Job Title: MERL Officer – Girls in Crisis Project (Fresher NGO Jobs)
Organisation: Plan International
Duty Station: Adjumani, Uganda
About Organisation:
Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And its girls who are most affected. 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 have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years, and are now active in more than 75 countries.
Job Summary: The M&E Officer is an important role within the MERL Unit. Providing operational services to both the MERL team and the various PIU projects. The role will be held accountable for ensuring that all planned M&E activities are managed in a structured manner guided by M&E principles ensuring all work is completed in a comprehensive and timely manner.
The M&E Officer provides M&E services and support to the MERL unit as well as Projects ensure that the fundamental M&E framework is in place. In addition, the role ensures that al M&E activities are embedded in program implementation and provides technical operational support and coordinates the management of M&E activities.
This position is responsible for managing an M&E related project budget that varies according to the planned MERL activities annually. The M&E officer will be responsible for the Girls in Crisis: Deepening Impact project whose goal is to improved access to quality health and protection services, increased economic opportunities and enhanced support for positive social norms for 10,000 adolescent girls and young mothers, and 5,000 adolescent boys and young men in Ugandan refugee settlements and the surrounding host communities of Adjumani district in West Nile region Specific Objective:
- Adolescents and young people in refugee and host communities within the target communities in Adjumani district demonstrate increased household incomes and improved food security through access to climate-smart livelihoods and entrepreneurship skills.
- Adolescents and young people in refugee and Host communities in project locations within Adjumani district have increased access to and utilization of quality, gender-responsive SRHR and protection services
- Adolescents, young people and grassroot organizations take collective action to influence local, national, regional and global leaders and formal and informal institutions to increase public investments and commitments towards especially improving policies around ending child marriage
The key challenge for this position is to ensure that M&E best practices and understanding are appreciated by all teams and that all activities are completed to the standard and quality expected. This requires the job holder to have: • Good understanding of M&E principles together with an appreciation of international/ local humanitarian developments Good organisational and planning skills; • Good analytical and logical thinking and writing skills.* Ability to capacity build others through appropriate coaching and mentoring interventions;* Proven computer skills and knowledge of Microsoft software including MS Word processing, Power point presentation, Excel spreadsheets, e-mail and web based research and • To be dynamic in learning and appreciating new data management and knowledge management systems.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
KRA 1: Strategy & Programming
- Contribute towards the development of MERL strategic and operational planning ensuring that aspects of MERL are embed in project planning
- Contribute to the design of the MERL strategic and operational plan ensuring all M&E components of projects are clearly defined and that all projects have clearly defined performance indicators.
- Contribute to the development of the Project MERL operational work plans and budgets.
- Support project team and partners to develop Detailed Implementation Plans in line with the proposal
KRA 2: Tools & Systems Development and update
- Proactively participate and contribute to the development and implementation of PIU MERL/M&E systems and tools supporting the successful implementation of M&E goals.
- Participate in the design and implement project monitoring tools as per project M&E plan and ensure use of appropriate tools in collection, compilation, analysis and utilization across the project
- Monitor on a quarterly basis the detailed implementation plan and provide consolidated and comprehensive reporting on the status on the implementation actives including next staps on outstanding activities.
- Regularly update the PIU systems with updated project data using adopted or customised tools as well updated data bank. Key systems of focus are Project Management, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning system (PMERL), SAVIX and accountability mechanism.
KRA 3: Capacity Building
- Participate in the Capacity Building of internal and external stakeholders of PIU, ensuring that knowledge is shared for consistent application of M&E principles.
- Plan M&E capacity building activities for the project team and partners to enhance quality reporting and data management.
- Deliver both ad hoc and scheduled capacity building (training, technical assistance, and coaching) to partners
- Establish a resource bank with up-to-date capacity development tools, training materials, and other capacity-building resources, and make them available to partners as needed.
- Highlight areas of risk and non-compliance identified through CB initiatives and advise on changes to the M&E risk profile.
- Actively participate in regular MERL capacity-building sessions, representing Adjumani in regular planning meetings and peer-learning forums to enhance program effectiveness.
- Continuously learn and adapt to organizational, donor, development partner, and government reporting systems to ensure accurate and compliant data management and reporting. Cascade this partners and staff as required
KRA 4: Monitoring & Performance Management
- Coordinate and plan the monitoring of EMPOWHER project and other PIU projects/ programs reviews and visits that will enable PIU to adaptively manage the performance of projects
- Support the development and rollout of project targets and standards to ensure delivery of quality outputs.
- Provide ongoing advice and technical assistance to the PIU’s Project managers concerning the effective and efficient measurement of results
- Monitor the implementation of the M&E process by ensuring regular monitoring spot-checks and reviews; compile and analyse the collected data to assess performance and identify lessons learned
- Monitor and consolidate project implementation findings against approved work plans and budgets to ensure timely and quality implementation as per contractual obligation
- Provide comprehensive reports, including M&E field activity reports, quarterly reach updates, biannual and annual progress reports, and donor-specific reports. I also prepare monthly PMERL and SAVIX reports, maintain Activity Info updates, and contribute to Uganda Refugee Response reporting. Additionally, generate ad-hoc reports as requested by donor, project manager, and MERL regional coordinator, ensuring timely and accurate documentation of program performance and impact.
KRA 5: Knowledge Management & Communications
- Work collaboratively with the MERL team to develop a learning organisation culture based on evidence collected and lessons-learned.
- Quarterly Consolidate, follow up and document best practices, case studies, lessons learnt, Most Significant Change Stories and reflection of the project to provide evidence on project impact including inclusiveness
- Proactively participate in the project’s research, evaluation and learning initiatives including reviewing and validating reports, and leading reflection and dissemination processes. Particularly, support the baseline, norms changes study, annual data collection and endline evaluations.
- Working with the Regional MERL Coordinator participate in the developments of a well-curated database for learnings from evaluations, intervention reports, and other relevant information; ensure that users are able to navigate and upload or retrieve information easily
KRA 6: Safeguarding, Gender Equality & Inclusion
- Ensure 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.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Quantitative Economics, Social Sciences, Social Work, Development Studies or a related field.
- A minimum of two years of experience in an M&E role in both development and humanitarian contexts is a priority. Experience in child protection and youth engagement is an added advantage.
- Demonstrated skills and experience in report writing, and an good understanding of donor compliance, rules and regulations in regards to M&E and budget management.
Skills & Knowledge
- Takes responsibility for own performance and development: reflecting, seeking and listening to feedback, learning from mistakes, finding people or resources to help them learn, keeping knowledge and skills up to date.
Critical Business Management Competencies
- Good understanding of broad trends in the development and humanitarian sector and key external organisations relevant to Monitoring & Evaluation.
- Good track record of planning and organising work effectively; managing time to deliver results against agreed priorities, objectives and quality requirements, to time and within budget.
- Good analytical skills as required to obtain and process information and numerical data from a range of sources and use the insights gained to inform decisions or communications.
- Experience of incorporating digital and technological solutions into plans and activities, to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of working practices, enhance communication and support innovation.
- Good understanding of key risk-related policies, procedures and standards, (for instance, good practice in Child and Youth Safeguarding and Protection; Gender, equality and inclusion; Counter fraud; Safety and Security); solid track record of compliance
- Good written and spoken communication skills, including in [any required language], with an ability to effectively adjust content and presentation so as to connect with an audience.
Critical Technical Competencies
- Experience in monitoring and evaluation of grant projects. Sponsorship knowledge is a plus
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects while working as part of a team
- Experience managing and monitoring systems for project monitoring and evaluation
- Demonstrated experience in capacity building, mentoring and coaching staff and programme stakeholders
How to Apply:
All Qualified and interested candidates should apply online at the link below.
Deadline: 24th July 2025
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Level of Education: Bachelor Degree
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: 24