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.
Position: Project Coordinator
Department & Location :PROGRAM – Regions of Bissau, Bafatá, Gabu, Cacheu, Biombo e Oio
Reports to (position): Program Support Manager- Strategy
Direct supervision:Program Support Manager- Strategy
Location: Bafata
Required travels: 30%
Grade: D2
Indicative Date:January 2021
Plan International is a child-centered international development organization, implementing development programs that promote the realization and enforcement of children’s rights. As such, Plan International will not tolerate any kind of child abuse by any applicant. If this happens, Plan International will exclude the implicit candidate from the recruitment process.
Plan International is an equal opportunity employer under the United Nations Convention and our Human Resources practices comply with applicable laws and regulations.
Plan International Guinea Bissau in partnership with UNICEF (United Nations Funds for Children) will implement a program with two major objectives. Firstly, this project will address the gaps to end female genital mutilation focusing on in country and cross-border child trafficking for FGM. Through community mobilization for social norm change, strengthening of (community) protection and support mechanisms (in communities and governmental structures) and the government coordination to reinforce cross-border information exchange and harmonize procedures to handle FGM, the project aims to promote FGM abandonment in the regions of Bafata and Gabu. Secondly, the spreading of the COVID-19 outbreak in Guinea-Bissau is lead to a significant interruption of the physical, economic and social life in the country. The closure of schools and mandatory social confinement poses great challenges, taking into account the low level of illiteracy in rural area. As the country is preparing to the opening of the new school year, its crucial to sensitize the community school and strengthen their resilience and the capacity to respond. The integration and articulation between education and health allows expanding the reach in students and their families to optimize the use of spaces, equipment, and resources available. The difficulties are not only of an academic nature it is also prolonged in the understanding of the risks of COVID19 and of the way; people face the Pandemic in communities, mainly adults. In this light, it is necessary to implement the program in epigraph, not only to ensure in sanitary terms the reopening of the school year but also to contribute to stopping more problems that prevented the proximity of the Sustainable Development Goals 4.
Program objectives 1 on FGM:
This program aims to address the gaps to end female genital mutilation focusing on in country and cross-border child trafficking for FGM by promote the abandonment of FGM through cross border collaboration initiatives in Bafata and Gabu.
Specific objectives:
1. Strengthen of (community) protection and support mechanisms (in communities and governmental structures) and the government coordination to reinforce cross-border information exchange and harmonize procedures to handle FGM,
2. Sensitize through community mobilization for social norm change for reducing Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the cross border communities of Bafata and Gabu
Program objectives 2 on EDUCATION & COVID 19:
The present program aims to strengthen the capacities of community volunteers and parents of schoolchildren in terms of preventing COVID – 19 and in creating favorable and safe conditions for learning.
Specific objectives:
1. Strengthen the capacity of community volunteers to raise awareness about COVID -19.
2. To improve the knowledge of parents and guardians of school age children, in basic education, in preventive measures and the creation of favorable and safe conditions for children’s learning, both at school and at home in both regions of Bissau, Bafatá, Gabu, Cacheu, Biombo e Oio.
dimensions of role:
To coordinate project implementation and to ensure that the Program objectives 1 on FGM is met within agreed timescales and budgets in close collaboration with regional health authorities in both Bafata and Gabu regions. To coordinate project implementation and to ensure that the Program objectives 2 on EDUCATION & COVID 19 is met within agreed timescales and budgets in close collaboration with regional Education authorities and communities schools in both Regions of Bissau, Bafatá, Gabu, Cacheu, Biombo e Oio. Ensure program quality by issuing a systematic technical support to the operational and strategic level.
Major responsibilities and tasks
- Control the quality of the project among the team to ensure that they achieve their objectives and that the best possible use is made of available project resources (team, equipment and materials, infrastructure, budget and time);
- Managing the budget, including budget monitoring, cost allocation, financial reporting and overall cash flow monitoring in coordination with the financial team at Plan’s country office;
- Working with the project team to ensure project follow-up, remove bottlenecks and provide resources as needed;
- Conduct project risk, quality, procurement and contract management in accordance with Plan International and donor requirements procedures;
- Monitor and report on project progress in a structured manner, using donor reporting templates where indicated, paying special attention to deviations from the original project plan if detected;
- Maintain and update the project plan as necessary;
- Review the project and update performance measures as necessary;
- Working closely with implementing partners
Communications and Working Relationships
Working contacts inside and outside the organization; include the purpose and level (high, medium, low) of the contact
- There is medium contact with the Country Management team including Program Unit Managers
- Maintains high contact with Technical advisor in country
- Maintains Medium contacts with Ministries
Technical experiences, skills and knowledge
Knowledge, Skills, Behaviours, and Experience Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:
Gained through education, training, & experience
- Ability to work effectively as a team member and independently;
- Experience working on gender equality promotion and women rights promotion is relevant,
- Experience of managing interdisciplinary teams;
- Experience in working with international organizations and a good knowledge of NGOs and other local development agencies will be considered an asset;
- Familiarity with contractual financing procedures;
- Knowledge of financial principles and project budgeting;
- Ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure, trouble-shoot, and to meet short- and long-term deadlines;
- Previous experience in managing education and school feeding and Community-based initiatives
- Ability to use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, PowerPoint);
- Sound knowledge of Bafata and Gabu regions is desirable.
- Capacity to work under pressure
- Excellent written and oral communication, representation and influencing skills
- Strong supervision, coaching staff skills
- Fluent in Portuguese and strong working knowledge of English or French are essential
- Excellent critical and creative thinking and analytical skills;
Qualification and Experience
- Graduate or higher degree in Education Science, and/or Social Science, Health Science, Development Studies, Project management with advanced knowledge in Education sector;
- Minimum five (3) years of relevant professional experience in project management; project monitoring and evaluation and relevant fields experiences;
Plan International’s Values in Practice
We are open and accountable
- Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
- Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
- Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
- Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
- Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people
We strive for lasting impact
- Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
- Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
- Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
- Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.
We work well together
- Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
- Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
- Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
- Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.
We are inclusive and empowering
- Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
- Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
- Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
- Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.
Working environment
Typically office and field environment with 30% extensive travel in program areas.
Type of Role:
12 month fixed term contract. The salary is based on grade
Documents required for application
- Application Letter
- A Copy of diploma or certificate
- Curriculum vitae updated with 3 references of former employer (name, telephone number and email) or job mates,
Level of contact with children
The position will based at the Bissau Office and level of contact with children is medium.
Submission of applications
All applications must be submitted on the digital platform.
Access link: https://jobs.plan-international.org/search/?createNewAlert=false&q=Bissau
The deadline for submission of applications is 10th February 2021.
The female candidates are highly encouraged.
Human Resources Department
Location: Bafata, Guine-Bissau
Type of Role: Project Coordinator
Type of Contact: Local Contract
Reports to: Program Support Manager
Grade: D2
Closing Date: 10th February 2021
Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.
Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.
We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.
We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.
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. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.
A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.
More Information
- Job City Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
