The Organization

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years, and are now active in more than 75 countries.

ROLE PURPOSE

The health and Nutrition Technical Advisor is a senior technical post to ensure high-quality programming, policy engagement, and advocacy outcomes of PIE’s work in the Tigray, Afar, and Amhara Regions Ethiopia. The post holder will provide design and support of technical elements of health and Nutrition projects, with relevant project managers, to ensure the projects contribute to the achievement of the thematic program plan; be responsible for ensuring that key organizational principles and approaches such as child participation and sound M&E systems are well integrated throughout the project cycle; be responsible for ensuring that lessons derived through the implementation of projects are well articulated, documented and disseminated both internally and externally; engage with policymakers and work to achieve advocacy objectives to realize greater change for children.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES

Accountable for overall quality of program and influence work in Tigray Region in relation to health and Nutrition in emergencies responses.

Planning, strategy, and policy (10%)

• Support the development of health technical strategies and support roll-out of strategy and updates to all relevant Plan International staff.

• Conduct periodic visits to implementation sites to understand the reality, provide on-site advice/support and come up with recommendations for program quality improvement

• Support and guide the health team to capture /document program lessons at different levels

• Provide technical advice /guidance to the health and team while conducting surveys, evaluations, and other assessments, including in the design, conduct, and analysis and write up of the reports; oversee possible consultancy work in the same.

• Support the development of annual operational plans and the regular internal program planning and review meetings in the health section as well as related inputs to quarterly and annual PIE reports

• Identify new potential partners for strategic engagement and negotiate strategic priorities, thru external contact with relevant counterparts across agencies

• In collaboration with the HR department, ensure support to recruitment and selection of staff and for all matters concerning human resources for the health unit.

• Ensure that relevant cross-cutting issues are strategically mainstreamed in new projects; also ensuring relevant staffs understand and are capacitated to take the issues forward.

• Lead and/or contribute to regular health, Nutrition, and sector updates, capacity statements, and sector representative meetings/training.

Programme and project design, implementation and influence (60%) 

• Ensure that project managers are meeting both internal and donor technical standards and requirements. This includes oversight of implementation quality, reviewing, editing and signing-off donor reports to ensure they are of an acceptable technical and presentational quality.

• Participate in field-based project monitoring and review meetings.

• Liaise with Programme Operations staff to identify technical support needs of projects and staff, and jointly agree on specific and time-bound support needs of projects and staff in relevant technical areas.

• Provide technical training to ensure that the project staff has the necessary skills to technically implement the project.

• Assist project staff in the use of health and cross-cutting tools and guidelines to ensure the quality of work. These include, among others, child participation, child rights programming, and mainstreaming of gender, diversity, and HIV/AIDS.

• Prepare annual work plans, in consultation with the line manager.

• Undertake regular field visits to project sites to ensure technical quality and timeliness of ongoing work.

• Support the Hubs to organize, coordinate and implement surveys, reviews, and terminal evaluations of programs/projects; provide technical oversight as necessary.

• Support the Hubs to ensure appropriate and timely staffing of emergency health programs; including developing a mechanism to quickly deploy key staff to enable timely response.

• Develop a mechanism to ensure rapid and appropriate responses to health and Nutrition emergencies are available at the Hubs and sub-office level.

Partnership and resource mobilization (5%)

• Closely monitor events and maintain an overview of health and nutrition-related issues affecting children in humanitarian contexts (a humanitarian situation, politics, security, etc.), in program areas, to identify potential program areas and partners. This includes active participation in discussion and decision-making forums related to proposing emergency health responses.

• Build on technical knowledge, research, and current/previous programming to lead the design of new projects and development of proposals in close coordination with the relevant field, business development, and management staff. This includes all aspects of proposal development, such as concept notes and grant amendments. Ensure that proposals are developed in line with internal and member protocols and technical standards.

• Ensure that each proposal and annual implementation plan aligns with Plan International Ethiopia’s Theory of Change and includes elements of the partnership, innovation, scale, and voice.

• Accompany and facilitate donor visits and provide relevant background materials.

Capability Building and People Management: (25%)

• Develops the technical capability of colleagues, front-line staff and partners, and of other technical professionals in [health in emergencies response].

• Shares lessons and insights from experiences and evaluation of program and project effectiveness, feeding these into local, regional and global networks

• Provide overall vision and direction to the team in coordination, planning, prioritization, coaching, and supervision.

• Support staff to understand and comply with the organizational vision, mission, strategic direction, and other organizational policies.

• Ensure the team are operating as high-performance teams and have clear accountability lines (direct and matrix)

• Socialize and nurture Plan Values and Behaviours.

• Creating an enabling working environment across different departments unites to foster excellent teamwork and high-performing staff.

• Create a safe working place safeguarding.

• Oversee the delivery of effective capacity-building support in key areas of program management, finance management, logistics management, and human resources management

• Establish, communicate and monitor standards of performance and behaviors of the team through the development of Individual Accountability Plans (IAP), and key performance indicators (KPI’s) that are agreed upon annually, and monitored and updated regularly

• Support team members to gain the necessary skills through learning and development

• Lead the team in line with the Country HR Manual and other guidelines.

• Engage in the performance management of functional subordinates by working closely with the functional subordinate’s line manager. 

LEADERSHIP AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

• Set and communicate ambitious but realistic work goals and priorities, explaining how these contribute to Plan International's purpose.

• Set high standards for self and others' behavior, inside and outside work. Championing our values and commitment to rights, gender equality, and safeguarding. Supporting the health, well-being, and both physical and psychological safety of our staff, including their safety to speak out.

• Hold self and others to account for what we have agreed, dealing with poor performance quickly, firmly and constructively.

• Create a positive team spirit, helping people work well together, to reflect and continuously improve the efficiency and quality of what we do.

• Collaborate with team members, colleagues and partners in finding creative solutions to problems by sharing information, experience and ideas and actively seeking their input.

• Motivate and developing others by taking an interest, giving constructive feedback and praise, ensuring they are properly trained and helping them develop their potential.

• Accept change and support others in adjusting to it, helping them understand.

• Acts decisively and adapts plans quickly to respond to emerging situations and changing environments

• Helps others to recognise and manage stress by showing empathy, prioritising workload and role modelling self-care in stressful situations

• Promotes and guarantees safety and security behaviours and procedures for self and the team.

• Avoids any negative impact of response – Do No Harm especially crucial in humanitarian settings

• Integrates response programmes as far as possible into longer term strategies as expressed, for example, in relevant Country Strategy

• Prioritises safety and security under pressure by monitoring security risks; committing resources to ensuring safety and security and ensuring organisational protocols are understood and consistently followed by staff

• Bases humanitarian response on communication and participation with the affected population

• Takes the time and patience to understand the concerns of other people and takes care of them as individuals.

• Supports coordination systems, working towards common priorities and developing common strategies with other humanitarian actors.

• Identifies and promotes the integration of individuals or groups that might be especially affected by the disaster or marginalized in the response.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES

1. Understanding Plan International in Context

• Aware of the values and the global strategy and understands why Plan International’s purpose is so important in advancing children’s rights and equality for girls globally.  Understands and applies the principles of safeguarding and protection of the vulnerable populations with which Plan International works.

• aware of the different structural and governing elements, including national organisations, global hub, regional hubs, country offices, liaison offices, members assembly, international board, and the leadership team. Are aware of Plan International’s main sources of funding and knows where to find company information.

• Are aware of the processes, institutions and organisations that shape the development and humanitarian context. Understands their local operating environment, demonstrating political, social and cultural awareness.

• Succinctly articulate the purpose, values, and global strategy to a range of audiences.

• Explain how Plan International will deliver on its objectives through the theory of change and communicates the implications for their team.

• Understands the purpose, lines of accountability and decision-making capacity for each structural element of the organisation. Helps their team to understand where they sit within the organisational structure.

• Supports the team to understand the local operating environment and to consider the implications for work activities. Adjusts work activities and practices to reflect the political, financial, social and cultural context.

 2. Risk management

• Applies the Code of Conduct principles to their work activities.

• Are aware of the global methods of assessing risk, the local control environment and the controls in place to mitigate risk. 

• Uses Plan International’s logo and brand appropriately.

• Are aware of how to minimise risk in each core standard.

• Participates in risk assessments, applies actions to their work activities and reports risks using the correct procedure.

• Child and Youth Safeguarding and Protection: Understands their safeguarding responsibilities in accordance with the global policy. Work actively to safeguard the rights of children and young people

• Gender, equality and inclusion: Understands and can identify the causes of gender discrimination, exclusion and inequality.

• Counter fraud: Works according to Plan International’s zero tolerance approach to fraud and corruption. Reports any suspicions of fraud to the Counter Fraud Unit.

• Safety and security: Applies all necessary measures to ensure they work safely and securely.

• Regularly undertakes and interprets risk assessments, assigns ownership of risks, and manage oversight.

• Manages risk in accordance to the local and global appetites and tolerances.

• Regularly communicates and discusses risk at department, project, and programme level.

• Understand how to manage risk at a team level for each of Plan International’s core standards:

• Regularly communicates and discusses risk at department, project, and programme level.

• Consider the political, economic, social and cultural climate of the local operating environment and the implications for our work.

 3. Managing activities and resources

• Contributes to strategic planning activities.

• Aligns team plans to the annual plan, avoiding duplication of work activities and setting appropriate budgets and objectives. 

• Incorporates digital and technological solutions into workforce plans to reduce complexity, solve problems and optimise working practices.

• Understands the procurement cycle and supply chain, including the importance of good procurement planning.

• Manages internal and external projects in accordance with the project management and MERL principles.

• Manages partner relationships effectively by: anticipating future need; appointing based on programme and organisational needs; communicating Plan International’s core standards; undertaking assessments and reviews.

• Manages external programmes according to Plan International’s financial management procedures, including: the grant agreement process, the cost recovery process, forecasting, cost allocation principles, apportioned costs and scheduling and monitoring of expenditure.

• Understands the planning procedures relevant to their role and contributes to annual planning where possible.

• Contributes to their individual accountability plan and understands how they contribute to the team and organisational plan.

• Plans his/her own work activities in line with the assigned budget

• Knows the resources required for their role. Manages their own workload, avoiding under or over committing to delivery activities.

• Works according to a budget and uses the relevant financial systems.

• Understands how information is used for reporting and decisions making.

• Aware of the programmes that Plan International delivers directly and through partner organisations.

• Complies with financial procedures and controls relevant to their role.

• Seeks opportunities to reflect on and learn from all work, programme and project activities.

 4. Managing people and information

• Understand his/her responsibilities, level of decision making and how their role contributes to the wider team.

• Works in accordance to the policies and procedures relevant to their role and responsibilities.

• Creates channels of communication with other individuals and teams.

• Identifies with the Plan International logo and brand and understand what they represent.

• Apply the brand guidelines to all forms of written and verbal communication.

• Understands the importance of high-quality data and the implications of poor data.  Understands what data Plan International needs to inform decision-making. Interprets a range of sources to inform evidence-based decisions relevant to their role.

• Identifies ways to use digital to improve the effectiveness of work activities. Understands how digital enablers can contribute to achieving Plan International’s purpose.  Utilises the digital tools available in line with privacy and safeguarding guidelines. 

• Identifies current and future personnel needs aligned to the workforce plan.

• Manages risk by reviewing capability and capacity against future requirements.

• Designs job roles in line with organisational need, considering the external labour market. Understands the current pay and grading system.

• Manages performance by providing clear objectives, access to developmental tools and opportunities for coaching and mentoring. 

• Adapt management style depending on the needs of the individual, team and operating environment.

• Disseminates departmental targets and objectives, making it clear about what needs to be achieved and why.

• Critically appraises and interrogates data to identify anomalies and patterns. Analyses and interprets a range of evidence to inform decision making and implement actions Translate the interpretation and implications of data into language that is accessible and relevant for staff. 

Other Responsibilities

• Within the scope of the role, there will be additional assignments as needed.

• Seek and promote innovative ideas, approach to ensure quality of work

Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GE

• 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.

• Ensures that the team members under supervision 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 day-to-day work.

• Ensures that Plan Ethiopia contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.

Job Requirements

Technical expertise, skills, and knowledge

Qualifications/ experience essential:

• First Degree in public health, nursing, or related health fields with a minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience and at least 3 years of experiance as a senior level/ managerial role; MPH holders are preferable

• Strong analysis and writing skills

• Experience in working with government counterparts and other partners at various levels  federal to district

Qualifications/ experience desirable:

Excellent understanding of the relevant thematic sectors in Ethiopia at both field and policy levels; including the national health programs and how it fits with the HEP. Such as the health sector development program, and other relevant guidelines and strategy documents.

• Proven experience in designing emergency health projects and developing successful proposals.

• Familiarity with health donors, partners, and NGO groups

• Practical understanding of the challenges and opportunities in realizing children’s rights in Ethiopia, in relation to thematic area

Skills

• Understanding of advocacy and representation skill

• Demonstrable experience in M&E

• Good presentation and facilitation skills

• Proven conceptual skills and an ability to think and plan strategically

• Good communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to train and mentor staff

• Proven ability to manage a complex and demanding workload

• Good computer skills (particularly Excel, Word and databases)

Languages required

• Excellent spoken and written English

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

We create a climate of trust inside and outside the organization by being open, honest and transparent. We hold ourselves and others to account for the decisions we make and for our impact on others, while doing what we say we will do.

We strive for lasting impact

We strive to achieve significant and lasting impact on the lives of children and young people, and to secure equality for girls. We challenge ourselves to be bold, courageous, responsive, focused and innovative

We work well together

We succeed by working effectively with others, inside and outside the organization, including our sponsors and donors. We actively support our colleagues, helping them to achieve their goals. We come together to create and implement solutions in our teams, across Plan International, with children, girls, young people, communities and our partners.

We are inclusive and empowerin

We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge inequality in our programmes and our workplace. We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives. We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential

How to Apply

The closing date for the application is June 15, 2023. Qualified candidates should submit their application with the links provided below. CLICK HERE

This position is only open to Ethiopian Nationals, who must be eligible to live and work in Ethiopia.

Please note that: 

• Only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

• We are not accepting CVs that are not sent through the indicated links.

• Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

• Female candidates are highly encouraged to Apply

More information about Plan International can be found on http:// plan-international.org

References will be taken and background and anti-terrorism checks will be carried out in conformity with Plans Child Protection Policy. Plan operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all persons meeting the skills and experience required.

As an international child centered community development organisation, Plan International is fully committed to promoting the realization of children's rights including their right to protection from violence and abuse. That means we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with.

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 organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. We must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.