluate outcomes and progress of the programme. This will include collating sufficiently disaggregated data annually, taking an ‘intersectional approach’, to determine the reach and impact of funded work.
• Ensure performance measurement frameworks and plans are finalised and validated with relevant stakeholders.
• Routine project monitoring is undertaken inclusive of tools design and development, and data collection, cleaning and compilation, analysis, validation and sharing with relevant stakeholders.
• Advise on design and implementation to ensure achievement of results and advance project and organisational learning.

Leadership and oversight: Work closely with Programme Director to lead high quality, feminist and results-oriented programme and MEL in compliance with donor and government agreements. Provide oversight and support to the MEL team’s in Rwanda and Zambia, ensuring coordination, and consistency across the three countries.

Expected Outcomes:

• Role models Plan International’s values and behaviours for staff and partner(s).
• Provides leadership and support to create a motivated, engaged and high performing MEL team across Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia.
• Ensures that all MEL team members are aware of the project objectives and their role in achieving them.
• Plans and coordinated tasks among the team, guiding their understanding of the issues linked to the project through touch points and feedback, to ensure the achievement of expected goals.
• Liaises with MEL team to ensure they receives the required support in a timely manner.

Knowledge Management & Reporting: Best practices and lessons learned are documented, shared, and integrated into adaptive programming.

Expected Outcomes:

• In collaboration with the project team, core partners and stakeholders, compile raw data, choose data representations, and document lessons learned and best practices of the participatory methodology.
• Design and implement dissemination plans to share knowledge and findings with relevant stakeholders, government, donor agency, etc.
• Coordinate and collaborate as the link between Plan International UK, the other two implementing Plan International Country Offices, and core partners, to ensure MEL tools and processes are standardised and learning is shared across the project.
• As an integral member of the project team, ensure high quality data and learnings are available to inform planning, implementation, and decisions.
• Contribute to regular project narrative reports, ensuring high quality data and learnings are available to complete reports on time.
• Identify and develop / improve opportunities for continuous improvement of systems, processes and overall learning and development.

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 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;
• Ensures that Plan Malawi contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOURS

Knowledge and skills:

• Academic Qualification BA/MA in Statistics, Gender, Sociology, Economics, or other related fields.
• 10 years' experience in a monitoring and evaluation role, working within complex development projects.
• Knowledge and experience of designing, facilitating and coordinating participatory MEL approaches.
• Proven experience in leading a team ensuring high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity and teamwork.
• Strong understanding of feminist principles, inclusive quality education and youth empowerment.
• Knowledge and experience in the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, including of descriptive statistical analysis.
• Proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications (e.g. MS Office and mobile data collection such as Kobo); knowledge of statistical software (e.g. SPSS) a benefit
• Strong report writing skills, with proven ability to write clear, insightful analysis, that is tailored to the audience.
• Ability to establish priorities in a time sensitive environment, track project performance, meet deadlines, and ensure high quality deliverables.
• Ability to fully function in English (verbal and written) in essential.
• Ability to think creatively about MEL, designing and implementing frameworks, tools and approaches that are innovative and targeted.

Behaviours

• Passion for feminist principles, mission driven work and personal values aligned with Plan International.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, including international colleagues, and build strong relationships across the project team and with partners/grantees.
• Commitment to working transparently and with integrity.
• Inclusive and empowering approach to leadership and project management.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills, natural ability to manage diverse opinions and agendas, finding win-win solutions in a respectful manner.
• Demonstrated creativity and willingness to innovate.
• Flexible and adaptable work style to respond to an evolving context.
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritize and meet deadlines.

Level of Contact with Children

Some contact with children, young people or programme participants.

• Act as a role model representing Plan International’s commitment to non-discrimination and safeguarding.
• Report safeguarding concerns in a timely manner and co-operate in investigations as appropriate.
• Understand the relevance of safeguarding to their role and make sure they mainstream safeguarding in their work in order to fulfil Plan’s duty of care.

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 organisation 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 maximise 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 organisation 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 organisation to build a better world for girls and all children.

Location: Malawi Country Office, Lilongwe

Type of Role: Fixed Term

Reports to: Country Director

Grade: Level 17

Closing Date: 16 April 2024

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

Qualified females are encouraged to apply.

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.