Education in Emergency Officer 229 views0 applications

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s 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.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Job Description                                                                                                                                              

Position           Education in Emergency Officer

Grade  B

Department & Location           Disaster Risk Management, Kousseri (Logone et Chari)

Date    01 June 2020

Reports to (position):   Project Team Leader

Purpose:          Working in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas, Plan aims to reach as many children as possible, particularly those who are excluded or marginalized with high quality programs that deliver long lasting benefits  by increasing its income, working in partnership with others and operating effectively. Plan is committed to responding to children affected by emergencies in the countries of our operation.

Given the current humanitarian crisis in the Far-North Region of Cameroon Plan is engaged in providing life-saving humanitarian assistance, protection, education and psychosocial support. Its operations are implemented in key sectors of Child Protection, Education, WASH, NFIs, Livelihood and Food Assistance and in coordination with all other humanitarian institutions.

With a 2020 funding from ECHO, Plan International will implement in 2020-2021 in Logon and Chari Division a project in the sector of Education in Emergency (non formal education). Under this project, this position is responsible for the technical design/revision and effective implementation of Education in Emergency activities of the project at the level of Field. He/She will ensure the quality and effective implementation of the activities.

Dimensions of Role:

This position is responsible for the effective and qualitative education in emergency activity implementation in the filed in accordance of Plan’s Emergency Education response in the Far North Region of Cameroon. The Education in Emergency Officer will provide effective capacity and technical guidance in management including the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of education activities at the field level. S/he will ensure, day to day activity implementation closely with the Project Team Leader or other Emergency Response Team members, all Education activities in the  targeted communities or schools, in the IDPs sites and in host communities in the Logon and Chari Division. The EiE Officer will work directly with teachers, monitors of Accelerated Learning Program (AEP) centers and Community relays to ensure Education activities planned are well implemented on time. S/He will participate in the technical co-ordination of ECHO Project, support and advocacy with the local specific education group and other stakeholders and technical agencies relevant to the sector to ensure effective, proportioned and quality response of Plan International.

The Education in Emergency Officer will be based at the area of Kousseri (Logon & Chari Division).

Key End Results and Typical Responsibilities:

1. Assessment

• Contribute to the review, assess and update of the Education in the Far North.
• In collaboration with school head teachers and AEP monitors, Community relays, support to conduct issue specific or general needs assessments as necessary, and contribute to assessments in other sectors.
• Organize and support the community partners involved in the recovery process.

2. Program Design

• Participate in the data collection with Plan management for the writing of concept papers, proposals and budgets for education and other sector activities integrated in the project.
• Contribute to ensure that issues of gender, protection, DRR, conflict sensitivity and Plan’s guidelines and international Child Education standards are considered in the data collected for the program design.

3. Response Management and Implementation

• Update inventory of primary materials and report on need for additional items;
• Support the timely and quality implementation and monitoring of the projects ;
• Organize and supervise sensitization/awareness raising campaign on education in the targeted communities with emphasis on Accelerated Education Program;
• Organize in collaboration with community leaders and other education stakeholders  the identification of out of school children for the AEP program
• Organize ”Back to school” and ”Stay in school” campaigns (01 Campaign per year)
• Ensure the strengthening of school governance and community structures such as the PTA, school clubs and recreational activities after-school
• Ensure that regular assessments/screening of AEP and CARED Students is done in collaboration with the MINEDUB representatives
• Ensure the monitoring of the TLS construction in 02 sites of Plan International area of intervention
• Ensure that all planned trainings are conducted on time with the participation of all education stakeholders representatives;
• Organize and supervise school furniture and pedagogic kit distributions;
• Collect and submit field information to Project Coordinator and M&E coordinator on a weekly basis;
• Organize in the field all capacities building activities of teachers, AEP monitors and community relays and communities ;
• Support the set-up of children’s governments in the  targeted schools;
• Give all support to the school management committees involved to the projects;
• Contribute to ensure strong collaboration with Education actors in the field.

4. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning

• Make frequent field visits to all affected areas to monitor implementation of education activities, identify and report to Team Leader opportunities and constraints and any adjustments needed;
• Ensure EiE program of Plan International Cameroon is respected and all concerns reported;
• Ensure adequate reporting of Education activities as per donor and programme requirements.

5. Information and Co-ordination

• Contribute in the reporting of Education activities as per donor and programme requirements, particularly in the ECHO Project implementation.
• Provide regular updates to Project Team Leader on activities implementation.

• Represent Plan International in the sectorial and other coordination meetings;

6. Human Resources and Administration

• Supervise and ensure strong coordination of the teachers and Community Relays.
• Participate in the training and briefing of teachers and Community Relays and other key stakeholders on Education and/or related issues.

Dealing with Problems:

• The job requires intense interventions on the field, in areas often at risk. This requires prudence, vigilance and respect for compliance with security instructionson the part of the staff.
• Decisions may affect the lives of thousands of disaster affected children, millions of dollars, security of staff, and the profile of Plan International across the humanitarian sector and across media.
• Excellent and creative leadership skills will be utilized to correct implementation of education activities, in accordance with the standards and with possible resistance from colleagues as is often the case in emergency response work
• He/She should work under pressure and accept travels and stays in areas often austere.

Communications and Working Relationships:

Key Internal Contacts

Education in Emergency Specialist, Project Team Leader, Plan International Kousseri sub office coordinator, other members of the Emergency Response team, Plan staff.

Key External Contacts

Other agencies and groups responding to the emergency, in particular those working in the emergency Education sector.

Reporting lines

Reports to the Project Team Leader.

Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:

Knowledge

• Be a holder of a degree Education, social sciences or related field with good knowledge of Education Principles and INEE standards;
• Minimum of one successful assignment in an emergency situation/context;

• Good knowledge and understanding of humanitarian principles and established international child protection standards is an asset.

• Proven professional experience in education, child protection,  humanitarian affairs, human rights, and related fields;
• Practical and relevant experience of operating in emergency specially on formal Education sector  in Cameroon.
• Be able to speak one of the local languages mostly the Arable Choa, Haoussa, Kanouri, Fulfuldé language.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience in the Far North of Cameroon is an asset.

Skills

• Team player
• Background in complex emergencies situation analysis, needs assessments and response planning and management;
• Knowledge of international humanitarian standards (SPHERE, INEE,) and Red Cross Codes of Conduct;
• Timely and effective delivery of project activities and other outputs (reports, etc.);
• Proven capacity to facilitate trainings, coach staff and provide supportive supervision;
• Commitment to child protection, gender equality and participation;
• Demonstrate ability to assess best practice, document and disseminate lessons learned;
• Excellent computer skills (Microsoft office including words, excel, power point, internet etc…);
• Ability to network with grassroots structures;
• Willingness to travel at short notice and be flexible to changing circumstances
• Excellent computer skills (Microsoft office including words, excel, power point, internet etc,,);
• Communication Skills: Well developed written and oral communication skills. Able to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders as a representative of PLAN.

Behaviours: 

• Commitment and adherence to humanitarian values and standards,
• Aware of own strengths, weaknesses and pro-active in using feedback and self-development
• Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to PLAN’s core values and humanitarian principles
• Resilience/Adaptability and flexibility: Ability to operate effectively under extreme circumstances including stress, high security risks and harsh living conditions. Works and lives with a flexible, adaptable and resilient manner.
• Awareness and sensitivity of self and others: Demonstrates awareness and sensitivity to gender and diversity. Have experience and the ability to live and work in diverse cultural contexts in a culturally appropriate manner. Has a capacity to make accurate self-assessment particularly in high stress and high security contexts.
• Patient, adaptable, flexible, able to improvise and remain responsive under pressure.
• Preparedness to live and work in uncertain security environments.

Physical Environment and Demands:

• Work intensively in the field: The EiE officer will spend at least 80% of his time on the field in the context of the implementation and monitoring of activities.
• Periods of intense work at all times of day.
• Working in multiple locations and on the move.

Location: Kousseri

Type of Role: Education in Emergency Officer

Reports to: Team Leader

Grade: B

Closing Date: 31/05/2020