PLAN INTERNATIONAL
Plan International is a rights-based development and humanitarian organization working for better lives for all children. We are independent of government and have no political or religious affiliation. Our purpose is to strive for a just world that advances childrenโs rights and equality for girls. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.
Our global strategy has a specific focus on girls, as they are often the most marginalized and most often left behind. We have committed ourselves to the ambitious target of reaching 100 million girls over 5 years, to ensure they can learn, lead, decide and thrive. This is our contribution to reaching the sustainable development goals, and in particular the goals on gender equality. Our organization is transforming itself to meet this enormous challenge everywhere we work. We need bold, forward-thinking and innovative individuals to lead our country operations, driving change and delivering results that will allow us to have Girls Standing Strong for Global Change.
Plan started working in Egypt in 1981 and has a presence in ten of the 27 governorates in which the country including Cairo, Alexandria, Giza, Beheira, Kalyoubia, Damietta, Qena, Assuit, Sohag and Aswan. Plan international Egypt implements programmes designed to enable communities to improve the lives of the most marginalised children and their families. Plan Egyptโs Country Strategy focuses on five strategic objectives.
Through a five-interconnected, gender transformative and context-fit country objectives, PIE intends along with the various stakeholders at all levels to continue delivering positive and transformative changes so that โChildren, especially girls, and young people grow up in an enabling environment, realizing their rights and contributing in both development and humanitarian settings as active agents of changeโ.
Driven by the overall purpose of PII and anchored on Plan International core values, bolder commitment to gender transformation and feminist leadership, program quality and influencing and a more vibrant and efficient operating model.
ROLE PURPOSE
The purpose of the role is to lead and oversee the Program Quality and MERL aspects within the organization, ensuring the design and delivery of high-quality programs, and projects that align with organizational goals and donor requirements, effective application of the organization's frameworks, systems, and procedures. In this role, the Program Quality and MERL Manager is responsible for providing technical support to program teams, overseeing the work of technical advisors, and ensuring that M&E practices are integrated into all programming planning and activities, enhancing the organization's ability to achieve its strategic objectives, particularly in advancing children's rights and equality for girls. By championing a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement, the Program Quality and MERL Manager plays a critical role in enhancing program effectiveness, maximizing impact, and promoting accountability and sustainability across all organizational activities.
DIMENSION OF THE ROLE
The Program Quality and MERL Manager at Plan International Egypt is responsible for leading and managing the program quality and applying M&E frameworks, systems, and procedures across all programs, ensuring the alignment with both the country's strategic plan and global standards. It also includes overseeing the work of technical advisors and ensuring donorsโ satisfaction of the compliance aspects. This position involves providing technical guidance, and technical coaching to program teams at Plan International Egypt as well as at Partner level, and also facilitating gender-transformative M&E and learning processes, supports project design with quality frameworks and indicators, and leads the development and application of M&E tools and practices. The scope of this position focuses on promoting excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement in program implementation and impact.
ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES
1. Country Office Strategy Development and Technical Programming:
2. Programme Design:
Lead on proposal drafting and submission with relevant PIE and NO staff including; identifying priority areas of intervention, identification of potential partnerships, and ensuring timely and quality submission to donors. Lead rapid and detailed education/ child protection/ SRHR/ GBV/ SOYEE and livelihood assessments in new target areas; determine priorities and immediate activities and required resources. In close collaboration with the MEESA regional specialists, define objectives and key outcomes of Plan Internationalโs overall programmatic response in Egypt in line with national strategies. Develop an evidence-based Programme plan including programmatic, research and advocacy priorities, closely linked to other sector programmes. Ensure that programmes are in line with global and international Minimum Standards; such as the MS for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, INEE, and gender- and conflict-sensitive.
3. Quality Management and Implementation:
Ensure that a robust monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) system is in place, and that the country office engages in the collection and use of evidence and that this is shared across the global organization, and that reliable data is used for decision-making. One key aspect of the department is ensuring continuous positive engagement of its technical specialists including (Education, CP GBV, Livelihoods, and SRHR Advisors) with the project teams Support program quality in line with global standards and key performance indicators, informing the future projectโs design and delivery, and set up joint action plans for common vision of success. Work closely with Plan International Egypt implementing partners to ensure that activities are implemented and monitored in a coordinated and phased manner, in accordance with Plan Internationalโs approachโs, best practices and policy. Coordinate with the technical team to provide technical guidance and direction including ongoing training, coaching and mentoring to Plan International Egypt and partnersโ staff members to ensure quality programming in compliance with Plan Internationalโs quality standards and policies. Ensure that quality data collection and information management systems are in place for appropriate programme analysis, planning, evaluation, and advocacy. Ensure regular communication with programme managers and project coordinators to integrate appropriate technical input and priorities in program design implementation. Coordinate with the technical team to undertake regular field monitoring visits to assess progress and identify technical quality issues and/or other implementation issues, provide solutions and implement modifications as required
4. Coordination and Communication:
Support strategic positioning with donors and partners and leads on project design to ensure that the country office strategy can be delivered in line with Plan International Quality Programming Principles. Provide updates and reports on ongoing activities and strategies to Plan Internationalโs Regional team, Head Office, relevant National Offices and donors; Build and maintain relationships with relevant ministries (incl. Ministry of Social services, Education etc.), UN organizations, INGOs and national NGOs; Coordinate with the technical team to participate in relevant Working Groups, thematic task forces, and other relevant coordination entities; Attend regular calls, meetings, etc. as required by Plan International Egypt In collaboration with the Communication focal point, provide evidence based achievements by Plan International Egypt to be packaged and communicated externally
5. Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning:
M&E System Roll-out and Application: Ensuring the effective implementation of M&E systems (including PMERL), procedures, and tools across all programs. This includes facilitating gender-transformative M&E, supporting the application of global M&E standards, and ensuring alignment with the strategic plan. Research and Evaluation: Supporting quality research and evaluations, maintaining comprehensive plans, and promoting participatory methods that involve all stakeholders. Reflective Practices, Knowledge Management, and Learning: Leading the implementation of reflective practices to enhance learning and accountability, ensuring lessons learned are captured and shared. Capacity Building, Training, and Technical Support: Developing staff and partner capacities in M&E practices, providing training, and guiding the design of compatible M&E systems. Cross-Country Collaboration: Engaging with other country offices to share best practices, providing technical guidance, and promoting regional M&E networks. Reporting: Supporting project managers in reflective M&E reporting, ensuring timely and high-quality reports to donors, and overseeing annual reporting on strategic plan progress. Data collection and analysis: oversee the collection, management and analysis of quantities and qualitative data in developing and emergency contexts, ensuring data quality, integrity and reliability for evidence-based decision making and learning Establish and maintain networks with research institutions, universities and other stakeholders to leverage expertise, resources and networks for collaborative research and evaluation initiatives.
Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI)
Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan Internationalโs Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures. Ensures that Plan Internationalโs global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in project design and as principles applied. Ensures that Plan Egypt contributes to Plan Internationalโs global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted. Ensures that data collection, storage and use responds to Plan Internationalโs policy on data privacy.Competency in project management principles and practices, influencing the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of program activities to ensure timely delivery of results within budgetary constraints Competency in managing M&E projects and budgets effectively, ensuring resources are utilized efficiently. Data Management and Analysis: Proficiency in managing complex data sets, conducting analysis, and leveraging findings for strategic decisions. Risk Management: Ability to identify and mitigate risks associated with M&E activities and program implementation. Monitoring and evaluation frameworks: Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, methodologies and tools to design, adapt and implement monitoring and evaluation systems tailored to programmatic needs and donor requirements Research design and methodology: Understanding of research design principles, sampling, data collection methods and ethical considerations to plan and conduct research studies, evaluations and assessment effectively. Learning and knowledge management: capacity to facilitate a culture of learning, reflection and knowledge sharing within the organization by synthesizing evaluation findings, best practices and lessons learned into actionable recommendations and tools for programmatic improvement Proficiency in managing program budgets effectively, allocating resources strategically, and monitoring expenditures to ensure cost-efficiency Commitment to continuous improvement in program quality management practices, influencing the identification of best practices, lessons learned, and innovative approaches to enhance program effectiveness and impact Competency in civil society strengthening ensuring driving the success of civil society strengthening initiatives.
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
Qualifications/Experience Essential:
Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as international development, social sciences, or a related discipline. 10 years of experience in program management, monitoring and evaluation, quality assurance, or related fields, preferably in a development or humanitarian organization Proven experience in leading program quality initiatives, including the development and implementation of quality assurance systems, compliance monitoring, and performance measurement frameworks
TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES
Knowledge:
Strong understanding of program management principles, including project planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation Experience in providing mentorship, coaching, and capacity-building support to staff and partners to enhance program quality and performance Strategic mindset with the ability to think analytically, anticipate trends, and develop and implement strategic plans and initiatives to improve program quality and effectiveness Deep understanding of M&E methodologies, principles, framework and practices, including gender-transformative approaches and participatory methods. Familiarity with research design, sampling, survey methodologies and ethical considerations in conducting research studies and evaluation. Knowledge of international development issues, humanitarian principles and the sustainable development goals (SDGs) Awareness of emerging trends, innovations and best practices in monitoring, evaluations, research and learning within the development and humanitarian sector.
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