Project Manager – UN Women Project (National Position) 210 views0 applications

Plan International is a leading girls and children’s rights organization. Plan strives for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We motivate our people and partners to:

• empower children, young people and communities to make vital changes that tackle the root causes of discrimination against girls, exclusion and vulnerability
• drive change in practice and policy at local, national and global levels through our reach, experience and knowledge of the realities children face
• work with children and communities to prepare for and respond to crises, and to overcome adversity
• support the safe and successful progression of children from birth to adulthood

Plan operates in 77 countries around the world. It brings its support to millions of children, their families and communities, mainly in Africa, Asia, Middle East, and South America. It implements projects in the Health, Water and Sanitation, Education, Child Protection, Sustainable Livelihood, and cross-cultural communication. Child sponsorship forms the basis of our work with children. Worth to mention, Plan International global ambition is to support 100 million girls learn, lead, decide and thrive!

As part of its commitment to support Plan International Federation reach 100 million girls so to Learn, Lead, Decide and Thrive, Plan International Liberia has developed a new country strategy which will for the next five years (2019 to 2024) focus on reaching 600,000 marginalized girls and children all over the country, with a strong commitment to work with partners at various levels to put an end to violence against girls and young women including Child Early Forced Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other norms and practices that hinder their development and empowerment.

Plan International Liberia is committed to ensuring that Child Protection and Youth Safeguarding, Gender Transformative programming and Influencing are key and an integral part of all its work in the country.

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION:

Under the EU funded Spotlight initiatives, Plan International Liberia and the UN WOMEN will collaborate to decrease FGM practice by providing FGM traditional practitioners (referred to as zoes) with access to alternative income and empower them to become change agents towards improving the lives of young women and girls in Liberia. The project will directly respond to Activity 3.2.4 Provide alternative economic activities for female Traditional Practitioners and of establish a simple rite of passage program for women and girls without cutting / FGM in the 5 counties as part of the Spotlight Initiative in Liberia. The aim of this Programme is to support the government of Liberia to achieve specific development  outcomes relative to strengthening capacities of CSOs to engage communities and FGM practitioners from a human rights based approach using a culturally sensitive methodology; knowledge and skills of 300 FGM practitioners in basic literacy, numeracy and business planning, innovative agriculture best practice that will enable them  pursue alternative livelihoods; and Increased support and coordination amongst FGM Practitioners by providing small grant alternative economic livelihood initiatives.

The project will directly respond to Activity 3.2.4 Provide alternative economic activities for female Traditional Practitioners and of establish a simple rite of passage program for women and girls without cutting / FGM in the 5 counties as part of the Spotlight Initiative in Liberia.

The project will employ key strategies, including capacity building using participatory and culturally sensitive methodology focused on community reflection, amplifying the negative outcomes of FGM on the sexual and reproductive health of women and girls, linking to girl’s education and community development.  An assessment will be carried out to determine existing livelihoods skills and access to market for FGM practitioners. The project will mobilize and organize safe spaces for FGM Practitioners to learn best practices for farming and selling of goods using an innovative and practical approach, at the same time, discussing issues of positive cultural practices. The project will also undertake advocacy related activities. FGM practitioners will be trained in advocacy skills, provide policy briefs, host radio talk shows and support engagement meetings at national and international levels. Small grant funding for FGM practitioners to work in a formal structure and support each other through learning alternative livelihood skills for income generation will be prioritized. Throughout the project implementation, participatory monitoring will be conducted to understand successes and challenges – with a particular focus on lessons learnt during the “pilot phase” implementation in Grand Cape Mount, which will be reviewed for each type of activity before rolling out those same activities in the remaining four project areas (Lofa, Montserrado, Nimba and Grand Gedeh).

The project aims to reach 300 FGM practitioners directly within ­­­55 communities covering the five Spotlight Counties. The project targets per locations are: Grand Cape Mount – 100 practitioners (20 communities), Nimba – 75 practitioners (15 communities), Grand Gedeh County – 25 practitioners (5 communities), Lofa County – 75 practitioners (10 communities) and Montserrado – 25 practitioners (5 communities). This project will build on pervious activities done by Plan International Liberia over the past five years.

Plan International Liberia is committed to building positive social norms on sexuality; to strengthening quality SRHR services that meet the “Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability, and Quality” framework of the right to health; and to strengthen support for girls and young women most at risk.

Dimensions of the Role

The Project Manager will oversee the management and implementation of the project which aims to Provide alternative economic activities for female Traditional Practitioners and of establish a simple rite of passage program for women and girls without cutting / FGM in the 5 counties as part of the Spotlight Initiative in Liberia. She/he promotes, develops, implements, monitors and provides technical strategic support to achieve the project objectives and desired outcome for the Spotlight. S/he will focus to build positive attitude, social norms on sexuality; strengthen quality services that meet the “Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability, and Quality” framework of the right to health; and strengthen support for girls and young women most at risk. The successful candidate will ensure that Plan Internationals approach to programme quality and influencing is adopted, and that procedures and guidance are adhered to, with evidence of managing the detailed project implementation plans and budgets.  She/he will use the global theory of change to provide timely reporting, data collection, processing and analysis of implementation and progress to support the effective project delivery.  Ensure that the project contributes to safeguarding children and youth, girls and young women including advocacy for creating safe spaces and SRH services for girls in targeted counties or areas of intervention.

Typical Responsibilities – Key End Results of Position:

Project Management and implementation

• Take lead to ensure that the associated project objectives and activities are achieved in a timely, cost-efficient and effective manner and where applicable in collaboration with partners including providing technical inputs and management support to ongoing project and other activities including research, organizing and facilitating meetings, preparing technical documents and managing the project on a day to day basis.
• Manage partner organizations/CSO in 5 Spotlight counties
• Be responsible for the planning and implementation of relevant trainings as well as follow up and mentoring of staff, partner and project beneficiaries.
• Provide leadership and oversight in project development and implementation, including financial accounting according to Plan International guidelines.
• Facilitate strategic national influencing actions and promote the sharing of lessons and experiences with partners (UNWOMEN, UN Agencies, MoGCSP, MoJ, MiA, MoH and CSO/national working group)
• Follow-up on project activities implemented under external agreements, consultancies or similar arrangements, and ensure their timely and quality delivery.
• Prepare and submit quality and timely work plans, budgets and technical progress reports to Plan International CO, National Office (NO), donors and other partners as applicable.
• Communicate important developments in project implementation and management to participating organizations on a regular/planned basis.
• Participate in media-opportunities (radio shows, TV, other) as requested and/or as appropriate to promote the key expected result on alternative livelihood and rural women empowerment.
• Lead in the development and implementation of a suitable monitoring and evaluation to track the progress on planned indicators
• Plan and work with the finance team to fulfil internal and external budget tracking and reporting requirements.
• Work with the communication team to inform and share lessons learnt

  Accountability, effectiveness and efficiency in the achievement of Plan’s programs and donor standards

• Accountability standards of effectiveness and efficiency from program quality procedures (PQP) are established, monitored and achieved
• Project budgets are spent according to the approved budget, with quality and cost effectiveness including appropriate cost recovery
• Project evaluations are implemented as required with results and findings incorporated into program planning lessons learned

  Staff Management and Development

• Supervise, train and coach junior staff in Plan and partner organization
• Ensure that project team receives proper orientation on right based programming, gender transformative and core human rights standards, and project management including Plan principles, standards, policies and procedures; and
• Conduct performance reviews and objectives performance meetings in collaboration with partner organizations for field officer/project team

  Key relationships

• Communications and Working Relationships:

• High level of contact with zoes, girls and community action groups and the line ministries, community members, traditional practitioners, traditional council children and other stakeholders to develop and implement programs that would meet Plan International Liberia program implementation and objectives
• High level of contact with the donor organization.
• High level of contact with staff working on Gender and Child Rights program activities at field level to offer support for understanding and implementation gender related activities

      

       Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

• Undergraduate/advance degree in Nursing, Social Work, Livelihood, Development Planning, or equivalent, with a minimum of three years’ progressive experience in a related field;
• Advance degree in public health, gender and development study, project management is an advantage
• At least 5 years’ proven experience in managing projects and teams (preferably with special focus on Alternative Livelihood, Gender Equality and Girls’ Rights, SGBV and SRHR) and a relevant network
• Proven experience in working with UN agencies and systems, line ministries such as the MoJ, MoH, MoGCSP, MIA and CSO (national working group on FGM)
• At least 3 years’ experience in an international organization similar to Plan International.
• Good knowledge on the rights of children and women, disability including the challenges and opportunities in Liberia

Demonstrated behaviours needed by the post holder to successfully perform the role:

• Understanding of the Plan International operating principles, in particular in relation to various adaptation and how the application of these affects project design and implementation;
• Hands-on experience in design, formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
• Knowledge of how human rights, VAWG, SGBV/SRHR information can be used to add value to program strategies, policy processes and planning tools is essential;
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills;
• Availability to contribute to the substantive development and increased capacity of the team and willingness to share expertise;
• Ability to prepare briefing notes, presentations and other knowledge products;
• Ability to communicate technical concepts among many different stakeholders – government, donors, civil society organizations –  in plain, non-jargon language, and to understand the language of sectoral policy makers
• Gender sensitivity and knowledge to apply a gender equality approach

Skills Specific to the post needed to put knowledge into practice

• Strong knowledge of the Rights of Child and the rights of girls and women
• Analytical skills.
• Communication skills, appropriate to the audience.
• Excellent report writing skills
• Strong team-building skills.
• Strong negotiating, facilitating and influencing skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft applications and use of relevant software and other applications, e.g. word processing, spreadsheet, database, internet.

Physical Environment

 

Physical Environment and Demands:

Post holder will be based in the country office in Monrovia with frequent visit to the field (project targeted areas)

Travel requirements:

 

The position entails 70% travelling to the field to support communities, staff and partners in the project areas

 

Level of contact with children

 

Level of Contact with Children: Mid contact: The job responsibilities of this position requires occasional contact with children and it is expected that children shall be protected at all times.

 

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion 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.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

1. Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
2. Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
3. Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
4. Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
5. Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

1. Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
2. Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
3. Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
4. Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

1. Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
2. Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
3. Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
4. Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

1. We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential
2. We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace
3. We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives.

Location:           Monrovia Country Office, frequent travel to project location

Reports to:        Programme Quality and Delivery Manager

Grade:                D1

Closing Date:    3rd December 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.

Plan follows an equal opportunity policy and actively encourages diversity welcoming applications from all especially women and people living with disability.

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.