Summary
Date Posted: Tuesday, October 26, 2021 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Terre des Hommes Netherlands is looking for a Research, Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Coordinator, full time, to be based in Nairobi, Kenya with frequent travel within East Africa and Madagascar. This is a national position, open to applicants who can prove the right to live and work in Kenya. Initial contract period will be for one year.

Background
Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdH NL) prevents child exploitation, removes children from exploitative situations and ensures that these children can continue their development in a safe environment. Globally, and in Africa, Terre des Hommes Netherlands focuses on Child Exploitation (CE) as the overall theme of our work. Under our new Global Strategy (2021 - 2025), TdH NL is redefining and refining its overall role as a child rights organisation to engage more deeply into identifying, exposing and responding to hidden and emerging forms of child exploitation taking place all over the world.
Building on our previous experience on themes such as child trafficking and unsafe migration, addressing the worst forms of child labour, child abuse and stopping sexual exploitation of children (including online child sexual exploitation), TdH NL will widen its scope and target all forms of hidden and emerging exploitation happening to children, aiming to stop exploitation so children can be children.
Under the new strategy, our approach follows a 5 phase model: 1. Identify (child exploitation issues); 2. Research (investigate the nature and scope of these issues); 3. Expose & Design (design evidence-based interventions. share research findings, and work with key stakeholders to co-create solutions); 4. Mobilise (bring key stakeholders together to ensure solutions are scalable and sustainable); and 5. Hand over & monitor (ensure sustainable handover to partners). The strategy also places a strong emphasis on innovation and the use of technology to help tackle exploitation, whilst also ensuring children remain at the centre of all our work.
In Africa, Terre des Hommes Netherlands works in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Madagascar. The Research, Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (R&PMEL) Coordinator is expected to contribute and support the implementation of the PMEL system and processes and where applicable, strengthen and enhance the system. The post holder will be responsible for data verification,analysis and utilisation with an aim of providing management with relevant and timely information for decision making and programme improvement. S/he will support quality programme design ensuring country plans incorporate key PMEL information and learnings. The R&PMEL Coordinator will work together with country teams to ensure quality and timely reporting. For this purpose, a contribution is made to the implementation and improvement of the existing global planning, monitoring and evaluation framework. He/She will also play an important role in advising and supporting management and/or co-workers in this regard.
Research is an important cog in our new five-phase approach (identify-research-expose&design-mobilise-handover), and the incumbent will be expected to support the new strategic direction by designing and managing research initiatives, helping to gather data and evidence which will then be used to inform potential solutions to CE issues. Research will also form a key part of future campaigning, lobby and advocacy work with children and all our key stakeholders.

Objective of the function
The R&PMEL Coordinator will be responsible for the coordination of the research, planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning systems for projects and programs. The person will also develop, and implement policies and systems to ensure the quality of the PMEL of the projects and programmes. The coordinator will also be a resource person for project/program planning, reporting and analysis. He/she will also provide steer at the regional level in issue identification and research linked to the strategy five phases.

Position within the organisation
The R&PMEL Coordinator reports to the Head of Africa and provides functional guidance and support to country teams across the region in relation to quality programme planning, monitoring, reporting, evaluation.

Result areas
• Co-develop quality policy
• Provides steer to research and evidence gathering engagements within TdH NL and with strategic partners across Africa
• Follows, signals and analyses relevant bottlenecks, trends and developments inside and outside the organisation.
• Translates these into consequences, opportunities and/or improvements to the quality policy for the benefit of the entire organisation.
• Advises management regarding the development or adaptation of the quality policy pursued.
• Evaluates the developed policy, identifies possible bottlenecks/deviations, and makes suggestions for improvement.
Result: Quality policy co-developed in such a way that developments have been timely signalled, analysed and translated to the organisation and qualitatively good improvement proposals have been brought forward.
• Programme design and planning
• Provides high-quality technical input into inclusive ideation, programme and project development processes, particularly on the logic of intervention (Theory of Change, logical frameworks and PMEL plans), with an emphasis on ensuring sound understanding of how changes happen and sound programme logic and objective setting that is informed by contextual information
• Provides guidance to country teams in ensuring that programme quality is embedded in new programmes and projects and that TdH NL quality standards are met.
• Supports TdH NL country teams and partner teams on quality information gathering and analysis at country and regional level to facilitate informed and evidence-based programme and project design.
• Supports programme and project managers to design and monitor R&PMEL budgets and spending in line with donor requirements.
Results: Quality project design and implementation planning with sound understanding of how change happens.
• Setup and implement planning, monitoring and evaluation system
• Develops and implements a R&PMEL system and strategy in accordance with TdH NL standards, regulations and instruments - including the definition of specific processes, methodologies and tools– for an optimal accountability process with regard to implemented policies and programs and/or projects.
• Provides technical advice, training, coaching and support to TdH NL management, co-workers and partner teams in various aspects of planning, monitoring and evaluation including technical leadership and oversight to ensure the overall quality of TdH NL and partner teams’ field data collection, data management, and analysis processes.
• Convenes and chairs M&E country platform meetings with the PME focal points of TdH NL Country offices and/or partners for collective analysis and interpretation of R&PMEL information.
• Oversees information management to ensure appropriate information is collected by project teams and aligned to TdH NL’s Strategic Objective areas and progress on KPIs, which is needed for an effective M&E system. This includes the continued investment in database solutions.
• Promotes the utilisation of the collected data at country level in monitoring of strengths, weaknesses and gaps in the implementation of the TdH NL’s programmes, adaptation of monitoring plans to ensure achievement of envisaged outcomes and strategic use of information for improvement of programme impact.
• Signals and analyses any improvement points regarding the accountability of the programs/projects implemented by the organisation, taking into account the applicable laws and regulations.
• Leads and facilitates local analysis and interpretation of PME information as an input to regular narrative reports covering progress of the TdH NL programme. This includes ensuring regular updates of the PRIMAS system.
• Coordinates with National and Local Government Authorities, Central Statistical Office, and any other agency, as appropriate, to ensure that current information and indicators to monitor the country’s context and sectoral performance are available.
• Oversees quality assurance of feedback and complaint mechanisms and sharing of accountability findings with programme teams and senior management.
• Exchange of PME expertise and experience between the countries and partners and within the TdH NL organisation.
Result: PM&E system (co-)set up in such a way that standards, regulations and instruments have been developed, data have been analysed and the organisation’s project/program activities can be accounted for in a timely and accurate manner.
• Strategic research support
• Supports identification of CE issues in Africa and links them to the central research hub at the global level
• Guided by the strategic plan, provides oversight to the Africa hub on research, evidence generation and use of research products in lobby and advocacy
• Supports identification and on-boarding of strategic research partners including academia, research think tanks, policy institutions, research NGOs and other local research partners
• Coordinates strategic research components with TdH NL head office research and advocacy teams, providing the contextual elements
• Supports research activities, including advising on methodology, sampling and tool development for relevant research initiatives aligned to TdH NL’s policy and project needs.
• Supports identification of research activity spinoffs from ongoing projects
• Contributes to program development by monitoring the changing research, identifying opportunities in line with TdH NL strategy and monitoring international best practices and development trends
• Monitors and follows up on utilisation of recommendations from researches and surveys across all countries and at the regional level including establishing key learning and recommendations to inform future research work.
Result: High-quality research in line with the 2021 - 25 strategic plan is generated and informs the strategy phases and actions. Interventions are developed informed by high-quality data and evidence. Support staff in building research and evidence generation capacity.
• Evidence-based Learning and Reflection
• Promotes evidence-based learning through undertaking assessments, baselines and evaluations including operational/action research and documentation at country and regional level in compliance with TdH NL’s evaluation policy.
• Supports the programme teams and partners in extracting lessons learnt and good practices, and documenting case studies that demonstrate qualitative and quantitative changes.
• Analyse and provide monitoring data generated from R&PMEL systems and used for management purposes in line with appropriate decision making, course adjustments and future designs through reflection and learning forums, events and periodical reviews organised on a regular basis.
• Supports countries in the region in documenting and disseminating innovations and new research findings related to R&PMEL
• Synthesises and summarises trends in country monitoring data and data generated from evaluations at the region that can be used to inform global level programming
• Takes lead on disseminating Evaluation and Outcome Level findings and track Programme/Project utilisation of Evaluation findings
• Identifies, tests and rolls out innovative R&PMEL approaches and methods.
Results: A system for evidence-based learning and reflection is in place and utilised by staff and partners to craft and steer interventions. Knowledge generations well anchored in the region and with clear links to the research and knowledge hub in the global hub.
• Give advice and provide information
• Is the point of contact for substantive questions regarding the own focus area.
• Provides solicited and unsolicited advice, information, and support regarding the policies pursued and programs/projects within the organisation and their accountability.
• Generates (management) information for annual plans, the budget, and budget monitoring.
Result: Advice given and information provided in such a way that those involved have been informed and advised in an expert manner.
• Maintain contacts
• Maintains internal and external contacts associated with the function.
• Builds and maintains a network of stakeholder organisations.
• Initiates and develops information and knowledge transfer in the applicable policy area and provides information and advice to internal and external stakeholders.
Result: Contacts have been maintained in such a way that the organisation is well represented in external circles.

Knowledge and skills
• A Master’s degree or equivalent in Monitoring and Evaluation, Project Management, Statistics, Demography, or a related field is required.
• At least 5 years of practical experience with an INGO/child rights agency in managing data-intensive programs and designing, monitoring, and evaluation methodologies.
• Knowledge of designing and managing PMEL systems at a national level for effective generation of monitoring data used in tracking programme and improved service delivery and support related to development programming
• Experience in designing and guiding high level research and evidence-based advocacy with ability to translate knowledge into practice is desirable.
• Good understanding of implementing results-based monitoring, evaluation and learning systems, results frameworks and theory of change methodology.
• Skills in developing, implementing and evaluating policies.
• Experience in designing PMEL methodologies and tools, and the ability to coach and train others in their use is desirable.
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative PMEL data collection and analysis methods, including tracking outcome indicators, is desirable.
• Experience measuring change in lobby and advocacy and campaigning work is desirable
• Ability to work with interdisciplinary teams and a wide range of program/project activities
• Proven conceptual and analytical skills, ability to take an evidence-based approach to programming.

Competence profile
A. Analytical capacity
Understanding the essence of complex issues by logical reasoning, investigation of potential causes, separation of key messages from the mass of detail and acknowledgement of their interdependence.
• Supports and involves others in the immediate vicinity in issue analysis while demonstrating exemplary behaviour.
B. Driving for quality
Setting stringent requirements for the quality of your own or other people’s work; striving for continuous improvement.
• Sets high standards for the quality of work within the organisational entity and encourages continuous quality improvement.
C. The power of persuasion
Expressing opinions convincingly, demonstrating interaction and debating effectively, thereby generating acceptance of viewpoints and ideas.
• Defends and argues points of view with tact and in a clear and convincing manner while taking another opinion into account.
D. Networking
Builds relationships and networks that are helpful when realising objectives and utilises informal networks to get things done.
Job Level: D
Contract Period: One year contract with a possibility of extension.
• Actively builds relationships and maintains contacts related to the achievement of personal objectives.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 60

Level of Education: Postgraduate Degree

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Job application procedure
Please send your motivation letter and curriculum vitae by e-mail to:- recruitment.africa@tdh.nl clearly demonstrating how you meet the qualifications for this position, no later than by Monday, 15 November 2021 COB (EAT). For more information about this position, you can contact us through the same email address.
Note that due to the expected large response only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
The selection procedure will also include an assessment test, and checking of recent professional references.

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