MERL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning) Coordinator

Position description

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 know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. 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.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

BACKGROUND ABOUT THE PROJECT

The EU-funded women’s empowerment project aims to enhance women’s economic participation and leadership through entrepreneurship, skills development, and ecosystem strengthening. The project is implemented by a consortium of national and international partners and requires a strong Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) function to ensure quality delivery, accountability, learning, and compliance with EU requirements.

Role Purpose

The MERL Coordinator will lead and coordinate all MERL-related activities for the EU-funded project, ensuring robust monitoring systems, high-quality data, timely reporting, and meaningful learning. The role will support adaptive management, evidence-based decision-making, and compliance with Plan International and EU donor requirements.

Roles and Responsibilities

1. MERL Planning and Implementation

• Lead the development and implementation of the project MERL plan, including indicators, targets, tools, and methodologies.
• Ensure alignment of MERL frameworks with the project logframe, EU reporting requirements, and Plan standards.
• Support baseline, ongoing monitoring, and evaluation activities.

2. Data Collection, Management and Analysis

• Oversee data collection processes, ensuring data quality, reliability, and timeliness.
• Maintain and manage project databases, including data verification and periodic cleaning.
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data to generate insights for program improvement.

3. Reporting and Learning

• Prepare MERL inputs for donor reports, internal reports, and learning products.
• Develop dashboards, summaries, and visualizations (e.g. Power BI) for project management and donor communication.
• Facilitate reflection and learning sessions with project staff and partners.

4. Research and Assessments

• Support the design, coordination, and review of project-related research, assessments, and studies.
• Ensure research outputs meet quality standards and are relevant, timely, and actionable.

5. Capacity Building and Technical Support

• Build MERL capacity of project staff and partners through coaching, training, and technical guidance.
• Promote good MERL practices, including participatory approaches and gender-sensitive data collection.

6. Compliance, Quality and Safeguarding

• Ensure MERL activities comply with Plan International policies, EU donor requirements, and ethical standards.
• Maintain organized documentation for audits, reviews, and compliance checks.
• Uphold Plan International’s safeguarding and duty of care commitments in all MERL activities.

7. Coordination and Collaboration

• Work closely with the EU Project Manager, MERL Manager, project staff, and consortium partners.
• Contribute to cross-departmental coordination to integrate MERL into project planning and implementation.

8. Safeguarding, Gender Equality & Inclusion

• Ensure that child safeguarding and gender equality principles are fully integrated within grants activities.
• Report any safeguarding concerns immediately and in line with procedures.
• Promote Plan International’s values, safeguarding standards, and Code of Conduct in all interactions.

DELIVERABLES

• Approved project MERL plan and tools
• High-quality monitoring datasets and analysis
• MERL inputs to EU narrative and results reports
• Learning briefs and data summaries
• Capacity-building sessions delivered to project staff/partners

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, education, development studies, or a related field.
• 4–6 years of relevant experience in MERL/MEAL roles, preferably with INGOs.
• Strong experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
• Familiarity with donor-funded projects, preferably EU-funded actions.
• Working knowledge of digital data collection and data management systems.
• Fluency in Arabic and English (written and spoken).

Desirable

• Experience with Power BI or similar data visualization tools.
• Experience working in humanitarian or fragile contexts.
• Strong understanding of gender equality and women’s empowerment programming.
• Experience facilitating learning and training sessions.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• EU Project Manager – primary reporting line and day-to-day coordination on project delivery, planning, and reporting.
• MERL Manager – dotted-line technical oversight, quality assurance, and alignment with Plan International MERL standards.
• Operations & Procurement Team – coordination on compliance, contracting of consultants, and procurement related to MERL activities.
• Communications Team – collaboration on learning products, visibility materials, and dissemination of key findings and results.
• Consortium / Implementation Partners – coordination on data collection, reporting, learning, and alignment of MERL approaches across the consortium.
• HR Outsourcing (HRO) Company – administrative coordination related to contractual, payroll, and employment matters only (no role in supervision or performance management).

Ethical and child protection considerations

The MERL Coordinator is required to provide a statement on the respect and protection of child rights, human rights and dignity of participants compliant with Plan’s Child Protection Policy and Gender Equality & Inclusion Policy. S/he shall read and sign Plan’s code of conduct as fully understood and in agreement to in all respects and shall follow this in all and every respect during the term of this employment. The employee must follow Ethical Principles in a research and obtain written/verbal consent from the targeted populations.

Level of contact with children

Low contact: Occasional interaction with children

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.

ROLE PROFILE

Type of Role: Fixed-term Job

Contract Duration: 6 Months (renewable based on budget and performance)

Reports to: Project Manager

Location: Amman, Jordan

Grade: 14

Closing Date: 21 January 2026

Application instructions

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