ROLE PURPOSE

The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer will implement the project’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) initiatives by providing timely, accurate information on project implementation and ensure that monitoring and evaluation are in line with specific project and donor requirements, and in line with Plan International’s MERL standards. 
The role’s support is to achieve accountability, transparency and programme quality in project locations.
The post holder is to ensure that project’s activities are in line with the Logical Framework and relevant guidelines.

DIMENSION OF THE ROLE

Under the supervision of the project manager and with technical line reporting to the M&E Coordinator, the M&E Officer will communicate with the Project Manager, M&E Coordinator and across Plan International Nigeria and field level implementing partners.
The post holder will support the establishment and utilization of a systematic Monitoring and Evaluation system for the project.
The post holder will interface and support programme team members and programme coordination.
The role requires strong facilitation and organizational skills along with the ability to analyze and communicate complex information to all staff, partners and other stakeholders. 
The role requires strong facilitation and organizational skills along with the ability to analyze and communicate complex information to all staff, partners and other stakeholders.
This role also requires the capacity to support creatively methods for ensuring high levels of engagement of diverse children/adolescents from marginalized groups in M&E processes.
This requires using creativity to support the design studies and data collection tools that are as child-friendly as possible, including adolescents from low-income and low literacy settings.

ACCOUNTABILITIES
In collaboration with the Project coordinator, CO M and E manager and other relevant staff, the M&E officer will:

Support the development and implementation of project’s MERL framework to capture project performance and results, including data reporting, assessments, and all monitoring and evaluation activities.
Contribute to the monthly and quarterly project target review sessions.
Support the development of data flow pattern for project that will ensure timely data collection and reporting
Support to ensure that MERL-specific elements of local partner capacity strengthening plans are successfully implemented
Report results of MERL activities by providing written documentation about progress toward achieving indicators/targets, as appropriate.
Support leadership at project location level on MERL to ensure the program technical integrity and achievement of program goal and corresponding objectives and targets
Ensure high-quality implementation, in close collaboration with the field team and the M&E coordinator, and consistency in protocols, information and reporting systems
Support efforts at project location to monitor and evaluate project interventions, document results and provide feedback to stakeholders to guide decision-making.
Lead efforts to utilize training monitoring systems to track and monitor trainers and participants at training events to facilitate follow-up and recordkeeping
Utilize the training data collected to inform strategic decision-making and project planning
Support targeted evaluations and operations research, including design, data collection, management and analysis
Ensure quality of data through data verification procedures, including routine data quality audit
Support field level partners staff, and enumerators in designing, developing and deploying tools for community-based selection criteria for the selection of beneficiaries.
Support MERL capacity-strengthening activities with project staff and implementing partners, including on subjects such as child safeguarding in data collection and ethical considerations of collecting data with children.  

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
Essential

Bachelors’ degree and minimum of 3 years’ work experience in monitoring and evaluating programs with an organization that has a robust MERL component.
Prior experience with Plan International or related non-governmental organization is preferred.
 Experience in developing child-friendly MERL systems/tools or doing research with children is a strong asset.

Skills & Knowledge

Proven expertise in quantitative and qualitative methodologies, research, reporting, data quality assessments, data analysis and presentation.
Demonstrated strong management, coordination, teamwork and planning skills with proven ability to function effectively with multiple counterparts in private, public and NGO sectors.
Strong understanding of gender transformative data collection and measurement, M&E policy and compliance requirements.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English including excellent facilitation skills and demonstrated technical writing skills for publication.
Openness or capacity to think creatively to design child-friendly studies and data collection tools which are age-appropriate, safe and ethical for children.
Ability to work effectively with diverse national and international teams.
Ability to work in a complex environment with multiple tasks, short deadlines and intense pressure to perform.
Strong technical skills, including ability to process and analyse data using one or more statistical software packages
Proficiency in Microsoft Office packages (Excel/Word document)
Ability to travel nationally

Behaviours

Creates strong sense of purpose and commitment within own part of the team and with stakeholders
Holds self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and standards of behaviour
Demonstrates a high degree of professionalism/integrity
Strategic thinking and effective contribution to own work and Organisational development.
Sound judgement and decision-making in complex situations
Strong emotional intelligence including self-awareness.
Leads by example to motivate high performance of others
Very strong commitment to continuous learning