The Organisation
Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances childrenโs 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 childrenโs 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 wonโt stop until we are all equal.
BACKGROUND ABOUT THE PROJECT
The EU-funded womenโs empowerment project aims to enhance womenโs 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 Internationalโs 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 Internationalโs 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
Bachelorโs degree in social sciences, education, development studies, or a related field. 4โ6 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 womenโs empowerment programming. Experience facilitating learning and training sessions.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
EU Project Manager โ primary reporting line and day-to-day coordination on project delivery, planning, and reporting. MERL Manager โ dotted-line technical oversight, quality assurance, and alignment with Plan International MERL standards. Operations & Procurement Team โ coordination on compliance, contracting of consultants, and procurement related to MERL activities. Communications Team โ collaboration on learning products, visibility materials, and dissemination of key findings and results. Consortium / Implementation Partners โ coordination on data collection, reporting, learning, and alignment of MERL approaches across the consortium. HR Outsourcing (HRO) Company โ 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 Planโs Child Protection Policy and Gender Equality & Inclusion Policy. S/he shall read and sign Planโs 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 Internationalโs 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 โwin-winโ 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
Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.
We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.
We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girlsโ rights and inclusion.
Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.
A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.
Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.