Pathways for Sustainable Employment for Women and Youth in Ethiopia (PASEWAY) Project Manager 85 views0 applications

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 Pathways for Sustainable Employment for Women and Youth in Ethiopia (PASEWAY) Project Manager for Country Office who will be reporting to the ESDeC/ Economic Empowerment  Program Lead

Dimensions of the Role

The Project Manager will be responsible for the overall coordination of the PASEWAY project. He/she will serve as link between implementing partners, Plan International Ethiopia and Plan International Germany. The Project Manager will be responsible for development of deep and meaningful partnerships with the private sector to enhance youth’s experience of work. Simultaneously, he/she will in charge of building and/or maintaining links to the government in order to ensure that evidence generated as a result of PASEWAY has the potential to scale and influence broader employment strategy. The Project Manager will provide overall management, quality assurance for PASEWAY project and technical support to the local partners.

The Project Manager will have the oversight over the project budget managed by Plan Ethiopia and the local partners, which amounts to approximately 3.2 Mio. €. The role includes the representation of the project at internal and external meetings, collaboration with GoE, other GNOs, relevant networks, private sector and CBOs.

 Accountabilities

Project design, planning, implementation and reporting

• Has the overall responsibility for project implementation including quality assurance, reporting, oversight of M&E activities and communications in line with the project proposal and donor agreement.
• Ensures quality of the project delivery at all levels of the project cycle management in line with the child centred community development approach.
• Effectively manages project resources including the timely utilization of the project funds. Prepares annual and quarterly implementation work plans and budgets for the project.
• Provides strategic, technical, and managerial guidance to the project team / local partners in collaboration with the ESDeC (Early Survival & Development of Children) Program Lead and Plan Germany.
• Creates strategies for partnership building with GoE and relevant companies. Facilitates partnership building with GoE and private sector.
• Creates strategies for linking youth to vocational skill training institutions and to recruiting companies.
• Assists implementing partners and TVETs in designing and exciting tailored training that meet selected companies requirements and needs. Coordinates and supports selection of target beneficiaries in collaboration with the local government administration.
• Leads the technical design of project interventions and development of technical guidance and tools for regions / program area and implementing partner staff.
• Ensures community involvement in the conceptualization, development, management, monitoring and evaluation of projects.
• Responsible to achieve a rights-based, gender transformative and inclusive project. Represents Plan at relevant stakeholder forums, consultative sessions, or conferences related to Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship.
• Ensures key stakeholders are kept informed of project activities as appropriate (e.g. donor, government authorities etc.).

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Oversees monitoring of project implementation processes, coordinates evaluations (internal and government’s evaluations), shares learnings and documents best practices; ensures project learning and achievements are documented and disseminated widely.
• Prepares and submits periodic narrative and financial reports in a timely manner according to Plan International and donor requirements.
• In collaboration with the other Influencing, Partnership and Communication Department, prepares and documents case studies and lessons learnt on best practices and project achievements.
• Ensures all project documentation is filed and organised for accountability purposes.

Program integration and mainstreaming

• Mainstreams inclusion and gender in the project implementation.
• Ensures that Plan’s Safeguarding Children & Young People Policy is adhered to within the project and any child safety concerns are appropriately reported.
• Mainstreams child centred community development approach & applies sponsorship commitments in the project cycle to achieve appropriate participation of stakeholders and help them play a leading rolls.
• Fosters collaboration and supports at program area level to develop plans for integrating project with other thematic areas and with other relevant NGO or GoE programmes.

Partner development and strengthening

• Provides technical assistance and builds capacities of local partners in project management and in Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship.
• Provides high level guidance to field staff on smooth partnership management for enhanced project implementation.
• Ensures adequate stakeholder consultation and participation at all stages of the project implementation.
• Manages and monitors partnerships with implementing organisations, including their efficient utilization and timely accountability of funds allocated as appropriate.

Networking and representation

• Establishes partnerships and networks with NGOs, government bodies, forums and CBOs for cross learning, identification of lessons learned, best practices, resources mobilization and scaling-up to enhance project initiatives.
• Networks effectively with relevant stakeholders to draw information and knowledge for the development of project inputs and strategy development.
• Establishes deep and meaningful partnerships with the private sector to enhance youth’s experience of work.

Staff Development and Management

• Actively participates in country programme team and project meetings in an open, cooperative and proactive manner and contribute towards ensuring smooth collaboration and coordination.
• Ensures equal and fair opportunities and representation of both sexes and persons with disabilities in the program area.
• Organises regular performance review meetings to assess progress and communicate any changes in strategy with the key project stakeholders.
• Builds the technical capacity of Plan International staff and community volunteers and also ensure optimum community involvement in the conceptualization, development, management, monitoring and evaluation of the program.
• Appraise field Project staff performances and ensure capacity building support is provided regularly.

Job Requirements

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential

Educational Qualification and Experience

• Master’s degree in Education, Economics, Agriculture, Health Promotion & Communications, Development studies, Social Work, or related fields.
• A minimum of five years of demonstrated success / experience in managing Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship projects, which actively involve private sector.
• Previous experience of managing and developing a multi-disciplinary team including implementing partners.
• Experience in working with TVET centres and private sector in the context of Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship projects.
• Experience in liaising and networking with local implementing partners.
• Experience in collaboration and partnerships with private sector in the context of Youth Employment and Entrepreneurships projects.
• Good knowledge and experiences of market analysis and job placement.
• Experience in capacity building, training and facilitation skills.
• Clear understanding of relevant government policies, strategies, programs and priorities related to youth employment, vocational/skill training and job placement.
• Project management experience.
• Entrepreneurial experience or experience in business incubators or start-up support would be an asset.

Knowledge

• Extensive knowledge on Vocational Education, Economic Security, Job Placement, Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship.
• Understand organisational principles, systems and have the ability to provide leadership and support to staff working at community level.
• Understanding of integrated development issues, participatory approaches to development, child-rights programming, participatory Monitoring, Evaluation and Research systems and processes preferred.
• Proven knowledge of youth employment and entrepreneurship issues and contemporary practices in Ethiopia, Africa and across the world.
• Knowledge & understanding of Plan’s vision, mission values.