Plan International is an independent non-profit organization that advances children’s well-being and equality for girls. Working in building powerful partnerships for children for over 75 years and present in 70 countries, Plan International strives for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children while working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners. Plan International Ethiopia is looking for County Program Lead, Child Protection for Country Office who will be reporting to the Head of Program Quality.
role 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 marginalised; with high quality programs that deliver long lasting benefits by increasing its income, working in partnership with others and operating effectively. In Ethiopia, the education country program is one of the key intervention areas of the country strategy with the goal of improved quality and practices for early childhood care and development, primary education and education in emergencies.
The post holder strategically manages and leads the child protection thematic Country Program. She/he provides strategic program leadership to the child protection team in the development and execution of the country’s strategic plans to deliver high quality programmes in accordance with Plan’s Child Centered Community Development (CCCD) approach, Plan’s Global Strategy and Programme Framework. She/he ensures that the quality of the child protection work carried out is assured throughout the entire project cycle and that field program implementation is undertaken efficiently and effectively. She/he also ensures integration and synergies between the child protection Country Program and other thematic Country Programs. The post holder supports the program teams to ensure proactive external engagement, including networking and collaboration for policy engagement, and learning and knowledge management within the broader organization and with other partner organisations.
Dimensions of the Role
Financial measures or statistics relevant to post such as budget; list of direct and indirect reports
- Supervise child protection Country Program staff at Country Office and at Program Unit levels, with around 6 direct reports and a total team of around 10.
- Directly manage of Country Program budget at the Country Office, but also oversee the management and utilisation of child protection related budgets in all Program Units. The post holder will have delegated financial authority for expenditures up to 3 million USD per year.
- Responsible for the design and operationalisation of the child protection Country Program, overseeing the field implementation and ensuring quality, effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of projects and other program initiatives. Key components of the position include portfolio development, advocacy and networking, monitoring and evaluation, developing and strengthening partnerships and mainstreaming of child centred community development approach.
- Ensures smooth teamwork within the child protection Country Program team, and effective linkages with other Country Program teams, while ensuring that the required staff capacities, competencies and skills are in place.
Accountabilities
Program design and management
- Provide leadership and oversight in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all child protection project activities; assess the outputs, outcomes and impact of program interventions and activities.
- Lead the design and implementation of the child protection program and its component projects and initiatives, ensuring consistency with the agreed Country Program strategic goals and objectives as well as high quality program delivery.
- Operationalize Plan’s vision, mission and the child protection Country Program within the framework of relevant global and national policies.
- Ensure mainstreaming of Child Protection in all other Country Programs, developing ways to improve and strengthen implementation of the Plan’s Child Protection Policy and Child Protection standards.
- Ensure appropriate and timely support to issues of child protection in emergencies, consistent with established benchmarks, plans and organizational policies and in close cooperation with emergency staff.
- Lead the child protection team to ensure quality and timely reporting and documenting of program activities including preparation of quarterly/annual program progress reports;
- Foster collaboration and support with Program Units to develop plans for integrating child protection programs with other country programs;
- Ensure that all child protection project documents, including proposals, monitoring, and reporting, adequately reflect and address child centered community development principles.
Portfolio development and budget management
- Ensure that required concept notes and proposals are developed to support resource mobilization efforts and the attainment of organisational goals
- Ensure efficient management of financial resources, including review and approval of program budgets, monitoring expenditures, and implementing cost control measures.
- Build and oversee managerial accountability with particular attention to program quality and timely utilization of budgets in line with annual plans, project plans and donor conditions.
- Work closely with Grants Compliance and Program staff to ensure good performance in all aspects related to grant management.
Partnership development and strengthening
- Establish links and good relationships with relevant government, NGOs, multilateral and bilateral organizations, academic and research institutions and the media in the area of child protection to draw information and knowledge for program efficiency and effectiveness.
- Develop and strengthen the capacity of partner staff in program management.
Policy influence and networking
- Serve as principal representative to child protection networks, platforms and clusters and other institutional spaces, engaging with partners and stakeholders and other entities to ensure effective and quality program implementation through collaborative partnerships and alliances, and to positively influence policy debates and policy makers.
- Represent the organization in all relevant forums at international level concerning child protection programs.
People management
- Lead the harmonization and integration of the Country Office and Program Unit child protection program teams to ensure a smooth working and enabling environment that engenders good team work, to create operational integration and high performing teams.
- Ensure equal and fair opportunities and representation of both sexes and persons with disabilities in the program.
- Provide leadership, coaching for results and support to the education program team as well as in their individual development and performance management processes.
Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
Key relationships
Internally: Effective working relationships within Plan which involves frequent communication with Country Office and PU child protection teams, other Plan staff and various internal staff networks as well as with National Offices, International Headquarters, Regional Offices, other Country Offices.
Externally: To maximize overall program impact through the optimized contributions of others, the post holder will be required to initiate, develop and maintain a range of working relationships, including with government counterparts, donors, implementing partners and other development organizations.
Technical expertise, skills and knowledge
Educational Qualification and Experience
- Minimum of Bachelor degree in the fields of any of Social Sciences /Masters Degree preferred
- Minimum 10 years relevant experience and of which at least 5 years with NGOs in leading programs and projects.
- Demonstrated experience in the management of child protection programmatic areas.
- A commitment to, and understanding of, participatory approaches to development.
- Previous experience of managing education teams and the ability to lead, motivate and develop others.
Knowledge
- Thorough knowledge of programming processes, systems and principles, and the ability to provide leadership and support to staff working at community level.
- Sound understanding of integrated development issues and critical analysis of child poverty
- In-depth knowledge of child-rights programming
- Knowledge of development issues, trends, challenges and opportunities and implications to community development.
- Knowledge of human resource and change management
- Demonstrated knowledge of strategic planning processes
- Knowledge of effective participatory monitoring, evaluation and research systems and processes
Skills Specific to the Post
- Exceptional conceptual and strategic thinking skills.
- Comfortable with taking timely decisions in situations where information may be incomplete, based on consultation and sound judgement.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships with colleagues at long distances in a multi-cultural environment.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including presentation and public speaking
- Strong negotiation, influencing and problem solving skills.
- Solid experiences in resource mobilization with a variety of donors;
- Numeracy and the ability to interpret financial data, in order to provide management support to budgetary processes including planning, monitoring and reporting.
- Ability to provide leadership, communicate effectively and build high performance teams in support of achievement of organisational objectives.
- Strong team-building and motivational skills with ability to interact and work effectively with others
- Ability to analyze information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically
- Proficient in computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications
Competencies
- Believe in the potential of all people to succeed if given the right support and willingness to multi-task. Able to perform under stress, innovative, build relationships, communicate effectively, coach and mentor, facilitate change, develop teams, initiate action, strategic decision making, planning and organizing. Lead through vision and mission and a personal commitment to children’s development and protection.
Values
- Commitment to Plan International Ethiopia Values:
- Integrity
- Unity/Oneness
- Accountability
- Excellence
- Embracing Change
- Speed/Agility
Leadership Attitudes & Behaviours
- Positively promotes team effort and high performance by all staff through shared successes
- Creates highly motivated team of unified purpose
- Relates to people in a friendly, open manner and engenders trust from other staff
- Creates strong sense of purpose within organisation and with stakeholders
- Holds self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and standards of behaviour
- Sound judgement and decision-making in complex situations
- Aware of impact on others and adjusting own behaviour accordingly
- Humble, supportive, ethical and service oriented
- Promotes innovation and learning
- Pleasant and polite attitude at all times; ability to reflect professional standards
- Able to work with minimal supervision.
The closing date for the application is March 29, 2020.
This position is only open to Ethiopian Nationals, who must be eligible to live and work in Ethiopia.
Please note that:
- Applications and CVs written in English will be accepted and
- Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.
More information about Plan International can be found on http:// plan-international.org
References will be taken and background and anti-terrorism checks will be carried out in conformity with Plans Child Protection Policy. Plan operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all persons meeting the skills and experience required.
As an international child centered community development organisation, Plan International is fully committed to promoting the realization of children’s rights including their right to protection from violence and abuse. That means we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with.
Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. We must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk. Female applicants are highly encouraged to apply.
More Information
- Job City Addis Ababa
