Planning, Monitoring Evaluation & Reporting Unit (PMERU)

Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Unit (PMER) has the oversight, coordination and support responsibility for the planning, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and funding processes/functions in SCA.   The unit maintains, executes and develops system and tools for planning, monitoring, evaluation & reporting, grants management and resource mobilization. The unit contributes to promoting a culture of learning within the organization.

The unit also builds staff and partner capacity, and provides technical support and guidance to the organization on:

▪ Results based Management-the entire project cycle from planning to evaluation
▪ Grants management, resource mobilization and donor compliance
▪ Skills development on planning, monitoring and evaluation and reporting throughout the organization; ▪ Promoting a system for accountability through active participation of stakeholders
The PMER unit is a crucial part of SCA Programme, Support and Development functions and has a horizontal relationship with all Programme and Support units at Kabul Management Office (KMO) and Stockholm Management Office (SMO).

Scope of Work

The Senior Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) Specialist is responsible for the development and coordination of the planning, monitoring and evaluation systems and processes of the SCA programme support in Afghanistan. This includes improving and strengthening programme quality, performance and impact by providing technical assistance and guidance to assessments, planning, monitoring and evaluation of SCA programmes, annual work plan and Strategic Plan (2018-2021). Improved quality and with greater accountability to beneficiaries and other stakeholders is a major focus. The position responsibility includes building and improving the PMER capacity of SCA staff.

The position holder will be the lead facilitator (in consultation with Head of PMERU) to actualize the findings of the Strategic Plan (2018-2021) Mid Term Review and PMER Capacity Assessment to improve and standardize planning, monitoring, evaluation systems and practices of SCA interventions, by putting in place an integrated PMER framework (aligned with Results Framework)/PMER Strategy for SCA. Key focus will be to conceptualize and roll out participatory M & E methods through Programme Quality Monitoring, programme reviews and evaluations and Third-Party Monitoring

The position will promote the awareness of and adherence to appropriate Result Based Management strategies and standards, integrated and participatory approaches to programming, cross cutting issues, good practice and lessons learnt. 

The Senior PME Specialist will be based in Kabul, Afghanistan and reports to the Head of PMERU. The Senior PME Specialist will have technical line management responsibility for Senior Planning Strengthening officer, Senior M & E Strengthening officer and Senior Assessment & Evaluation Officer.

Responsibilities

Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation (PME) Compliance:

• Under guidance of Head of PMERU, support and guide SCA to ensure full institutionalization and ownership of a well-functioning planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting structure
• Lead in conducting PMER capacities assessment and development of long term PMER capacity development plan for SCA
• Under the guidance of Head of PMER lead facilitator for developing PMER framework & Strategy for SCA
• Lead the development and implementation of a strategy/approach for RBM capacity building through a participatory process with SCA staff at KMO & RMO
• Lead in actualizing the Strategic Plan (2018-2021) Midterm Review findings to inform standardization of PME systems and processes at organization level

 Organizational/ Programme Planning & Analysis:

• Review and update the annual planning directive, tools and mechanism to meet the support and demand of SCA stakeholders especially donors, government, programme and support staff
• PMERU lead for annual planning process to guide and support programme units to produce their respective unit plans adhering to Right Based Approach, RBM principles and alignment to Sustainable Development Goals
• Organize orientation for staff on annual planning process/tools and review of the planning process at the conclusion of every planning cycle
• Facilitate inter-sectoral planning and integration of common strategies and cross-cutting themes into annual programme planning processes, and harmonization of various internal planning processes.
• Actively contribute during project planning meetings with all programmes units to ensure that reporting on activities will be impact-based and result-oriented and reflect detailed log frames and budgets of each programme.
• Provide technical support for developing logical framework for new projects especially in proposal writing stage in consultation with programmes and Resource Mobilization Specialist
• Support Senior Planning Strengthening Officer to update SCA annual plans based on bi-annual budget revision process.
• Support Head of PMERU with strategic planning process and lead the Results Framework design of the next Strategic Plan (2022-2025)

 Monitoring & Evaluation systems development:

• Provide technical support to ensure that a set of programme performance indicators is identified and adjusted as necessary, with inputs of all concerned units and partners to assess progress towards expected annual and multi-year results in the context of the Strategic Plan (2018-2021) & Annual work plan.
• Ensure the development and application of appropriate, useful and relevant monitoring and evaluation framework, which are tailored to the needs, and available capacities of SCA. This includes integrated results framework, monitoring plans and evaluation processes.
• Coordinate with programmes and partners to guide baselines and ensure that data collection and analysis from field visits are coordinated and standardized across programmes to feed into programme performance monitoring.
• Lead the setting up programme monitoring systems/tools using, inter alia, digital platforms (management information systems). This includes field-monitoring by programme staff and consultants, third-party monitoring (TPM) – including the management of TPM and community-based monitoring.
• Provide technical support to programme units on the design of project-specific monitoring and evaluation systems and tools, including the design of various types of questionnaires and surveys
• Conduct joint monitoring visits to project sites to ensure compliance and accountability to donors and communities.
• Support Senior M & E officer with the process for Quarterly Programme Review Meetings, in coordination with the Programme Department on programme implementation update and evaluation feedback (any one Strategic Objective Thematic issue or KPI)
• Support Senior Assessment and Evaluation Officer to ensure and organize regular case studies, programme evaluations and appropriate accountability of the SCA supported activities.
• Review Evaluation ToR to inform evaluation designs for programmes, support Senior Assessment and Evaluation Officer to undertake evaluation of programs and ensure learning from program evaluation towards continuous program improvement.

Capacity Building:

• Working closely with the programme focal points, in particular in providing support, on the job coaching, training and development for staff to enhance their planning, monitoring and evaluation skills (linked with reporting).
• Working closely and coaching programme focal points to ensure development of standardized PMER tools/templates and compliance with the same.
• Roll out implementation plan for PMER framework at KMO and Regional Management Offices (RMO) with follow-up through tailor made mentoring programmes.
• Network and coordinate with NGOs, UN and other international organisations in country to ensure that correct information is exchanged on all current issues related to quality and accountability for SCA programmes.

Entry Requirements

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social sciences, development or related field
• A minimum of five years’ experience of PMER in complex organizational set-ups with specific focus of Strengthening PMER system development and institutionalizing PMER functions.
• Experience from working with international NGOs in post-conflict/developing context (experience in South Asia development context is preferred)

Essential competence

• Solid understanding of Rights-Based Approach to development, Results-Based Management and Sustainable Development Goals aligned to PME practices
• Proven experience in conducting PMER capacities assessments at organizational level, development of PMER framework & Strategy, participatory M & E methods and Third-Party Monitoring
• Proven experience in providing systematic training on PME
• Experience of working with outcomes-based approaches such as Theory of Change and Outcome mapping and harvesting
• Experiences with Annual Planning process development
• Experience with M&E system designing in general
• Experiences with evaluation designing, implementation, feedback and analysis
• Knowledge in both quantitate and qualitative research
• Knowledge with relevant software packages such as ACCESS, SPSS, or STATA
• Gender and cultural sensitivity
• Skilled in building and maintaining key stakeholder relationships at a senior level both internally and externally
• Experience in supporting and managing staff

• Excellent command of spoken and written English

Desired competence

• Previous experience from Afghanistan or similar conflict/post-conflict settings
• Have participated in HEAT-training
• Knowledge of Dari and/or Pashtu

 Application information

Contract period: 2 years with an initial 6 months probationary period
Conditions: Non-family posting. SCA offers a competitive salary, free housing, insurances and other benefits.
Duties to begin: March 2020
Last date for application: 19 January 2020
Apply from www.sak.se (Lediga jobb) or www.swedishcommittee.org (Vacancies)
Download a 1-page letter explaining why you are interested in and suited for this position and your CV (no more than 2 pages) in English.

Swedish Committee for Afghanistan

Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) has been present in Afghanistan since the beginning of the 1980s. With a total number around 5,700 staff, of whom 15 are non-Afghans, it is one of the largest organizations in the country. SCA presently manages development programmes linked to Strategic Objectives within Health, Education, Rural Livelihoods and Community Governance, with a total annual budget of roughly USD 40 million.

SCA operates in 14 provinces in Afghanistan and contributes to stability in an unstable country. The programmes are, to a vast majority, implemented in rural areas. In Sweden, SCA has around 22 staff at the office in Stockholm, and about 3,500 members in local chapters all over the country.

In Afghanistan, close to 90,000 children go to schools run by SCA. Over one and a half million people receive medical care yearly at clinics and hospitals run by the organization, while 3,000 children and adults with disabilities receive special education.

In the last decade, SCA has moved from a predominantly humanitarian approach towards more of a developmental role, putting increasing emphasis on capacity development and advocacy along with continued service delivery, working towards strengthening individuals, civil society organizations and counterpart government institutions.

All SCA programming is based on a Rights Based Approach, where both rights claimers and duty bearers are capacitated to strengthen the fulfillment of human rights. SCA emphasizes equal rights and opportunities for women.