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 80 countries.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Project officer is responsible for overall management of Eat, Play, Hugs project providing all support necessary to ensure successful implementation of the project Activities. The position plays a key role in ensuring project activity strategies and best practices are shared across field teams. The Project officer will also Provide oversight the in internal and external representation activities, communication and knowledge management initiatives, as well as proper utilization of the planned project budget, donor reporting and program development opportunities as required.

Project management -45%

• Ensuring that facilities meet compliance standards and government regulations

• Record, monitor, review and report incidents involving children and staff, and where necessary take-action to reduce risk.

• Ensure all activities comply with Occupational Health and Safety regulations and other relevant statutory requirements and guidelines.

• Ensure the provision of a quality program which meets the needs of the project targeted children and family in line with the requirements of the Education and Care Services National Regulations and the National Quality Standards.

• Manage the implementation of relevant service development and improvements in partnership with clients, the community, funding bodies and staff at a local level health center and selected schools

• Ensure that all activities are managed in accordance with funding requirements, meeting government regulations, contractual obligations and National Quality Standards.

• Ensure a safe, caring and stimulating environment exists for all children as well as ensuring the health and wellbeing of each child is a priority.

• Responsible for ensuring the efficient functioning of the service including the performance of staff, the quality of care and compliance with Local, State and federal Government guidelines, policies and regulations.

• Ensure that the Child Care environment and equipment are maintained to a high standard of safety, cleanliness and repair.

• Manage the implementation of quality and risk management plans and systems and ensure that operational audits and actions are undertaken to achieve compliance with relevant service standards.

• Ensure the maintenance of legislated rights to confidentiality and privacy for children, families and staff.

• Ensure the provision of high-quality client service respecting the diversity and complexity of child and family needs in accordance with relevant service standards and government regulations

• Actively liaise with both internal and external services and networks to ensure the service is well placed within the early childhood profession.

• Establish sound working relations with key stakeholders (government and non-government)

• Maintain effective monitoring systems to identify changes in children’s needs and report on emerging gaps within current project.

• Prepare and timely submit quality periodic (and where applicable, situation/status reports) project reports to management as per donor requirements and the project monitoring & evaluation plan

• Prepare government reports as per the template provided;

• Support community-managed play-based, gender responsive early learning opportunities for children

• Facilitate links between community-based programs and formal pre-primary and primary services

• Cascade an outreach Campaign to local communities to create community-buy and ownership of Centre.

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

• Establish implementation plan using Plan International’s Structural Quality Dimensions Checking

• Ensure all project level project documentation is filed and organised for accountability purposes

• Ensure project learning and achievements are documented and disseminated widely in the region

• Ensure baseline and final project evaluation take place

• Manage and monitor partnerships with implementing organisations, including to ensure efficient utilization and timely accountability of funds allocated to implementing partners

• Ensure adequate stakeholder consultation and participation at all stages of the project implementation

• Conduct daily listening sessions in child friendly spaces

• Conduct daily discussion sessions in a week using images & comics with children at Child-friendly spaces

• Conduct quarterly parenting education and support workshops for caregivers and parents of children enrolled in the safe spaces

• Facilitate  training for CP officers, CV. Facilitators, heads of CBCPC, AND Health workers

• Facilitate  listening sessions with parents & caregivers during the wait in queues

• Conduct monthly meeting with community-based child protection committee

• Facilitate bi-monthly interactive workshops that include discussions, role-playing, and group exercises specifically focusing on male parents/caregivers at the child friendly spaces.

• Facilitate  training sessions team members on effective use & integration of Eat play hug content in their communication strategies

• Collaborate with the government response team to develop communication materials (posters brochures, & audio-visual contents incorporating eat-play-hug resources.

• Partcipate Bi-weekly calls with project Program facilitator

• Participate quarterly call with country teams, Ubongo staffs, and regional leads

• Ad hoc meetings, communication, continued support and follow up with project stakeholders at PIE and MESSA

• Participate MoU preparation and signing with the respective government body

• Translation  Ubongo contents

• Arrange  localization workshop with end users of the contents (caregivers/parents)

• Actively participate in the adaption of  contents (make changes and updates) as per feedback from localization workshop

• Actively participate in the  content adaptation workshop with Content Validation Group (CVG)

• Play role in the adaption of  contents (make changes and updates) for testing as per feedback from CVG

• Participate in the user-testing sessions to test the adapted contents (with end users)

DEALING WITH PROBLEMS: 25%

The position involves resolving many challenges which typically occur in the targeted schools and health center  management at the PU 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 the PU 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.

Leadership Attitudes & Behaviours -15%

• Believe in the potential of all people to succeed if given the right support and willingness to multi-task. 

• Supports learning in the team

• Creates good team of unified purpose

• Acts with integrity and professionalism.

• Relates to people in a friendly, open manner and engenders trust from other staff

• Creates strong sense of purpose within organisation and with stakeholders

• Holds self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and standards of behaviour

• Can reach out and influence large groups of people

• Humble, supportive, ethical and service oriented

• Promotes innovation and learning

• Ability to act as part of multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary team.

• Able to work with minimal supervision.

COMMUNICATION AND WORKING RELATIONSHIP - 15%

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. 

Externally: Initiate, develop and maintain a range of working relationships, including with government counterparts, implementing partners and other development organizations with in the region.

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

• 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 all staff signed safeguarding policies;

• Implement Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in day to day work.

Job Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications/Experience Essential:

• Bachelor degree in Social sciences, Social Work, Environmental Health, Nutrition, Education (Early Childhood care and development focused), Public Health, or another related field

• 5 years of experience at least 2- 3 years of professional experience in implementation of  or -related interventions/programs

• Ability to demonstrate integrity, responsibility, respect and innovation in all aspects of the position.

• Able to supervise and delegate duties to staff and volunteers.

• Ability to identify health and Safety issues pertaining to the work environment.

• Ability to ensure confidentially, professionalism and discretion is maintained

• Ability to work with children to maximise their potential

• Strong conceptual, verbal, and written communication skills; both in English & Amharic

• Ability to initiate and organize work while establishing priorities in a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment to meet deadlines with attention to detail;

• Ability to develop strong trusting relationships and sound partnerships with local government and Non-Government actors in the sector in order to gain support and achieve results;

• Ability to manage multiple conflicting priorities;

• Ability to be flexible and interpersonal skills to interact with employees at all level

• Proficiency with MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook

Qualifications/ experience desirable:

• Strong negotiating skills.

• Direct (or close) experience in childcare centres or related facilities

• Experience in managing people (as this role requires managing employees of the centre including the caregivers/nannies

• Good interpersonal skills.

• Able to work with minimum supervision

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

We create a climate of trust inside and outside the organisation 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 organisation, 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 empowering

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 January 15, 2024. 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.