Assistant, Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (PMER)

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (“the Federation”) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network with 191 member National Societies, acting through more than 160,000 local branches or offices and with 14 million community-based volunteers. They are supported by the IFRC Secretariat, which works to support, coordinate and represent the action of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies worldwide. Together, the members and their Secretariat are known as the “IFRC network”. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Each National Red Cross and Red Crescent Society is an independent national organisation dedicated to saving lives, promoting community health, safety resilience and well-being, and building inclusive societies. As auxiliaries to the public authorities in the humanitarian field, National Societies support their authorities to reduce risks, protect human dignity, delivery assistance and improve the lives of vulnerable people, while always acting in conformity with the Fundamental Principles.

Their unparalleled local presence, combined with the IFRC Secretariat’s role in global coordination and response, brokering knowledge, strengthening capacities, mobilising resources and representation, form the world’s largest and most effective humanitarian network.

In the Americas, the IFRC Secretariat is organized through a group of support services and technical functions, and geographical configurations of Country Cluster Delegations and Country Delegations. The Central America Country Cluster Delegation (CCD) provides support to the five national societies in the sub-region; Guatemalan Red Cross, Honduran Red Cross, Salvadorean Red Cross, Costa Rican Red Cross and Red Cross Society of Panama. The International Federation, in accordance with its statutes, is responsible for carrying out relief operations to assist victims of disasters and crises and to strengthen the capacity of its member National Societies.

This position will be based in Panama and will report to the Senior Officer, PMER of Central America, working in close coordination with the Program & Operations Coordinator and relevant technical and operational teams.

The Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (PMER) Assistant position is intended to provide technical and operational support to PMER processes for projects and emergency operations, contributing to effective results-based planning, monitoring, reporting and accountability.

This role will primarily support the earthquake response in Panama (2026), while also contributing to other projects and emergency operations as required. Under the supervision of the Senior Officer, PMER Central America, the role will support the implementation of PMER processes and tools, monitoring of operational progress, data collection and quality assurance, and the preparation and review of reports, contributing to results-based management, accountability and evidence-based decision-making, in accordance with IFRC standards and procedures.

Planning:

• Support planning and technical teams in the development of results frameworks for projects and emergency operations, including SMART objectives, measurable indicators and suitable verification systems.
• Contribute to the design and development of logical frameworks and results-based planning tools, ensuring consistency with organizational strategies and operational priorities.
• Support the preparation and preliminary review of PMER components of emergency response plans, operations updates and/ot project proposals, including objectives, results, indicators, targets and means of verification.
• Collaborate with relevant technical teams and the National Society to promote evidence-based planning, incorporating available needs assessments, operational data and contextual information into project and emergency response planning processes.

Monitoring:

• Provide support to the Central America CCD team and the National Societies in the regular monitoring of projects, programmes and emergency operations, particularly the earthquake response in Panama, to facilitate results-based management, strengthen accountability and support evidence-based decision-making, while ensuring timely follow-up on agreed milestones and deadlines.
• Support Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) activities, including M&E design and tools; measurement of appropriate indicators; data quality assurance processes and systems; database maintenance; appropriate data analysis; and appropriate dissemination of monitoring results.
• Conduct routine data quality checks and support the verification of reported progress against indicators and targets, including consistency with supporting evidence.
• Support the planning and conduct of monitoring visits to operations and programmes, including data collection, documentation of findings and follow-up on agreed actions.
• Maintain and regularly update monitoring tools and tracking matrices to support follow-up on operational progress, indicators, planned activities, reporting requirements and implementation milestones.

Reporting and Evaluation:

• Support the collection of evaluation reports, maintaining an updated database and facilitating feedback to improve future management and institutional learning.
• Support the preparation and review of interim and final reports, including emergency operation reports and operations updates, ensuring consistency and quality against established plans, indicators, reported achievements and supporting evidence, in accordance with IFRC reporting requirements.
• Support evaluation visits by providing on-the-ground assistance during evaluation and learning exercises, facilitating data collection, supporting coordination with relevant stakeholders and assisting with logistical arrangements as required.
• Assist in the preparation of evaluation reports by gathering, compiling and organizing data from various sources, including surveys, interviews and assessments, ensuring accuracy and completeness. Support basic data analysis and the identification of relevant findings and trends to assess project and operational performance against established objectives and indicators.

Reporting and Evaluation (continued):

• Support the organization and documentation of lessons learned exercises for projects and emergency operations, including the consolidation of findings, recommendations and follow-up actions.
• Support the monitoring of reporting deadlines and the follow-up of pending information required for the timely submission of project and emergency operation reports.

Capacity building:

• Support the organization and delivery of practical PMER training and coaching activities, under technical guidance, for National Society staff and project and emergency operation teams in the implementation of results-based project management systems and PMER tools, including monitoring plans, indicators, data collection and reporting requirements.
• Contribute to the National Society PMER network by sharing tools, resources and good practices and supporting peer learning activities, particularly those related to emergency operations.
• Identify and share lessons learned and promote best practices, including recurring gaps and capacity-strengthening needs identified through monitoring and reporting processes.

Required:

• University studies (bachelor's degree or equivalent) in project management, development or international cooperation, social sciences, or other related areas.

Required:

• 1 + year(s) experience in report writing and editing, with attention to product delivery in accordance with deadlines
• Experience in report writing, editing and consolidation of information, with attention to quality and deadlines.
• Experience in basic data collection, processing, verification and analysis for project monitoring and reporting.
• Experience supporting the application of monitoring and evaluation tools or systems for projects, programmes or emergency operations.
• Experience in the project planning and implementation and results-based project management

Preferred:

• 1 (+) years’ experience in the International Movement of the Red Cross Red Crescent
• Experience in working in a non-profit organization or humanitarian organization

Required:

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills are essential, including the ability to prepare clear narrative summaries based on monitoring information.
• Knowledge of log-frame-based project design, monitoring and evaluation
• Strong interpersonal skills and diplomacy to manage relationships with many stakeholders and in a complex situational environment
• Analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to synthesize, order, process and prioritize large amounts of information
• Strong attention to detail in both listening and visualisation design
• Ability to take initiative to create new processes from scratch and act to fill identified gaps
• Strong commitment to Red Cross and Red Crescent Fundamental Principles
• Edition of texts in English and Spanish
• Able to work independently and as part of a team

Preferred:

• Basic understanding of gender, protection, social or human vulnerability issues
• Familiarity with digital data collection, monitoring or information management tools.

Languages:

Required:

• Fluently spoken and written English
  Fluently spoken and written Spanish

VALUES: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability

CORE COMPETENCIES: Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; Pro-activity; National Societies and Customer Relations; Creativity and Innovation; Building Trust; Leaderships

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES: Strategic orientation, Building Alliances; Empowering Others