Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

Role Purpose

The purpose of this position, is to:

• Contribute to the success of M&E strengthening work including supporting the implementation of Plan International’s global Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Frameworks and approach for improved measurement, analysis, reporting and learning on our performance, effectiveness and impact of our programmes and influencing work.
• Provide technical support to the implementation and further development of a new global monitoring and evaluation system (PMERL) to ensure that we are able, as an organisation, to capture, store, analyse and report on our progress and results in a consistent and coherent way
• Support the implementation of an overall global system (Programme Y.O.D.A.) in the ROA countries, including the integration of the PMERL system with Y.O.D.A.
• Contribute to enhance M&E capacity in our offices to apply the above approach, principles and standards and system in order to generate and act on evidence to inform our programmes and influence and learn.

Dimensions of the Role

This position is matrix managed with the formal reporting line into the Head of Gender Transformative Programming & Influencing in Plan International’s Region of the Americas (ROA) Hub and a dotted line to the Global Head of Monitoring and Evaluation.

The M&E Specialist will lead the successful implementation and use of Plan International’s new Monitoring and Evaluation system (PMERL), together with specific projects to strengthen M&E across ROA Country Offices, provide technical M&E inputs to regional initiatives and strengthen our learning and reflection processes.

Accountabilities

Outlined below are the key responsibilities for this position.

Support continuous M&E improvement

• Provide technical support to Country Offices and the ROA Regional Hub, including to implement new global frameworks, system and approach and fully implement the global MERL Standards’, high quality guidelines, tools and upskilling as prioritised by Country Offices.
• Enhance M&E capacity of different teams across the organisation.
• Lead the successful implementation and use of a new global monitoring and evaluation system (PMERL) with portfolio of countries and with the ROA Regional Hub.
• Support the implementation of an overall global system (Programme Y.O.D.A.) in the ROA countries, including the integration of the PMERL system with Y.O.D.A.
• Support Country Offices and the ROA Regional Hub in the conceptualisation, planning, implementation and use of M&E evidence.
• Support Country Offices involved in the new Sub-Regional Strategy of Central America and Mexico in order to strengthen their common MERL work plan.

Strengthen regional reporting and analysis

• Contribute to the production and socialisation of high-quality analysis and reports for Country Offices and the Regional Hub.
• Undertake quality assurance of data in the M&E System.
• Provide technical leadership to potential meta-evaluations/sector evaluations.

Provide high quality technical expertise

• Provide technical support to Plan International’s Technical Networks, specifically at Country Office level, including the development and testing of methods and tools for new global M&E Frameworks.
• Provide technical inputs to Regional Hub M&E needs e.g. Strategy, Programme Quality and Transformation.
• Provide quality technical support and advice on MERL initiatives and strategy to Plan International Country Offices and ROA Regional Hub as and when requested.
• Support the review and approval of Ethics Approval Requests for MER initiatives as part of the Ethics Review Team of Plan International.

Drive continuous learning

• Promote and facilitate an active M&E network across the ROA region and the sub-region of Central America and Mexico.
• Develop, promote and embed learning processes and practices across country offices.
• Contribute to drafting learning papers that capture lessons from Plan International’s work in order to inform the ongoing development of M&E in Plan International offices and use of evidence to improve programmes and influencing.
• Input into the development of Plan International case studies, to showcase insights and instances of success and failures in order to ensure ongoing learning and use of evidence.

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Key relationships

• CO M&E Managers and Specialists to provide technical inputs to the implementation of Country Office M&E Strengthening Action Plans.
• Programme Support Managers (PSMs) and/or Deputy Country Directors for Programmes to ensure that M&E evidence and practice is used to enhance CO programmes and influence
• Country Management Teams and Regional Management Team on progress, capacity and status of M&E
• Global Technical Leads and coordinators to ensure that the results frameworks for Areas of Global Distinctiveness and programme models are properly applied in all offices
• Colleagues at the Global Hub and Regional Hub responsible for implementation of the Global Programme and Influence Quality Policy and Approach
• Colleagues from offices from around the Plan federation in the implementation of Plan’s M&E frameworks, system and approach
• Other organisations and forums externally, for coordination, collaboration, learning.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential

Knowledge

• Expert knowledge on monitoring and evaluation of development work, across a wide range of technical areas.
• Strong understanding of rights-based development programming, particularly in relation the major technical areas of Plan’s work.
• Significant experience and a strong understanding of processes, approaches, tools and methodologies that facilitate M&E, and organizational learning, that is up to date with best practices in the sector.
• Strong understanding of the realities of NGO programme management and limitations that impact programme monitoring, evaluation and learning.
• Understanding of different approaches to assessing and reporting NGO programming results, across a wide variety of contexts.
• A theoretical and practical understanding of gender attitudes and power dynamics, including why they exist and how they change, and how these attitudes and dynamics shape MERL approaches and methodologies.

Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Able to develop appropriate guidelines, tools and templates for improved M&E and implement them at scale.
• Able to develop global guidance that is simple and practical for field colleagues to understand and use
• Able to analyse large amounts of data and generate powerful reports and information from them.
• Communicating complex technical MERL concepts and terminology in simple language to non-experts. Writing in plain English.
• Strong collaboration skills, able to build cooperation and negotiate compromises.
• Strong attention to detail
• Proven experience of using online technology for communication and learning
• Fluent in Spanish.

Behaviours

• Listens to and consults with others with genuine curiosity and interest to learn
• Co-creates with diverse staff across the organisation
• Demonstrates genuine curiosity and enthusiasm to find win-win solutions when facing challenges and ambiguity
• Facilitates joint understanding and the development of good practices
• Inspire trust and support from others
• Promotes innovation and learning
• Takes responsibility for achieving significant results
• Able to build rapport with wide range of groups
• Demonstrably committed to Plan’s goals and values
• Committed to child safeguarding

Desirable

• Fluency in English is highly desirable
• Experience in or supporting M&E in multiple countries

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.

Physical Environment

Currently there is limited travel, but ordinarily regional travel approximately 50%.

Level of contact with children

Low contact: No contact or very low frequency of interaction

Location: One of the locations where Plan International has a legal entity in the Region of the Americas and which you have the pre-existing right to live and work**(Bolivia, Brasil, Colombia, Rep.Dominicana, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay or Peru).**