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.
ROLE PROFILE
| Project Name | Community Led Action for Children Early Childhood and Development Program (CLAC-ECD)
| ||
| Title | CLAC-ECD Project Coordinator | ||
| Functional Area | Programs | ||
| Reports to | National Program Manager- Education | ||
| Location | Nebbi | Travel required | Yes |
| Effective Date | 1st February 2019 | Grade | C2 |
role PURPOSE
Plan International is an independent child rights and humanitarian organisation committed to children living a life free of poverty, violence and injustice.
We actively unite children, communities and other people who share our mission to make positive lasting changes in children’s and young people’s lives. We support children to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to claim their rights to a fulfilling life, today and in the future. We place a specific focus on girls and women, who are most often left behind. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 78 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.
Plan International Uganda’s programs are guided by a five-year Country Strategy (FY2016-2021) which consolidates and applies our experience and learning from the last 24 years of operations in Uganda. It is also guided by the current national and global context and the situation affecting children and young people in Uganda. Education and Early Childhood Development is one of the five program Objectives. Our primary goal is to focus on quality, inclusion and governance in Early Childhood Care and Development and Primary Education, promoting enrolment and retention, particularly of girls in schools. To achieve this goal, we particularly work with the children, parents and communities, national and local level government structures.
The overall responsibility of this position is to provide technical leadership, management and oversight for the ECD project in Nebbi, Lira, and Alebtong districts. The ECD project Coordinator will be fully responsible for timely and efficient implementation of all the project activities in a bid to contribute to increased enrollment of children, especially girls and marginalized children in the three districts. The ECD Project Coordinator will ensure quality, equity and safety of all children in delivery of ECD services in the three districts. The ECD Project Coordinator will be responsible for strengthening district, sub district and community structures to collaborate, network, and implement national standards of Integrated Early Childhood Development service delivery framework in the three targeted districts. The Project Coordinator will report to the National Program Manager- Education and will be part of the West Nile – Nebbi Program Area.
Overall, the ECD Project Coordinator will be responsible for the delivery of ECD project results in the context of time, budget, quality, scope, risk and in accordance with Plan International’s values and behaviours, including gender transformative outcomes and Safeguarding of all Children.
Dimensions of the Role
Project Set Up and Project Planning
- Define the scope of the project in collaboration with senior management.
- Develop a comprehensive and detailed implementation plan which identifies and sequences the activities needed to successfully complete the project.
- Determine the resources (time, money, equipment, etc.) required to complete the project
- Develop a schedule for project completion that effectively allocates the resources to the activities.
- Review the project schedule with senior management and all other staff that will be affected by the project activities; revise the schedule as required.
- Define/review the project governance structure.
- Launch of the project and define key communication mechanisms with the different stakeholders.
- Determine the objectives and measures upon which the project will be evaluated at its completion
Project Implementation
- Execute the project according to the project plan.
- Liaise with the MER team to develop forms and records to document project activities.
- Set up files to ensure that all project information is appropriately documented and secured.
- Monitor the progress of the project and make adjustments as necessary to ensure the successful completion of the project.
- Establish a communication schedule to update stakeholders including appropriate staff in the organization on the progress of the project,
- Review the quality of the work completed with the project team on a regular basis to ensure that it meets the project standards.
- Ensure that the Programme Quality Policy and Procedures are followed in his/her project.
- Ensure gender equality related action plans are planned, implemented with clear gender transformatory outcomes.
Partnership Management
- Manage the partners implementing the project activities following the Partnership Framework and Guidelines.
- Ensure proper capacity assessment of all partners.
- Ensure all legal documentation is in place before bringing partners on board.
- Support their capacity building process and manage relationship building.
- Ensure that the partners follow all the requirements stipulated by the donor.
Project Monitoring and Evaluation and Control
- Measure the project progress and identify appropriate corrective action in situation where the project’s performance deviates significantly from the plan.
- Write high quality reports to donors following the donor compliance guidelines.
- Follow the communication protocols with donors and the Resource Mobilization team and provide information as outlined in funding agreements.
- Monitor all budgeted project expenditures and cash flow projections and report actual cash flow and variance to senior management on a regular basis.
- Manage all project funds according to established accounting policies and procedures, ensuring value for money and strong accountability.
- Ensure that all financial records for the project are up to date.
- With support from Finance Department, prepare financial reports and supporting documentation for funders as outlined in funding agreements. Ensure consistency between narrative and financial reports.
- Ensure that the project deliverables are on time, within budget and at the required level of quality.
- Evaluate the outcomes of the project as established during the planning phase.
- Optimize the use of the SAP system to manage project outputs, budget, and expenditure and project closure.
- Manage project risks, ensuring they are effectively tracked and reported. Manage audit process and follow up audit action list.
Advocacy, Influencing and Visibility
- Represent Plan International at district level to implement the advocacy activities as stated in the project.
- Support with technical documentation of evidences from the project and write stories of change when required.
- Ensure close technical and operational collaboration and coordination with Government Agencies & WASH Net works
- Ensure that the project is fully aligned with the Advocacy Strategy and the SDG influencing plan.
End of Project Transition and Project Integration
- Implement all the transition activities to ensure proper closure of the project (lessons learned, financial and contractual closure activities, etc.)
- Promote full integration of the project with other initiatives implemented in the same location in close coordination with the Programme Unit Manager.
- Participate and provide valuable input into the technical network meetings.
- Support the Resource Mobilization Unit and the National Programme Manager in developing proposals that may facilitate the continuity of the project.
Dealing with Problems:
- Building and sustaining smooth working relationships with project partners and other key stakeholders.
- Compliance to donor requirements and ensuring quality and timely project outputs and communications
Accountabilities
Staff Management
- In consultation with the National Programme Manager (NPM), recruit, interview and select staff and/or volunteers with appropriate skills for the project activities.
- Manage project staff and/or volunteers according to the established policies and practices of the organization.
- Ensure that all project personnel receive an appropriate orientation to the organisation and the project.
- Initiate and manage the process of contracting qualified consultants to work on the project as appropriate.
Child Protection Policy Responsibilities (mandatory for all staff)
- Adhere to the Child Protection Policy, Code of Conduct and reporting any CPP issues.
- Responsible for the implementation of the CPP standards as they apply to area of responsibility plus the development of actions to address identified gaps and monitoring their effectiveness.
- Ensure that all Plan International partners, visitors and associates in his/her area of responsibility are provided with, are made aware of and have signed and returned a copy of the child protection policy. Inform the partners, visitors and associates that they must comply with the policy in all contacts and communications with children during their visit.
- 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.
Sponsorship Commitments Responsibilities
- Design and support implementation of programmes that are aligned with the Sponsorship Commitments, ensuring that the interventions benefit Sponsored Children.
Key relationships
- Close collaboration and interdependence with the Programme Team and Resource Mobilization Unit at Country Office, Program Area Offices, and other support departments (Finance, Admin, Risk Management, Human Resource, Sponsorship)
- Regular working relationship with Program Area teams, especially Project Coordinators /Project Managers and other focal points implementing similar projects.
- Communications Department to ensure proper visibility and compliance to branding.
- Local, national and international Civil Society Organizations, Private Sector actors, Government institutions and UN agencies to ensure Plan’s work is well linked to other initiatives.
- Plan Federation: other Country Offices, Regional Offices, National Offices and International Headquarters as requested by the project demands.
Technical expertise, skills and knowledge
- Advanced university degree in one or more of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Education specifically Primary Education, or a Social Sciences field relevant to international development assistance.
- At least five years of progressively professional work experience in design, implementation and evaluation of Education programmes. Experience working in international development organization an asset.
- Conversant with government systems and structures especially Ministry of Education and Sports, district local governments, and other line ministries, institutions, departments, and implementing agencies. Should be familiar with MoES Planning and policy formulation, implementation, budgeting, accountability mechanisms, Monitoring and evaluation processes etc.
- Excellent coordination and organization skills. Able to work in a matrix environment and keep track of multiple priorities and adhere to deadlines
- Demonstrated skills and experience in report writing, donor compliance and budget management.
- Ability to Identify and synthesis best practices and lessons learned to promote knowledge management and sustainability.
- Ability to work in hard to reach hard to stay areas and familiar with programming for vulnerable children especially young girls and boys.
- Promotes high performance among project staff and provides vision and direction.
- Establishes effective partnerships with external stakeholders
- Ability to coach and mentor project staff.
- Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills, with ability to work with people from diverse cultures
- Strong computer skills and knowledge of Microsoft software including MS Word processing, Power point presentation, Excel spreadsheets, e-mail and web based research.
- Experience of gender mainstreaming gender equality and inclusion in development programming
- Experience working with Education or Child protection programmes in a humanitarian context.
Skills/Competencies
- Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques. Strong verbal communication skills, including networking, negotiating ability and influencing others.
- Good team building skills with calm and diplomatic personality
- Creativity/Innovation: Develop new and unique ways to improve operations of the organization and to create new opportunities.
- Strong leadership skills and ability to positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the organization.
- Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization.
- Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details/data/information/activities.
- Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement actions plans, and evaluate the process and results.
- Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with people from diverse cultures, ability to lead and motivate people to work in teams
- Good understanding and ability to use participatory approaches for involvement of stakeholders and creating program ownership.
- Able to work with children, facilitating child participation and gender equality.
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.
Physical Environment
Based in Nebbi Office with frequent travel to other the Program Areas especially Lira and Alebtong.
Level of contact with children
This position has been classified as “Mid contact”: Occasional interaction with children.
Location: Nebbi
Type of Role: Fixed Term
Reports to: National Progrmme Manager – Education
Grade: C2
Closing Date: 06th March 2019
Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.
A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy.
As an international child centred community development organisation, Plan International is fully committed to promoting the realisation 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.
Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for. Our organisation 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 will provide equality of opportunity and will not tolerate discrimination on any grounds. We foster an organisational culture that embraces and exemplifies our commitment to gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion while supporting staff to adopt good practice, positive attitudes and principles of gender equality and inclusion.
More Information
- Job City Nebbi
