BACKGROUND

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan has over 80 years’ experience and works in more than 75 countries across the world. We strive for a just world, working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners.

Plan International has been working in Tanzania since 1991. Our work supports marginalised children and youth, especially adolescent girls, to grow up physically and mentally healthy and ready to shape their future. We create an enabling environment and empower girls to be active drivers of change in realising their rights. We prioritise working with partners, and ensuring all of our work is evidence based.

The PlayMatters project is aimed at supporting play-based learning for children aged 3-12 years in the 3 refugee camps and host communities in the Kigoma region. The project will focus on reaching out to nearly 1 million pre-primary and primary school aged refugee and host community children impacted by the humanitarian crises in East Africa and living in Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania. This project aims to build children’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical and creative skills through play in their homes, schools, and communities and will be implemented in partnership with War Child, International Rescue Committee, Behavioural Insights Team and Innovations for Poverty Action.

ROLE PURPOSE

Plan International is an independent child rights and humanitarian organisation committed to children living a life free of poverty, violence and injustice.

We actively unite children, communities and other people who share our mission to make positive lasting changes in children’s and young people’s lives. We support children to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to claim their rights to a fulfilling life, today and in the future. We place a specific focus on girls and women, who are most often left behind. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 75 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Plan International Tanzania is looking for an experienced Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Officer responsible for all PlayMatters project related MEAL activities in Kibondo and Kakonko districts as well as in Nduta and Mtendeli refugees’ camps. The MEAL Officer will also be support Research initiatives and oversees data collection, analysis, reporting and storage during the implementation of the PlayMatters project. Additionally, the position holder will be responsible for conducting Data Quality Assessments and documentation of success stories and case studies from the fields.    

Dimensions of the Role

• MEAL Officer will directly report to EiE Project manager in Kibondo. She/he will provide onsite support to EiE officers in Kibondo.
• MEAL Officer activities will 60% field visit aiming at supporting all camp MEAL initiatives in line with the approved projects’ plans with the major focus on routine response grants reporting and accountability mechanisms.
• The role will ensure the quality Data collection, monitoring of project activities, with respect to PlayMatters project and tracking effectively beneficiary reach in all PlayMatters project interventions.
• MEAL officer will collaborate with other consortium partners and participates in consortium meetings, Camps meetings representing Plan International.

AccountabilitieS

The MEAL Field Officer specific roles will be:

• Reviewing and consolidating weekly and monthly program monitoring data from all camps.
• Drafting and reviewing reports to MHA and internally for Plan use.
• Design monitoring tools to support routine collection of project results.
• Tracking of projects output indicators and provide written updates on monthly basis and timely.
• Routinely spot check project implementation in the field and timely reporting on gaps for quick actions to improve performance.
• Coordinate regular and periodic assessments, evaluations, survey, and studies for programs operations.
• Lead and supervise data collection processes/exercise.
• Conducting Quantitative and qualitative data analysis and data verification.
• Conducting Data validation to ensure high data quality and standards for programs and donor reports.
• Networks and collaborate with staff, refugees and partners in camps and Consortium partners in supported grants for identification of success stories and learnings from the projects.
• Supervise implementation of distribution and post distribution monitoring activities at camp and host community level.
• Evaluate trainings and ensure training use pre and post tests to measure outcome of the training and ensure the tests are analysed and integrated as part of the training report.
• Supporting program team to ensure timely reporting of distributions conducted for timely planning of post distribution.
• Conducting MEAL capacity building to program staffs and data collectors.
• Work with refugee volunteers and project staff in supporting M&E initiatives such as carrying out surveys, collecting case studies and feedback.
• In all MEAL initiatives ensures MEAL and Plan operation procedures, standards and Policies are adhered to.

Staff Management

• This position does not directly supervise any staff or refugee incentive workers; however, s/he will be collaborating with other EiE Officer and Incentive workers to support the implementation of PlayMatters activities.
• Report any violations of Plan International’s Code of Conduct and Policies as per Plan International-Tanzania.

Key relationships

External - Close collaboration and strong working relationship with project consortium partners and members of the Education Working Group (IRC, Caritas, Save the Children, UNHCR, UNICEF, MHA, District Education Officers) etc. The MEAL Officer will also maintain a relationship with local authorities, relevant Government institutions, and UN agencies to ensure Plan’s work is well linked to other initiatives.

Internally- The MEAL Officer will directly report to the EiE Programme Manager, and She/he will coordinate with EiE Specialist, Communication and Advocacy team (CO), Illustrations Officer, EiE Coordinator, MEAL Coordinator and EiE Officers for the implementation of project activities at camp level. S/he will also work closely with finance team, Procurement team, Communications and advocacy team and Human resources team. S/He will also work closely with the Child Protection team and ensure that protection is integrated in all Education activities.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

• Degree in Project Planning and management, social work, psychology, social sciences or statistics related field.
• Minimum of 3 years working experience including working with INGO in Monitoring and Evaluation contexts.

• Experience in the design and production of visual content, such as photography, graphics, and video.
• Experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, tools and analysis.
• Demonstrate experience in supporting Emergence MEAL initiatives for Child Protection, Education and Youth, some of which must have been in refugee camp.
• Good knowledge and understanding of humanitarian principles and child protection.
• Demonstrable expertise in implementing community-based child protection responses.
• Experience and knowledge in developing and use various M&E methods and tools.
• Familiar with data management software such as Excel, Access, SPSS, Stata, Magpi and ODK, KOBO collect.
• Experience with participatory learning approaches.
• Experience of conducting child protection assessments in emergency contexts.
• Demonstrate ability to support the direct reporting colleagues especially feedback officers.
• A high degree of self-motivation and able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Exceptional attention to detail to deliver high quality and accurate data.
• A well-organised person, able to show the ability to initiate, monitor, prioritise, and complete project activities.
• Excellent command of English, (written, oral, comprehension) including highly developed drafting skills.
• Knowledge of Gender and Child rights issues
• Strong team-building and motivational skills
• Strong negotiating, facilitating and influencing skills
• Strong community facilitation skills
• Cultural sensitivity i.e. building and working effectively within a diverse working environment

Desirable

• Degree in Project Planning and management, social work, psychology, social sciences or statistics related field.
• Fluency in English, Kiswahili and Kirundi written and spoken, highly desirable
• Familiarity with Core humanitarian standards, Child Protection Minimum Standards and International Network for Education in Emergencies (Minimum Standards for Education).
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a diverse team and sensitive in maintaining organizational relationships.

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

• 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.