Senior Monitoring & Evaluation Manager 94 views0 applications

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 this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s 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 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 Sierra Leone is seeking to recruit and fill the position of Senior Monitoring & Evaluation Manager to be part of the Girls’ Access to Education – Girls’ Education Challenge (GATE-GEC) team based at the Country Office, Freetown. This role will support Plan International Sierra Leone’s work by monitoring the activities as aligned with organizational standards and best practices in projects.

 

Summary of the position:

Plan International strives for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls all over the world. 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.

The GATE-GEC programme is a four year programme that started in April 2017 and ends in July 2021. It aims to help marginalised girls and children with disabilities in six districts of Sierra Leone (Kono, Kenema, Port Loko, Karene, Moyamba and Kailahun) to reach their learning potential and to transition through primary school, into junior secondary school and beyond. The programme key interventions are: after school study group sessions, training to teachers on how to conduct effective and inclusive literacy and numeracy classes, mobilization of Village Saving Loan Associations, score-carding (community-based participatory accountability and feedback monitoring system), training and support of female learning assistants and student teachers, providing support for children with disabilities through community-based rehabilitation volunteers (CBRVs), provision of assistive devices, and setting up model schools.

With funding from the UK Aid – Department for International Development (DFID) – Plan International is leading a consortium of four organisations, Action Aid (AA), Handicap International, Open University (UK based) and Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) to implement the GATE-GEC programme in Sierra Leone, in close collaboration with the Sierra Leone Government Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE).

 

The Senior M&E Manager will lead Plan International and our project partners in the successful monitoring and evaluation of the project. Working across the 6 Districts, as the Senior M&E Manager you will work closely with the GATE-GEC Team Leader and partners to capture the right data and provide robust analysis to both understand the project’s effectiveness and inform ongoing programme decisions. You will also provide support to community organisations, implementing partners and Plan programme staff to implement appropriate tools and data collection techniques and ensure the right systems are in place to systematically measure project progress, as well as developing and maintaining quality assurance

DIMENSIONS OF ROLE

Leadership role: The role will directly line manage Plan HUB M&E Officer based in Freetown and will supervise and guide the Monitoring and Evaluation Officers across the Consortium to ensure effective and efficient performance in monitoring and evaluation tasks. You will understand how to motivate partners and build strong relationships.

Coordination role: Coordinate M&E staff working for consortium partners across the project to ensure they are supported to effectively monitor the project activities.

Communication: Maintain communication with consortium partners’ M&E staff to ensure timely inflow of data and analysis of data. They will be able to communicate complex evidence meaningfully to a range of stakeholders, including engaging the programme team, partners, government officials and community members.

Technical: Provide oversight of establishing and implementing monitoring, evaluation, verification and learning frameworks, systems and tools within complex programmes, preferably focused on education and/or girls’ empowerment programmes. You will bring exceptional quantitative and qualitative data processing and analysis

skills to the role, including adapting/developing monitoring tools and surveys, and be able to communicate technical M&E issues and results effectively. This includes being hands-on in the field as well as providing monitoring and evaluation support, advice and guidance throughout the project.

Quality: Developing and maintaining good quality evidence and processes across project data capture and reporting systems is an important part of this role.

Capacity building: Support critical thinking and learning processes such as reflection and review processes and encourage partners to do the same. Deliver key trainings to ensure field staff are well-trained in monitoring activities.

Staff management: Manage, mentor and support the professional development of the M&E Officer. Actively manage staff performance, development and collegiality, addressing issues appropriately as they arise.

 

ACCOUNTABILITIES

The Senior M&E Manager will be required to:

• Lead the development of GATE-GEC’s monitoring, evaluation and learning systems and tools which will be used to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness, quality and performance of activities in this comprehensive model, which encompasses inclusive education with a focus on girls and those with disabilities, strengthening economic opportunities through savings and loans schemes, youth-led community awareness raising on gender equality and strengthening child protection mechanisms. . Innovative approaches to effectively track beneficiary attendance and retention have also been integrated into the programme, with the utilization of a range of mobile data collection techniques.
• Ensure that project monitoring data is regularly analysed and communicated effectively to inform key programmatic activities, processes and decisions. For example, you will be expected to help plan, organise and participate in regular project steering committee meetings through which key project decisions, plans and strategies will be approved.
• Support the Team Leader in decision-making and donor reporting by providing timely and relevant information based on MEL data
• Develop and oversee quality assurance processes throughout monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure GATE GEC meets rigorous evidence standards at every stage (design, data capture, analysis, reporting).
• Directly line manage Plan HUB M&E Officer based in Freetown and will supervise and guide the Monitoring and Evaluation Officers across the Consortium to ensure effective and efficient performance in monitoring and evaluation tasks.
• Coordinate monthly, quarterly and annual reports bringing together data from across the Consortium to reflect project implementation progress and impact. This includes:
  • Communicating deadlines on incoming data and supporting the team in ensuring that relevant colleagues, are able to effectively deliver on and report against these standards
  • Lead on shaping monitoring plans for Plan International and our partners to ensure timely and quality delivery of key M&E activities
  • Support Port Loko district (Plan International) in raw data cleaning and analysis
• Be a focal point of contact for partners on MEL activities and updates.
• Coordinate key MEL activities across the consortium, for example beneficiary verification, and lead on the organisation and delivery of MEL trainings and workshops for GATE-GEC staff
• Coordinate and chair MEL monthly meetings across the consortium
• Support partners to identify and document relevant learning with an aim to continually improve GEC project processes.
• Support the Plan International team in the UK with evaluations (Midline, recruitment, developing sample frameworks, training enumerators, supporting fieldwork and reviewing of draft/final reports).
• Support the Plan International team in the UK on development and ongoing adaptation on the project’s MEL Framework and logframe (review drafts, and critical analysis documents)

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• GATE-GEC Consortium partners’ staff in Freetown and field staff in the districts to ensure monitoring and reporting procedures are carried out successfully.
• Work closely with the Team Leader to provide MEL updates.
• Work closely with the Plan Hub team, particularly the Education Adviser and Child Protection and Accountability Adviser
• Regular interaction with the MEL team at the Plan International UK office.
• Lead on engagement and communicating progress with Fund Manager MEL in Sierra Leone
   
  External

• Participation at relevant external events, including interaction with the MBSSE
• Continue engagement, build relationships, share learning with MEL staff in other organisations in Sierra Leone –Education Sector partners in Sierra Leone

 

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• University degree or its equivalent (from a recognized institution) in Social Sciences, Economics, Development, Statistics, Mathematics, Evaluation or other fields related to education.
• Excellent knowledge and management experience of monitoring, evaluating and implementing learning systems in complex multi-year programmes, preferably focused on education and/or girls’ empowerment programmes.
• At least 5 years’ experience working within development initiatives (preferably educational initiatives).
• Collating and analysing comprehensive monitoring and evaluation data from multiple sources to
• Prepare to prepare succinct reports and creative materials tailored for the needs of diverse audiences.
• High level conceptual, programme design and analytical skills.
• Exceptional quantitative and qualitative data processing and analysis skills, including
• Adapting/ developing monitoring tools and surveys.
• Experience providing technical leadership and capacity-building support for staff with regards to monitoring, evaluation and learning processes and tools.
• Proficiency with Excel, including data analysis techniques.
• Proven coordination, contract design, management and supervision
• Works well in a team and is also to take leadership initiative.

 

Desirable

• Familiar with DFID MEL requirements.
• Experience with KoboCollect or equivalent electronic data management system.
• Experience working in girls’ rights or gender-focused programmes

 

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• University degree or its equivalent (from a recognized institution) in Social Sciences, Economics, Development, Statistics, Mathematics, Evaluation or other fields related to education.
• Excellent knowledge and management experience of monitoring, evaluating and implementing learning systems in complex multi-year programmes, preferably focused on education and/or girls’ empowerment programmes.
• At least 5 years’ experience working within development initiatives (preferably educational initiatives).
• Collating and analysing comprehensive monitoring and evaluation data from multiple sources to
• Prepare to prepare succinct reports and creative materials tailored for the needs of diverse audiences.
• High level conceptual, programme design and analytical skills.
• Exceptional quantitative and qualitative data processing and analysis skills, including
• Adapting/ developing monitoring tools and surveys.
• Experience providing technical leadership and capacity-building support for staff with regards to monitoring, evaluation and learning processes and tools.
• Proficiency with Excel, including data analysis techniques.
• Proven coordination, contract design, management and supervision
• Works well in a team and is also to take leadership initiative.
   
  Desirable

• Familiar with DFID MEL requirements.
• Experience with KoboCollect or equivalent electronic data management system.
• Experience working in girls’ rights or gender-focused programmes

   
  GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITY
  Child and Young People Safeguarding Policy
  Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for child and young people safeguarding policy (CYPSP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) 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.
   
  PLAN INTERNATIONAL’S VALUES
  https://plan-international.org/about-us/careers-plan-international/our-values-work
   
  Applications:
  Last date for submission of Application (CV and cover letter) is: 30th January 2020  by 5:00 pm
   
  To apply for this job, kindly click on “Apply”.
   
  Your application should include:

• A cover letter
• A comprehensive CV including details of two referees, one of whom should be your current of most recent supervisor
   
  Only short-listed candidates shall be contacted. References will be taken and background and anti-terrorism checks will be carried out in conformity with Plans Child Protection Policy. Plan follows an equal opportunity policy and actively encourages diversity welcoming applications from all especially women and people living with disability.