Department & Location Program – Plan International African Union Liaison Office (Plan AULO), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 

Reports to (position): Program Lead- Girls Rights and Leadership

Purpose: How does this post support Plan’s strategy and mission?

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. Plan International has a liaison office to the African Union (Plan AULO) based in Addis Ababa. Plan AULO leads Plan International’s liaison engagement with the AU and other related continental institutions. It also implements continental projects and initiatives (mainly on policy implementation and influencing) in line with its strategic focus areas. 

The Break Free! Consortium is a collaboration of Plan International, SRHR Africa Trust (SAT) and Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) with KIT and Rozaria Memorial Trust (RMT) as technical partners. The aim of the Break Free! Consortium is for adolescents to exercise their right to live free from Teenage Pregnancy (TP) and Child Marriage (CM), supported by civil society.

The BF! consortium has three pathways of change leading towards the strategic program objective:

Outcome 1: Adolescent girls at risk of CM/TP access quality and safe education

Outcome 2: Duty bearers and decision-makers develop, resource and implement laws and policies that respond to adolescents’ needs

Outcome 3: Adolescents access quality SRHR information, education and services

These goals will be implemented in 9 countries: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Sudan and Zambia, as well as at regional level, by in-country offices/chapters/affiliates and partners of the consortium members.

Working in Plan International African Union Liaison Office, the Break Free! Project Coordinator provides support to Break Free! Project by supporting the development and executing of annual Break Free project plan for AULO. The BF! Project Coordinator has the primary responsibility within the AULO for delivering on the BF! Project implementation and M&E and knowledge management.

The BF! Project Coordinator is also responsible for ensuring that the BF! Project and AULO programs are contributing to Plan’s global initiatives on gender equality, including, but not limited to the Girls Get Equal and Ending Child Marriages in Africa campaigns. S/he is expected to work closely with pan African CSOs and networks particularly girls and young women movements and gender equality networks in the region.

The BF! Project Coordinator will represent Plan in forums that seek to influence policy makers, and contribute to building Plan’s reputation as a highly respected contributor in the field of girls’ rights and gender equality as delegated by the program lead. 

BF! Project implementation and management support: (35%)

• Support the efficient implementation of the Break Free! Project - Regional Africa Program
• Lead the implementation of the Plan AULO project activities under BF! Project.
• Follow up regularly the implementation of activities, budget utilization and knowledge management by Plan International AULO and project partners
• Ensure quality and timely reporting and documentation of project activities at AULO level including preparation of quarterly/yearly project progress reports in line with Dutch Government guidelines.
• Support African CSOs involved in BF!
• Set up, review and update and manage project information and reports on the SAP and communicates same to the responsible partners/stakeholders for their actions.
• Play active role in the facilitation of relationships between all the stakeholders and partners involved in the project.
• Raise the profile of the project within and outside Plan International and partner organizations in consultation with the program lead.
• Provide additional management support in relation to the delivery of BF! Project and AULO Strategy as maybe advised by Line Manager
• Ensure effective project budget management and ensure that transfer and disbursements are according to plan/budget and internal policies and procedures. 

BF! Project Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation: (30%)

• Support strategic oversight of project milestones development, baseline survey, periodic monitoring, midterm evaluation, final evaluation and close out of the project in close collaboration with the various stakeholders. 
• Monitor the delivery of activities based on agreed upon project plan and ToC to ensure quality implementation.
• Ensure that partners at AULO level deliver their assigned activities in a synergistic manner and achieve the projects’ objective.
• Support Plan International country offices and BF! Country programs with monitoring, evaluation, learning and Knowledge Management processes on BF! Project.
• Maintain an up-to-date risk register and associated risk controls and ensuring that project partners use it during the implementation of project activities.

Partnerships, advocacy and Alliance Building (25%):

• Develop and accompany key relationships with the AU and its organs, RECs, key Addis missions and relevant pan African CSOs and networks/alliances focusing on SRHR, teenage pregnancy, ending child marriage and other harmful practices and girls’ education areas.
• Support and implement strategies for capacity building of CSOs to engage the AU, including trainings, grant making
• Work closely with pan African CSOs and networks particularly girls and young women movements, SRHR networks and gender equality networks in the context of joint advocacy initiatives at the AU and RECs.
• Coordinate the development of BF! And Plan International AULO’s advocacy and public position statements on SRHR, Girls Education and Teenage Pregnancy issues relevant pan African girls rights and gender equality issues in the region to build Plan’s and BF’s profile as a thought-leader in this area. 
• Represent BF! in strategic external engagements as delegated by the Project Manager

Knowledge Management (10%)

• In liaison with BF! country programs, alliance members and the program lead, ensure the effective gathering, packaging, management and utilization of critical information required to achieve BF!’s advocacy ambition
• Ensure that best practices, success stories, case studies etc are produced and add value to project operations, fundraising and donor retention plan.
• Ensure that proper systems and mechanisms are in place to effectively track, document and share project progress through the BF! And Plan International PMERL methodology
• Support the production of high quality communication products for BF! including information packs, press releases, speeches and talking points, annual reports, organization profile, newsletters, photos and video and multimedia content

Striving for lasting impact

• Articulate a clear purpose for project team and partners and set high expectations;
• Create a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas;
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximize long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises in line with the project objectives.

Working well together

• Seek constructive outcomes, listen to others, willing to compromise when appropriate;
• Builds constructive relationships across the alliance to support our shared goals;

Physical Environment and Demands:

Typical office environment with approximately 30% travel across the continent

Level of Contact with Children:

Low frequency of interaction with children.

Job Requirements

Educational Qualification and Experience

• Bachelor’s in Human rights, Public Health, Political science, International development, Gender studies or other social sciences,
• A relevant Masters’ Degree is an added advantage.
• At least 5 years of relevant working experience in a similar role or environment.
• Demonstrated experience on girls’ rights, SRHR, teenage pregnancy, ending child marriage and other harmful practices and girls education areas.
• A good understanding of the AU human rights mechanism and how these operate is essential.
• Documented experience in gender equality and advocacy and lobby work with regional and international actors is essential.
• Partnership management and project management experiences is essential.
• Strong skills in lobby and advocacy, M&E systems particularly Outcome Harvesting methodology is an asset
• Experience in capacity building and communications will be an added advantage

Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, Behaviors, and Experience Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:

Knowledge

• Strong academic and practical background/experience in Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights, Policy and Practice
• Sound thematic knowledge on girls’ rights, teenage pregnancy, ending child marriage and other harmful practices and girls education areas.
• Good knowledge of the links between gender equality, girls/children’s rights and NGO development/humanitarian programming practice. 
• Demonstrated understanding of gender equality and girls rights issues in both development and humanitarian contexts. 
• Experience designing, implementing, and evaluating high quality programs with demonstrated impact on improving gender equality or girls’ empowerment.
• Knowledge of the Africa regional context would be desirable

Skills

• Strong advocacy and campaigning skills especially on gender equality, girls/children’s rights, SRHR, teenage pregnancy, ending child marriage and other harmful practices and girls education areas.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and able to communicate complex concepts around gender equality and empowerment clearly and concisely, and apply them in practical situations.
• Strong project management and coordination skills
• Demonstrated communication skills operating at a distance and across a wide variation in cultures
• Excellent written and spoken English required. 

Behaviors

Openness and accountability

• Promote a culture of openness and transparency, including with the NLNO (Plan Netherlands) and partners;
• 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.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates shall submit their motivation letter along with their recent CV via www.ethiojobs.net or planau@ethiojobs.net

Note:- Only short listed candidates will be contacted. Potential candidates will be required to declare any potential points for conflict of interest e.g. a relative working for Plan etc, as well as sign on to the Plan International Safeguarding Policy and other relevant policies.

• Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.