Plan International is an independent global child rights organisation committed to supporting vulnerable and marginalised children and their communities to be free from poverty. By actively connecting committed people with powerful ideas, we work together to make positive, deep-rooted and lasting changes in children and young people’s lives. We place a specific focus on girls and women, who are most often left behind. For over 80 years, we have supported girls and boys and their communities around the world to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to claim their rights, free themselves from poverty and live positive fulfilling lives.
The Influencing and Child Rights Advisor will play a critical role in ensuring that Plan Kenya continues to be a leading agency in promotion of child rights and is recognised for its role in influencing policies, legislation and partnerships for realisation of child rights in the country. The position holder has a critical role in ensuring quality in right based programming and promoting collaboration with other civil societies and Government institutions for advancement of child rights.
Dimensions of the Role
Under the general direction and guidance of the Director of Programme Strategy, Quality and Development s/he will ensure influencing/advocacy and right based approach to programming are incorporated in the design and implementation of all projects. The position holder will coordinate all advocacy work in the Country Programme and act as the liaison with influencing partners at National level. S/he will also ensure coordination of capacity development in influencing and RBA for project implementation in order to contribute to Plan Kenya’s strategic areas of distinctiveness and the Global goal and ambition of impacting lives of 100 Million girls by 2022. The position holder is expected to provide technical support to project staff to ensure programme and influencing objectives are successfully achieved, with frequent visits to the field to support high quality programme implementation.
She/he shall also provide leadership in the implementation of the Country’s Advocacy and Child Rights strategy and monitor its effective roll-out and represent Plan Kenya in forums and working groups, including collaboration with and participation in Plan CR global networks. She/he will support the overall country strategic intent to focus on ensuring that the most marginalised children achieve their rights to learn, lead decide and thrive.
Accountabilities
Strategic Planning and Programme Development (30%)
- Lead the review of Plan Kenya’s advocacy and Influencing policy to align it with the global policy on programme and influencing. The position holder will also support development of the country strategy and ensure the influencing agenda is well articulated reaching the 100 Million girls by 2022
- Support the mainstreaming of Influencing and right based programming across all the thematic areas of Plan Kenya’s work, ensuring collaboration with other technical leads to support quality implementation of the right based and influencing agenda. In addition, ensure all new programmes support the achievement of Plan Global and National strategic and thematic objectives and ensure alignment with the Government of Kenya policies and legal frameworks in child rights.
- Support the Director of programmes and Business Development Manager (BDM) in analysing opportunities for funding in the areas of influencing and RBA and donor priorities. S/he will also support in building on technical knowledge, personal understanding of the child rights issues and priorities in Kenya, and current/previous programming – develop proposals for new programming in influencing and Child Rights.
- Ensure that the country programme strategy supports and demonstrates good practice in influencing, advocacy, child participation and child safeguarding.
- Using a child rights programming lens, ensure that our programming is built around the Global Theory of Change and aligns with Plan’s areas of global distinctiveness.
- Lead the engagement of Plan Kenya in tracking implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals
Policy review and development support (20%)
- Keep updated and analyse the GOK’s policies and how they might impact Plan Kenya’s work on child rights and advise management accordingly. Support civil society strengthening to hold duty bearers accountability to policies, including through participation in relevant national level working groups, forums and coordination meetings.
- Help to clearly articulate the CR advocacy messages for the Kenya country programme and develop advocacy plans for implementation at national, PU/County and community level.
- Represent and advocate for Plan with regional and international agencies, donors, Kenyan Government, NGOs and others as required.
- Act as focal point within the Country Office on national, regional and global child rights research initiatives, ensuring coordination of the various stakeholders.
- In collaboration with the M&E Manager, Learning and Innovation Advisor and Communications Manager, ensure active dissemination of programme findings and lessons learned through the production of high technical quality lessons learned documents and their effective dissemination to key stakeholders inside and outside the organization.
- Represent Plan Kenya in national forums and advocacy platforms and support development of treaty reports (UPR,CEDAW, CRC, ACRWC etc)
Programme Quality (20%)
- Support capacity development of the implementing staff in the PUs in influencing and RBA and in providing timely, relevant, accurate input on overall technical aspects of project proposals and reports. The position will be required to travel occasionally for field support
- Assist in the development of tools for project staff and partners to improve the quality of influencing and Rights Based Approach to programming. Where necessary provide technical training for project staff and partners as required (child rights programming and the role of duty bearers, investment in children, etc.)
- Review relevant monitoring reports to donors to ensure that technical issues are well articulated and reports are of acceptable quality before submission. Provide support where necessary to improve report writing skills.
- Provide input on partner selection, and provide technical coaching of partners in CR, including sharing of relevant publications, tools and training opportunities.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (15%)
- Support the M&E team in developing tools and monitoring influencing and child right activities
- Contribute to the documentation and sharing of information and knowledge in influencing and RBA
Staff Management and leadership (10%)
- Provide supervision and support to the Programme Coordinator, Child and Youth Safeguarding and participation
- Provide thought leadership in influencing and child right programming in the organization
Other (5%)
- Support communication department in running the global and national level campaigns eg “Girls get Equal”
- Participate actively in programme meetings, planning and review activities, providing enhanced insight into child rights programming.
- Actively participate in key relevant internal meetings such as Programme Review Meetings, Advocacy and Communications or area-based meetings as required. Participate in any donor visit to project(s) within the country office portfolio, as required.
- Live Plan Values.
- 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
Key staff engaging directly:
Technical Specialists for Health, Education, Child Protection, Advocacy & Influencing Advisor; Nairobi Programmes Coordinator; Head of M&E Manager; Communications Manager; Global Working Group on CR, Programme/Project Managers and Area Programme Managers
Technical expertise, skills and knowledge
- Advanced degree in Social Sciences, Law, Development Studies or related field. A bachelor’s degree with combination of relevant experience and professional qualifications may be acceptable in lieu of an advanced degree
- Proven experience in advocacy and influencing work at national level. Experience in child rights advocacy assignments at regional level an added advantage
- At least 5 years of relevant work experience in girls and child rights programming.
- A clear understanding of the legislative/budget making processes at both national and county levels.
- A good understanding of treaty reporting processes and how to mobilize CSOs/children to meaningfully participate in the processes.
- Knowledge and experience in child rights programming and rights based approach.
- Experience working with civil society and community based organisations, particularly in Kenya.
- Experience developing partnership strategies, and proven ability to provide enhanced capacity building of local partners.
- Strong analysis of Child Rights Governance data and ability to summarise and communicate this to a range of audiences.
- Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing and negotiation
- Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures especially children and young people.
- Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mind sets.
- Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in.
- Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner.
- Fluency in English, both verbal and written, knowledge of Swahili language required.
- Commitment to Plan values and willingness to abide by Child and Young people Safeguarding Policy and hold others accountable.
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
Frequent travel to Plan programme areas and occasional travel outside the country.
Level of contact with children
High level contact: Occasional interaction with children.
Please note that only applications and CVs written in English will be accepted.
References will be taken and background and Anti-terrorism checks will be carried out in conformity with Plan International’s child protection standards including appropriate background checks and adherence to our Global Policy on Safeguarding Children and Young People.
Plan International operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all persons meeting the skills and experience required.
Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
More Information
- Job City Nairobi
