Role Purpose

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We strive for a just world, working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners. Plan International has been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years, and is active in 75 countries across the world.

The Joining Forces Alliance has been awarded a €10 million grant from the EU to address the major child protection issues arising from and exacerbated by COVID-19. Joining Forces for Africa (JOFA) Project will be implemented in five countries (Senegal, Mali, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda) for three years (2020-2023). The project will be implemented by a consortium of six INGOs where by PIE is a lead agency in Ethiopia.

The Consortium Program Manager is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the implementation of the project among the implementing partners in country. The Consortium Project Manager will work on behalf of the country lead and will be responsible for project reporting, oversight of the overall project implementation progress, and organizing Joining Forces Alliance joint activities of the project in Ethiopia.

The Consortium Project Manager will also lead the Country Management Unit (PMU), and participate in monthly global Project Management Unit (PMU) meetings.

Dimensions of Role

The Consortium Project Manager is responsible for the overall management of project progress as per the project proposal, budget, logical framework and contractual compliance obligations. He/she will oversee and ensure that implementing partners and field level teams have the required level of support, guidance, and information in order to implement the project to high standards, coordinating and communicating effectively with the PMU and their consortium member to ensure follow up and support where required. He/ she will work closely with consortium members’ project technical staffs to ensure provision of technical oversight and support for the country team to utilize evidence based, best practice approaches and methodologies in child protection programming, drawing on the collective experience, capacity, approaches and methodologies of the Joining Forces Alliance and other external actors. 

The Consortium Project Manager will be responsible for effective communication of project progress, issues arising and proposed solutions to the PMU and their consortium member, and will lead in communication with the European Union delegation, in consultation with their consortium member and the Overall Project Manager. She/ he will be responsible for consolidating all financial and narrative reports from implementing partners, after conducting a surface review, and submitting the consolidated reports to the Project Manager. He/ she coordinates closely with the Project Management Unit (PMU), especially the Overall Project Manager.

Key End Results and Typical Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, directs, coordinates and controls the JOFA Project activities both in country office and Program Areas of PIE and consortium organizations.
• Set up of Country Management Unit (CMU), manage and facilitate key project governance mechanisms at country level and design and manage effective communication channels.
• Lead on joint planning with implementing partners with regard to the implementation of activities and corresponding expenditure of funds, as per Detailed Implementation Plan format provided by PMU.
• Develop and implement the country MERL and Communications and Visibility Plan.
• Orient and support all relevant staff of country lead and implementing partner organizations on project management standards and processes, based on guidance provided by the PMU.
• In coordination with the PMU, develop and manage a risk register for the project.
• Lead on troubleshooting and issue resolution, in coordination with CMU, PMU and Consortium Member, and through effective communication with implementing partners.
• Lead and facilitate evidence based best practice sharing of methodologies and approaches to child protection programming as an input to detailed activity design/ implementation planning and on an ongoing basis as needs arise.
• Receive financial and narrative reports from implementing partners and conduct (with the support of the country finance coordinator) a surface review to ensure logic and coherence between financial and narrative reports, and to identify any changes to the description, timeframe of implementation and/or budget of activities and expenses.
• Report changes to the description, timeframe of implementation and/or budget of activities and expenses to the PMU.
• Follows up and ensures that financial commitments of funding agents are timely released and used as per commitments;
• Preparing and compiling plan, case studies, and proceedings and submit to concerned bodies as deemed required;
• Facilitate on time budget transfer to Program Areas and consortium member and ensure on time project accomplishment;
• Consolidate (with the support of the country finance coordinator) all narrative and financial reports submitted by implementing agencies and the reports of their own implementation into one country level report for each reporting period, to be submitted to the Project Manager as per the reporting schedule.
• Lead regular coordination meetings with the CMU.
• Attend monthly PMU meetings and contribute according to PMU terms of reference.

·         Oversee the successful implementation of project baseline, mid-term and end-line assessments/ evaluations and ensure lessons learnt feed into project adjustments.

·         Oversee successful project close out, including disposal of assets and equipment, financial reconciliations, and sustainability and continuity planning for services and program activities.  

·         Provides adequate technical support of JOFA project to Program Areas of PIE and Consortium Organizations of the project areas.

·         Represents PIE and participates in experience sharing and related forums on matters of child protection as per delegation.

·         Follows up and ensures that financial commitments of funding agents are timely released and used as per commitments.

·         Assist in fostering strategic partnership and collaboration with the EU Delegation, UN, government and non-government actors to ensure collaboration and coordination in the area of child protection. 

·         Document, share lessons learnt on the impacts and best practices of the project; and ensure effective communication and information sharing for scaling up of the project’s outcomes/impacts.

·         Engage in capacity building of project staffs and partners in monitoring and evaluation activities, and donor’s compliance management issues.

·         In collaboration with PAs and CO M&E staffs, conduct action researches (s) that will help to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the project.

·         Ensure regular participation in Child Protection/GBV cluster, NFI, Shelter and other related clusters, task force meetings, networks and other platforms at national level and ensure timely sharing of information collected within PIE.

·         Performs other related duties and responsibilities of the department as assigned by the Humanitarian Director.

Dealing with Problems

·      Systematic approach is needed to deal with child rights issues and post holder needs to follow innovative approaches of working with civic organizations to empower them so that they promote and advocate child rights.

·      The post holder has to closely consult and also get approval from line manager or senior management of the organization while embarking on issues related to rights.

Communications and Working Relationships

·      Internally: CO staffs of Program Leads and Technical Coordinators, Humanitarian Department, Country Director, Business Development Department, Finance Department, Logistic, HR & OD, Program Area, and relevant staff at RESA & IH.

·      Externally: Consortium NGOs program and support staffs, the EU Delegation, UN agencies, government, bilateral and multilateral donors, and other stakeholders.

Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:

Knowledge & Experience

• MA/ BA Degree in Social Sciences, Child Development, Development Studies, Sociology, Social Work or other related sectors.
• Eight (8) years’ experience in which five (5) years minimum experience in Program/ Project management of NGOs, including in consortium programs.  
• Experience of managing complex and large project budgets (> €1mil).
• Experience in developing and implementing Child Protection projects.
• Knowledge of evidence based, best practice programming and standards for child protection and child participation (INSPIRE strategies, Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian contexts, etc.).
• Good knowledge and understanding of humanitarian principles and established international child protection standards; SPHERE standards and the Red Cross/ NGO Code of Conduct.

 Skills

• Strong facilitation, negotiation, communication and representation skills.
• Strong leadership and management skills.
• Skills in monitoring, evaluation, Learning and reporting.  
• Analytical skills.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Requires general finance, administration, information management and telecommunication skills and proficiency in information technology/ computer skills (SAP, Word, Excel, PowerPoint);

• Fluency in English is essential.

Behaviours

·         Demonstrates clear respect to all and especially children and women without discrimination

• Aware of own strengths, weaknesses and pro-active in using feedback and self-development
• Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to Plan's core values and humanitarian principles

·         Demonstrates honesty and transparency in holding self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and Plan’s standards of behaviour

·         Patient, able to improvise and remain responsive under pressure.

Physical Environment and Demands

·         Work both at the office and in the field.

• Frequent field visits. He/ She will spend at least 25% of his/ her time in the field in the context of monitoring and support to Country Lead implementing teams. 
• Periods of intense work at all times of day and night.
• Working in multiple locations in the country.

Competencies and values

• Respect, accountability, integrity, courage, excellence, building partnership, coaching, contributing to team success, leading through vision and values; negotiating, proactive problem solving, managing performance for success, facilitating change.
• Have a positive attitude towards Teamwork and collaboration with other team members
• Supportive and encouraging to others.
• Eager to be part of solution of a problem.
• Innovation and risk taking to achieve impact and broad scalable results drive strategic priorities.

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

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.

Level of contact with children

Low contact: No contact or very low frequency of interaction