Position Title: Project Officer -She Leads Alliance Project, Plan International

Published August 14, 2022 · Updated August 14, 2022

The Organization

Plan International is a rights-based development and humanitarian organization working for better lives for all children. We are independent of government and have no political or religious affiliation. Our purpose is to strive for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Our global strategy has a specific focus on girls, as they are often the most marginalized and most often left behind. We have committed ourselves to the ambitious target of reaching 100 million girls over 5 years, to ensure they can learn, lead, decide and thrive. This is our contribution to reaching the sustainable development goals, and in particular the goals on gender equality. Our organization is transforming itself to meet this enormous challenge everywhere we work. We need bold, forward-thinking and innovative individuals to lead our country operations, driving change and delivering results that will allow us to reach our target of 100 million girls.

Plan International Kenya (PIK) has approximately 38 years of experience in implementing its programme. Currently PIK mainly operates in nine geographical areas; Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Tharaka-Nithi, Siaya, Kwale, Kilifi, Homa Bay and Kisumu.

Plan International Kenya Strategy statement

PlK’s strategic goal in the next five years is to end teenage pregnancies and end all forms of sexual and gender-based violence against adolescent girls and young women. We aim to help create an enabling environment where girls and young women are safe, valued, equally cared for, and have equal opportunities. PIK will contribute to the global strategy by aiming to reach directly approximately 2.75 million (children, including girls and Young Women over the period of the strategy 2022-2026 and to reach additional beneficiaries through its interventions.

Plan Kenya’s redefined strategy represents a strategic shift in focus. The Department leads operationalization of the new program strategy and its focus on gender equality and the empowerment of girls and youth as agents of change.
The She Leads Alliance Project is one of the girls and young women centred project that will contribute to the realization of the new country strategy 2022-2026 and aims to work with adolescents to exercise their right to live free from Gender Based Violence supported by civil society and other stakeholders.

The Role

The Project Officer-She Leads Alliance Project will be responsible for the implementation of the project activities that ensures Adolescent Girls and young women has increased and sustained influence on decision making in target Counties. This will be achieved through working in collaboration with existing community structures and amplifying the voices of adolescent girls.

S/he will work closely with the Project Manager, implementing officers from the She Leads Alliance consortium, government officers in the various line ministries concerned with children, private sector players, community-based organizations (CBOs) and targeted girls to provide relevant training, coaching and mentoring in the areas of child rights, Gender Based Violence including Child Marriage, Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Sexual Reproductive Health Rights. In addition, the role is intended to manage partnerships at community and county level and sustain good working relationships for greater impact.

Accountabilities and Main Work Activities

Planning, strategy and policy (20%)

Ensure She Leads Alliance Project is effectively implemented to contribute to the project outcomes and results are realized.
Take lead in the implementation of the She Leads Alliance project in a gender transformative approach as per the country and Global strategies.
Facilitate consultation, participation and feedback to the community in relation to Plan programs and policies.
Coordinate the development and harmonization of annual and quarterly costed work plans in accordance with Plan’s financial years.
Ensure smooth and synergized day-to-day implementation of all She Leads Alliance field activities.
Coordinate weekly review meetings with She Leads Alliance field teams and implementing partners.

Programme Implementation, Project Design and influence (30%)

Ensure effective participation of all project beneficiaries and communities in project cycle for the achievement of outcomes.
Maintain close collaboration with local partners – Youth Led Organizations, Community based Organizations, religious leaders and all relevant stakeholders
Train and support youth advocates and support them to participate in relevant forums at local and national level.
Influence stakeholders to address the varied and complex root causes of the issues that impact girls’ lives.
Consolidate/write project periodic reports in line with the laid down donor requirements and Plan standards.
In consultation with the Project Manager and She Leads Alliance team, support the drafting of Project Outlines in SAP.
Participate in relevant stakeholders’ forums at county level including Gender TWG, SRH TWG and CM Working groups and coordination forums as may be required.
Facilitate access to relevant and accurate information on the She Leads Alliance project to all project stakeholders and partners.
Consolidate/write project periodic reports in line with the laid down donor requirements and Plan standards.

Networking and Collaboration (15%)

Engage and maintain cordial stakeholder relationships throughout the project cycle for effective project delivery and achievement of She Leads Alliance Project deliverables.
Management of identified implementing partners to effectively support She Leads Alliance project delivery.
Maintain a high level of external communication and contact at the community and county levels. This is to facilitate the implementation of She Leads Alliance project activities effectively.
Build and strengthen working relations with local structures (local administration, schools, BoMs, Youth groups, among others) and ensure their participation and support to program activities.

Represent the She Leads Alliance project in different technical working groups at Ward and Sub-County level
Conduct selected implementing partners’ capacity gaps in delivery of She Leads Alliance project, work and develop capacity building plans for mutual development

Quality improvement and standards (10%)

Deliver timely and quality She Leads Alliance project deliverables as per monthly and quarterly schedules.
In liaison with the M&E coordinator ensure She Leads Alliance project activities and outputs are regularly tracked towards the realization of results and put appropriate remedial measures to ensure project implementation is on track.
Work with the M&E and Research and Learning and Knowledge management team in documenting project best practices and lessons learnt.
Facilitate and coordinate joint reflection sessions with She Leads Alliance Project beneficiaries, and stakeholders to inform programming/improve on quality of interventions.

Financial Management (10%)

Develop quarterly and monthly activity costed plans and budgets as per donor approved work plan and ensure all activities are on track with appropriate scheduling, quality and timelines.
Monitor expenditures by interventions and ensure compliance with approved budget.
Review expenditure reports on a monthly basis.

Risk Management (5%)

Develop risk assessments for the project and put in place mechanisms to mitigate/manage the risks during the implementation phase.

Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) (5%)

Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
Leads the orientation of programme staff to ensure that they are properly inducted on and understands their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies;
Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in project design, during implementation and as principles applied in day-to-day work of Programme team;
Ensures that Plan Kenya contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.

Other duties (5%)

As assigned by the supervisor.

Leadership Competencies

Courageous in taking a lead, focused on Plan International’s purpose and making the most effective contribution within their own work context.
Behaves in line with Plan International values and safeguarding practices, inside and outside work.
Challenges own attitudes, unconscious bias and behaviour and speaks up when they see wrong doing, especially by those who use their power over others to create fear or abuse.
Understand and adhere to the policies, processes, practices and standards relevant to own work and keeps their knowledge and skills up to date.
Honest and efficient in use of resources, including own time.
Takes responsibility for own performance and development: reflecting; seeking and listening to feedback; learning from mistakes; finding people or resources to help them learn.
Constructive and optimistic in facing setbacks, challenges and change, using own initiative to analyze issues and improve things.
Good team player, communicating effectively and being open and supportive towards those around them.

Business Management competencies

Understands Plan International in context, including its purpose, values and country strategy, and can communicate these to varied audiences, including how Plan International will deliver on its objectives.
Managing activities and resources including skills in project design, planning, monitoring and reporting
Managing people and information including skills in capacity assessment and coaching, communication skills, both speaking and writing, and digital working, including personal digital skills

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Qualifications/ experience essential:

A Bachelor’s degree in Education, Social work, community development or another relevant field.
At least 3 years’ experience in working with children and young people in protection, education and development
Strong Knowledge of community development with a focus on ASRH and adolescent health.
Knowledge in donor reporting mechanisms.
Evidence of having worked and collaborated with government line ministries, County governments, private sector, communities, young people and other stakeholders in supporting youths from marginalized backgrounds.
Knowledge and experience in execution of participatory trainings.
Understanding and experience in advocacy and influencing.

Qualifications/ experience desirable:

Strong report writing skills
Community facilitation, networking, partnership development and management skills
Good communication, negotiation and advocacy skills
Good interpersonal, relationship and team working
Conflict Management skills

Languages required

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Kiswahili and English.

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

Knowledge:

Knowledge and experience of working with children and youths
Strong Knowledge of community development.
Knowledge on management of partners including capacity assessment and strengthening.
Understanding of the implications of working with a rights-based approach to development and is able to analyze the situation of children’s and particularly girls’ rights in his/her working context

Skills:

Shapes work programmes with relevant leaders and stakeholders, aligned with relevant strategies, and balancing global and local priorities with opportunities
Designs projects with clear objectives and measurable results contributing to overall outcomes.
Coaches partners as part of daily work by explaining key concepts, standards and resources; and working alongside others to apply effective evidence-based practice.
Identifies, assesses and nurtures mutually beneficial relationships with appropriate partners. [supporting partnership relationships]
Embeds capability building of relevant stakeholders into programme and project design
Mainstreams gender and inclusion into programming and influencing work by applying strategies for gender transformative change.
Uses participatory approaches and the engagement of our Primary Impact Groups and other key actors and stakeholders throughout the programme and project cycle, including monitoring and evaluation.
Works politically to engage with and influence key actors and stakeholders in own field(s), including government, inter-governmental organizations and the private sector
Ability to design, implement and monitor evidence-based solutions for SRHR programmes
Excellent relationship building skills – networking, influencing and stakeholder management skills
Ability to identify, analyze and monitor diverse, relevant external actors to work with and understand the purpose and implications of working with them.
Experience in capacity building
Hands on experience and skill in result based MERL system

Behaviors:

Role model Plan International values and behaviors both internally and externally.
Engages sensitively with community members on issues of gender equality and inclusion, demonstrating an understanding of the local culture and context.
Promotes equality, including gender equality, inclusion and girls’ empowerment in Plan’s work and in its work with partners
Apply participatory influencing methodologies both internally and externally
The ability to build collaborative working relationships
Communicates effectively at a high level and with a range of appropriate styles for different audiences
Builds capability through knowledge sharing, networking and coaching.

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 organizational 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 organization, 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.

Disclaimer: Plan International is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate applicants on any basis. We also do not charge Job seekers any fees at any point of the recruitment process.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply for this position… https://jobs.plan-international.org/job/Nairobi-Project-Officer-She-Leads-Alliance-Project/839046101/

Closing date: 24th August 2022.