1. Background and Rationale

a. Background Information on Plan International

Plan International is a development and humanitarian organization that advances children's rights and equality for girls. We strive for a just world, working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners.
We have worked with children, young people and communities for more than 85 years and are committed to making a lasting impact on the lives of the most vulnerable and excluded children while supporting children's rights and gender equality.
Plan International's refreshed global strategy 2022-2027 strives to achieve a world where all girls are standing strong creating global change. To achieve this ambition, our goal until 2027 is: Girls and young women in all of their diversity reach their full potential as equal and active citizens in both development and humanitarian settings.

b. Background Information on Plan GNO

Plan International Germany- known within the Plan Federation as the German National Office (GNO) supports our Country Offices by raising funds from the German public and from German and European institutional donors, and in the implementation of projects funded by these donors. Plan GNO manages a diverse, geographically dispersed programme portfolio across multiple regions.
Within Plan GNO, the Programme Quality Unit (PQ Unit) plays a central role in strengthening programme quality across all phases of the project cycle. This Unit ensures that Plan International Germany's programmes consistently meet internal and external quality expectations while fostering a learning culture and integrating knowledge systems. The PQ team is composed of different thematic Technical Specialists, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialists (M&E) and Program quality/Knowledge Management Specialist.

c. Rationale for this consultancy

The Plan GNO's Programme Quality Unit currently has three M&Es in the structure, each providing project-level support based on a regional split. However, regional segmentation, while effective
for day-to-day project follows up, creates several structural limitations that this consultancy is specifically intended to address: For these reasons, Plan GNO seeks to engage an experienced senior MEAL consultant who will fill cross-regional, thematic, surge, and capacity-building gaps in the existing MEAL architecture.

2. Purpose of the Consultancy

To strengthen evidence generation, MEAL systems, and cross-regional quality across Plan International Germany's programme portfolio by providing strategic, thematic, and surge MEAL support that complements the work of the three existing regional M&E Advisors.
The consultant will focus on global and cross-regional evidence work, thematic MEAL strengthening, capacity building for WACA, and coordination tasks that fall outside regional project-level responsibilities.

3. Objectives

Objective 1: Strengthen impact, evaluation and research across all regions

• Lead or support evaluations, learning studies, and research initiatives cutting across multiple regions

• Fill the current gap in methodological approaches for multi-country or global MEAL initiatives

• Ensure quality assurance for external evaluators and research firms

• Develop evidence products for donors and global reporting

  Objective 2: Provide thematic and in-depth MEAL support

• Support thematic areas such as Child Protection, Gender Equality, SRHR, etc and develop thematic indicators, logframes, MEAL guidance, and evidence pathways

• Strengthen thematic research and link evidence to organisational strategy

Objective 3: Strengthen coordination within the M&E team

• Support cross-regional harmonization: tools, templates, reporting practices

• Contribute to internal learning and knowledge management

• Improve coherence between M&E advisors and Programme Specialists

• Support quality assurance mechanisms

  Objective 4: Build M&E capacity across the portfolio, with priority on WACA

• Conduct structured coaching and mentoring programmes for M&E staff, especially in WACA where needs are particularly high.

• Strengthen country MEAL systems, data quality practices, and accountability mechanisms

• Support countries in preparing for evaluations and donor requirements

Objective 5: Provide surge support during peak activity periods

• Rapid mobilisation for proposal reviews, logframe development, evaluations, learning studies, and donor reporting
• Emergency response MEAL support if needed
• Assist when country offices or technical advisors face unexpected workload increases or staff turnover

Objective 6: Provide flexible support beyond region-specific work

• Support regions outside WACA when strategic needs arise
• Fill unexpected capacity gaps (staff leave, transitions, emergencies)
• Contribute to global learning and organisational initiatives

4. Scope of Work and Key Deliverables

A. Evaluation and Research deliverables

• TORs, inception reports, methodologies, sampling frameworks
• Evaluation and research reports (full or summary)
• Quality assurance notes and feedback
• Evidence syntheses and thematic briefs

B. Thematic MEAL strengthening products

• Thematic MEL frameworks (child protection, gender, SRHR etc.)
• Indicator reference sheets, standardized MEAL tools
• Technical notes and methodological guidelines

C. Coordination and system strengthening deliverables

• MEAL guidance documents and standardised templates
• Internal knowledge sharing and process documentation
• Contributions to MEAL newsletters, learning sessions, dashboards

D. Capacity building deliverables (WACA priority)

• Training modules (qualitative methods, data quality, reporting, learning)
• Coaching plans and follow-up session documentation
• Technical support to strengthen country MEAL systems

E. Surge support deliverables

• Rapid reviews of logframes, proposals, evaluation products based on country offices' needs
• Emergency data analysis support (remote)
• Donor report contributions

5. Reporting and Management Structure

• Report directly to the Head of Programme Quality
• Collaborate closely with the 3 regional M&E Advisors
• Participate in regular PQ and M&E meetings
• Work with Country Offices, especially WACA

6. Duration and Level of Engagement

7. Consultant Profile

• Extensive experience in MEAL, evaluations, research and learning (6-8 years)
• Experience with MEAL Technical Assistance to a portfolio of multiple project and countries
• Proven ability to deliver high-quality qualitative and quantitative mixed-methods products
• Experience with WACA countries (strong asset)
• Expertise in thematic areas relevant to Plan International
• Demonstrated capacity-building experience
• Fluency in French and English

8. Payment Terms

9. Ethical Requirements

10. How to Apply

• A Letter of Interest outlining the applicant's motivation, understanding of the assignment, and proposed availability, including the proposed monthly rate and professional references.
• A Curriculum Vitae (CV) detailing relevant professional experience and qualification