MERL Officer at Plan International Philippines | BABAE Project | ₱40,000-₱50,000 Monthly Salary | 18-Month Contract.We are advertising a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Officer position with Plan International Philippines for the BABAE Project in Cotabato City. This role offers a competitive salary range of ₱40,000-₱50,000 monthly and involves improving maternal health services in BARMM through rigorous monitoring and evaluation. Applications are now open for this 18-month project-based position.
Background & Job Description
We are sharing a specialized humanitarian and development opportunity with Plan International Pilipinas, an organization that has been advancing children’s rights and equality for girls in the Philippines since 1961. As a child-, youth-, and girl-centered organization, Plan International works collaboratively with communities, supporters, and partners to create lasting change in some of the most vulnerable regions of the country.
The Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Officer position is a crucial role within the BABAE Project: Repair and Refurbishment of Birthing Facilities, an initiative addressing critical health disparities and infrastructure limitations in newly established municipalities within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). This project represents a comprehensive approach to improving maternal health outcomes through physical infrastructure improvement, community organizing, and skilled health personnel deployment.
This position is based in Cotabato City and requires extensive fieldwork throughout BARMM. The MERL Officer will serve as the technical lead for all monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning activities, ensuring that project interventions are evidence-based, effectively monitored, and continuously improved. The role is particularly significant given the context of BARMM, where maternal health services remain a critical need and where cultural sensitivity and community engagement are paramount to project success.
MERL Officer at Plan International Philippines | BABAE Project | ₱40,000-₱50,000 Monthly Salary | 18-Month Contract.
Tasks and Key Responsibilities
The MERL Officer will be responsible for the comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework of the BABAE Project, with the following detailed responsibilities:
- MERL System Development and Implementation: Design, develop, and implement a comprehensive Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning plan for the BABAE Project, ensuring alignment with both Plan International’s global standards and the specific contextual needs of BARMM communities. This includes establishing clear indicators, data collection tools, and reporting mechanisms that capture both quantitative and qualitative aspects of project performance.
- Baseline Assessment and Data Management: Lead the coordination and implementation of the project baseline study in close collaboration with implementing partners, establishing reliable reference points for measuring project impact throughout the 18-month implementation period. Develop and maintain efficient data management systems that ensure the ethical collection, storage, and analysis of all project-related information, with particular attention to safeguarding sensitive health data.
- Progress Monitoring and Reporting: Systematically track and analyze both programmatic and financial progress against established work plans and budgets, providing regular, high-quality progress reports to the Project Coordinator and other stakeholders. These reports should not only document achievements but also identify challenges and recommend evidence-based adjustments to project strategies and implementation approaches.
- Capacity Building and Technical Guidance: Provide essential training, guidance, and ongoing support to project staff and partner organizations on situation analysis, participatory planning, gender-responsive monitoring, and evaluation methodologies. Foster a culture of learning and accountability within the project team, ensuring that MERL principles are integrated into all aspects of project implementation.
- Research and Learning Documentation: Design and conduct focused research activities to generate evidence on project effectiveness and identify promising practices. Systematically document lessons learned throughout the project lifecycle, creating knowledge products that can inform future programming and contribute to broader organizational learning on maternal health interventions in conflict-affected and culturally diverse contexts.
- Stakeholder Engagement and Communication: Facilitate regular feedback mechanisms with community members, particularly women beneficiaries, local health authorities, and other stakeholders to ensure that project monitoring remains participatory and responsive to community needs. Effectively communicate MERL findings to diverse audiences through presentations, briefs, and visualizations that support evidence-based decision-making.
Qualifications
Education and Certification
- Essential Requirement: A university degree in Social Science, Statistics, Social Work, Community Development, or a directly related field is mandatory.
- Desirable Training: Specialized training in Project Management, participatory research methodologies, gender-responsive monitoring and evaluation, or data analysis software represents a significant advantage.
- Professional Certification: While not explicitly required, certifications in monitoring and evaluation, project management (such as PMD Pro), or related professional areas would strengthen an application.
Experience
- General Development Experience: A minimum of five years of professional experience in development work, with demonstrated understanding of community development principles and practices in the Philippine context, particularly in Mindanao.
- Specialized MERL Experience: At least three years of specific, hands-on experience in designing, implementing, and managing comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation systems for community development projects. Experience focusing on programs involving women, girls, and children is particularly relevant.
- Technical Skills: Proven ability in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, report writing, and using data for program improvement. Experience with digital data collection tools and platforms is highly desirable.
- Contextual Experience: Previous work experience in BARMM or similar contexts in Mindanao, demonstrating cultural sensitivity and understanding of the socio-political dynamics in the region.
Additional Information
Employment Details:
- Position: Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Officer
- Project: BABAE Project: Repair and Refurbishment of Birthing Facilities
- Contract Type: Project-based fixed-term contract
- Contract Duration: 18 months
- Work Schedule: Full-time position requiring frequent fieldwork in BARMM coverage areas
- Location: Based in Cotabato City, Philippines
- Reporting Line: Directly reports to the Project Coordinator
- Salary Range: The position offers a competitive monthly salary ranging from ₱40,000 to ₱50,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications, under local terms and conditions.
Application and Selection Process:
- Eligibility: Open to Filipino professionals based in the Philippines who meet the specified qualifications.
- Safeguarding: Plan International operates a comprehensive safeguarding policy, and all appointments are subject to satisfactory reference checks and completion of pre-employment screening. The organization participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.
- Selection Timeline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.
Organizational Context:
- Values and Commitment: Plan International is committed to advancing gender equality and children’s rights and maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward any form of harassment, exploitation, or abuse.
- Diversity and Inclusion: The organization actively promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion in its workforce and encourages applications from all qualified individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, religion, or sexual orientation.
- Ethical Standards: Candidates should note that Plan International will never request payment at any stage of the recruitment process and maintains the highest ethical standards in all its operations.
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