Role PURPOSE

Working in more than 78 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas, Plan aims to reach as many children, Adolescents and youth as possible, particularly those who are excluded or marginalised; with high quality programs that deliver long lasting benefits, working in partnership with others and operating effectively. 

§  Plan Ethiopia’s major emergency response interventions for South Sudanese refugees in Gambella include education/ECCD in emergencies, child protection, Youth engagement and development and livelihood recovery for families affected by drought and conflicts.

§  The purpose of this position is to lead the implementation of the Youth in Emegency and program at South Sudan emergency response program at refugee camp level and ensure support and linkages to the HTP and the other Country Emergency response programs.

§  The post holder is responsible for the deliveries of results in line with pre agreed program plans and objectives and oversees the implementation of the Child Protection Policy in the PU and contribute towards achieving the country program goal of improved protection mechanisms and community practices against harmful traditions and violence against children. Plan Ethiopia has put in place a CP policy that all of its staff must sign and adhere to.

§  More importantly, the position is designed to work closely with youth, and the community to empower and engage youth in to development of themselves and the community. It is particularly important for this position holder to enable youth to become child and community protection agents as opposed to threats to the children, women and other vulnerable groups in the community.  The post holder will report to the child protection and youth programs coordinator at the PA level.   The post holder will manage the protection and engagement budget at the program unit level.  The post holder will manage approximately of xxx million of annual budgets. 

Dimensions of the Role

§  The post holder is responsible for project design, overseeing implementation and monitoring while ensuring quality program delivery of the overall child protection and Youth engagement and development country program activities. 

§  She/he ensures integration as well as smooth teamwork within and across other county programs at the program Unit level.

§   Key components of the position also include regional advocacy and networking, strategic thematic area planning, developing and strengthening partnerships and mainstreaming of child and adolescent centred community development.

Accountabilities

Project design, implementation and reporting

·         Ensure the technical soundness, appropriateness and general quality in project design and planning

·         Provide leadership into the project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation; assess the  outputs, outcomes and impact of program interventions and activities in the program unit.

·         Oversee project implementation.

·         Prepare and develop in consultation with appropriate stakeholders annual work plans and project plans.

·         Under the Country Lead leadership contribute to the development of concept notes and proposals.

·         Ensure effective and efficient management of financial resources, including review and check project budgets, monitoring expenditures, and implementing cost control measures.

·         Ensure M&E and learning in close collaboration with the M&E team.

·         Ensure quality and timely reporting and documenting of project activities including preparation of quarterly/yearly program progress reports. 

·         Ensure the mainstreaming of CP, Inclusion and DRR in your program area, especially in the youth engagement and development sector.

·         Provide timely coordination and guidance in the delivery of  youth engagement and development  in emergencies  programs 

·         Provide leadership in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the youth strategy and child protection policy implementation standards at PA

Related to Program Design;

·         Facilitate and collect baseline information and data from in line with CPiE and and education in Emergency submit to PA and CP for further analysis.

Related to Monitoring and Evaluation;

·         Facilitate quality monitoring and joint supervision with concerned government sectors, PIE and UNHCR, ARRA and take timely action in consultation with sub office manager and child protection team and protection Coordinator and PIE.

·         Manage and oversee the development, implementation, monitoring and tracking of work plans and budgets.

·         Provide operational guidelines and procedures for use by all partners implementing the program

Related to coordination, partnership and networking

·         Periodically collect information about other organizations working within the region to gain institution knowledge of the environment.

·         In support of the regional manager, manage the partnership in a holistic and reciprocal manner; make it their business to know about other organizations in the region.

·         Seeks opportunities for different kinds of partnership for enhanced quality program implementation.

·         Provide support to partner staff, coaching for results and support to the child protection thematic area team as well as in their individual development and performance management.

·         Facilitates communication and interaction between partners/collaborators and Program Area finance team.

Related to capacity building support

·         Provide adequate technical support to Youth and Child protection in Emergency social worker, case workers, community structures  and partners in the area of case management counselling

·         Participate on Youth and Child protection in Emergency related TOT trainings and workshops and cascade the training to concerned government experts, school structures and local communities, Refugee community social workers, case management workers.

·         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.

Dealing with Problems:

Complexity of problems handled & the degree of investigation, analysis, & creative thinking required solving them

§  The position involves resolving many challenges which typically occur in youth in emergency programme management at the PA level.

§  The post holder will demonstrate the ability to solve problems, while introducing innovations as needed to meet the demands of a dynamic and sometimes unpredictable operating environment while ensuring Plan systems and policies are adhered to.

§  The post holder will coordinate program portfolio to ensure the highest level of project quality and its link with the overall country program. This will encompass strengthening accountability, planning, management, adherence to policies and procedures, and promoting a culture for delivery of results, both short and long term.

All the above responsibilities oblige a post holder to develop high level of professional discipline and preparedness to investigate cases, analyse, & thinking creatively in the process of solving problems of beneficiaries.

Key relationships

§  To maximize overall program impact through the optimized contributions of others, the post holder will be required to initiate, develop and maintain a range of working relationships, including with government counterparts, implementing partners and other development organizations with the region.

§  Effective working relationships within the program unit are also essential. The job holder will have frequent communication with, Plan staff and various internal staff networks.  

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

• Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, Law, Political Science and related fields with at least 5 years relevant experience of which at least two years’ experience with NGOs.
• Demonstrated experience in the management of youth and child protection projects. 

§  Knowledge of the youth development and child protection sector.

§  In-depth knowledge of project cycle management, in particular youth and child centred community development programming.

§  Knowledge of development issues, trends, challenges and opportunities and implications to community development.

§  Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships with colleagues.

§  Excellent written and oral communication skills, including presentation.

§  Strong negotiation, influencing and problem solving skills.

§  Numeracy and the ability to interpret financial data, in order to understand budgetary processes including planning, monitoring and reporting.

• Ability to analyse information and evaluate options including planning skills.
• Proficient in computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications.

Desirable

• Ability to deliver quality programs in a desirable time and work under stressful conditions.
• Proven ability to work in a team environment and independently.
• Excellent written, verbal communication skills in English and Amharic.
• Computer literate.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Gender sensitive.
• Proposal and report writing skills.
• Analytical and strategic thinking

Level of contact with children And Youth

·         High level: Frequent interaction with children and youth

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

The post holder will be assigned in a working environment where there is hot and difficult weather, i.e., Gambella. The nature of the job demands frequent travel to the refugee camps and hosing community to reach out the beneficiaries.