MERL Technical Coordinator (Jordan nationals only)

The Organization

Plan International Jordan is contracted by Novo Nordisk Foundation to implement a 5-year youth empowerment program called “Najahona” (2022-2026). The action will aim to complement JRP’s top priority, which is to strengthen systems to protect the dignity and welfare of Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanians impacted by the Syrian crisis. By doing this, the project will support Jordan’s enduring commitment to continue to build an integrated multi-year framework to respond to the Syrian crisis in a transparent, collaborative, and sustainable manner in line with the Global Compact on Refugees framework.

Plan International is an independent child rights and humanitarian organisation committed to children living a life free of poverty, violence and injustice. Plan actively unite children, communities and other people who share our mission to make positive lasting changes in children’s and young people’s lives. Plan supports children to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to claim their rights to a fulfilling life, today and in the future. Plan places a specific focus on girls and women, who are most often left behind. Plan have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries. Plan International Jordan was established in 2016 and has programmes in Azraq refugee camp and host communities.

The Consortium

The Najahona consortium is composed of five organizations, Plan International (Consortium Lead), The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), The Royal Health Awareness Society (RHAS), Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and The Confederation of Danish Industries (DI). The consortium partners bring an exceptional combination of experience, capacity and presence built on many years working with refugees and conflict-affected youth in ensuring access to Education, Youth Economic Empowerment, Health/Protection mainstreaming, gender and gender transformative approaches in various countries around the world and in Jordan, including the targeted governorates and the refugee camps. The consortium partners and local partners provide complementary reach to strengthen each other’s existing programming; while ODI and local partner Information & Research Center King Hussein Foundation (IRCKHF) are the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and research partners, ensuring our evidence-based programming, learning and research are integrated in all of our work.

The program will seek to empower Jordanian youth, Syrian refugees and other conflict affected youth, especially adolescent girls and young women, with skills and capacities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities and challenge and break down gender, social, economic and refugee barriers as active social and economic members of civil society.

role PURPOSE

Plan International in Jordan is seeking to recruit an experienced MERL Technical Coordinator to support the “Najahona” program. The MERL Technical Coordinator will be part of the Project Management Unit (PMU) which oversees the program’s implementation and quality. S/he will work under the supervision of the Deputy PMU Head as well as closely with the MERL/ programme focal points of all consortium members.

The post holder will be responsible for leading and coordinating all MERL activities across the five consortium partners. The MERL Technical Coordinator will ensure the MERL plan and activities are in place in order to support quality programming and a strong evidence-base for the relevance and impact of the consortium’s work. S/he will contribute to the design, implementation, and ongoing revision of the MERL system that meets the needs of the programme for learning, analysis, and reporting. Also, to support on activity-level and program-level monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning to ensure quality and consistency across the program. S/he will be part of different MERL technical working groups: organizing and facilitating regular meetings, compiling notes from the meetings, assuring that the activities and tasks are delivered as per the outlined time frame.

The PMU MERL Technical Coordinator ensures that the tools and processes in place are in accordance with the programme/donor standards and requirements. The PMU MERL Technical Coordinator, in collaboration with the PMU head and consortium’s MERL focal points, updates existing tools on a regular basis and actively contributes to the development of any new tools that are required.

The MERL Technical Coordinator will be based in Amman’s main office and will be responsible for ensuring that all MERL-related expected outputs are delivered on time, that they are embedded in the program design and strategies, and that they are in line with the overall set up of cooperation and coordination within the overall project structure.

Roles and Responsibilities

Under direct supervision and guidance of the PMU Head and in close collaboration with Plan International’s MERL Manager, Najahona MERL Coordinator, consortium’s MERL focal points, and program managers, the MERL Technical Coordinator will assume the following responsibilities:

1. Ensure timely, quality delivery of all program MERL deliverables from research partners

· Coordinate and ensure timely outputs from ODI/IRCKHF and MERL Working Groups

· Coordinate and ensure inputs from and participation of Youth Advisory Committtee in MERL processes

1. Provide Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) technical support to the programme:

· To support in the development of MERL plan for programme activities and indicators and ensure adherence to the plans and systems.

· To support the analysis and reporting on programme progress and trends in terms of achieving results, using existing monitoring and evaluation tools and introducing new mechanisms and systems; identify constraints and resource deficiencies, and recommend corrective actions.

· Monitor and facilitate regular update of database for regular reporting and data utilization.

· Facilitate timely and regular programme monitoring in collaboration with consortium’s MERL teams.

· Coordinate/support documentations of trainings, review meetings, preparation of case studies.

· Coordinate, prepare, and consolidate all reporting (monthly, quarterly/biannual and annual) activities of the programme in collaboration with Consortium’s MERL focal points and program managers and others as needed.

· Conduct MERL tools refresher trainings as needed for the Najahona consortium members and partners and also for newly designed MERL tools.

· Provide MERL inputs for all donor reports and government reports, as needed.

· Liaise with consortium members to ensure completion of After Action Reviews (AARs) following the completion of major activities, then share learnings from these AARs internally within the consortium.

· Lead learning events and activities, as informed by the project learning agenda, to support cross partner learning, and adaptive management.

· Ensure all partners appropriately refer complaints and feedback, and have appropriate mechanism to respond to sensitive complaints.

· Support the design of research and policy papers using mixed methods, quantitative, or qualitative approaches.

· Support and oversee the work of the research partner in conducting programme evaluations/ research (Baseline, Midterm evaluation, Final Evaluation, etc.) as needed, and ensure that consortium members use feedback and recommendations to inform changes in the programme design.

· Communication:

· To attend regular calls, meetings, etc. as required.

· In coordination with the consortium’s MERL and programme managers, the MERL Technical Coordinator ensures that issues of gender equality, inclusion, child protection and safeguarding, accountability, risk and vulnerability are addressed and monitored throughout all programs.

· Human Resources

· To maintain open and professional relations with all the team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions and different task assigned to them;

· To coordinate and/or implement trainings and briefings for partners and other key stakeholders on MERL.

· Ensure timely completion and submission of regular program and staff reporting and annual performance reviews, as appropriate.

The MERL Technical Coordinator may also be asked to undertake any other relevant tasks to support programme’s MERL as required.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

· Bachelor degree or equivalent in education, Social Sciences or another related field;

· Minimum of 3-4 years of progressively responsible experience in working with M&E systems in an NGO/INGO, preferable social work in humanitarian, post-conflict recovery and/or development settings;

· Working knowledge of (desired) / willingness to learn how to use (desired) digital platforms for data collection and management, such as YesMe! / Salesforce / SurveyCTO

· Working knowledge of (desired) / willingness to learn how to use (desired) statistical software programmes such as R, SPSS or Stata

· Experience using (desired) / understanding of (desired) both quantitative and qualitative approaches to analysis, and working knowledge (essential) for how to implement quantitative and qualitative tools for information gathering

· Previous experience working within a team in a cross-cultural setting;

· Good understanding of gender and ability to engage on gender equality issues;

· Good Experience in utilizing international tools such as: The INEE Minimum Standards Reference Tool accompanies and the INEE Minimum Standards Handbook.

· Knowledge and understanding of best practices in M&E including global practices, including participatory methods.

· Experience of conducting assessments in emergency contexts.

· Experience of training on relevant technical areas with a variety of audiences.

· Excellent written and oral communication skills, with excellent command of spoken and written English and Arabic:

· Excellent interpersonal qualities and the ability to work with people from a range of backgrounds, promote teamwork, flexible and able to handle pressure and conflict well in a calm and constructive manner;

· Excellent negotiation, representation, and facilitation skills and the ability to work comfortably in a very sensitive environment;

· Strong organizational and work prioritization skills and attention to detail;

· Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work cooperatively.

· Proven facilitation skills and demonstrated experience in leading joint group efforts;

· A passion for mission driven work and personal values aligned with those of Plan International’s purpose and values.

Ethical and child protection considerations

The MERL Technical Coordinator is required to provide a statement on the respect and protection of child rights, human rights and dignity of participants compliant with Plan’s Child Protection Policy and Gender Equality & Inclusion Policy. The MERL Technical Coordinator shall read and sign Plan’s code of conduct as fully understood and in agreement to in all respects and shall follow this in all and every respect during the term of this employment. The employee must follow Ethical Principles in research and obtain written/verbal consent from the targeted populations.

Level of contact with children

Mid contact: Occasional interaction with children

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 organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

· We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential

· We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace

· We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives. **

ROLE PROFILE

Type of Role:** Fixed-term Job

Contract Duration: Six months – renewable based on performance

Reports to: Deputy/ Head of Programme Management Unit & Technical Lead

Closing Date: 31 March 2022