The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation 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 position exists to lead in providing technical guidance, tools, and support on programme design and delivery of Protection from Violence (PfV) of children within Plan International’s Obligation to Protect and Empower Girls (OPEG) II project work. PfV in particular Child Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM) including Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting (FGM/C) programming must be in line with the theory of change on protection from all forms of violence, covering: strengthening protective family & community environment; responding to children and adolescents exposed to GBV; and ensuring child protection in times of emergencies.

The post holder will ensure all work is developed and implemented in ways that improve gender equality and empower girls and young women. Promoting youth engagement, especially for girls and young women and active community participation will be key components.

DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE

This role is based in Kassala Programme Area with frequent travel to North Darfur and White Nile states. The position is key in supporting and building capacities of Plan International staff, Implementing Partners, young people, communities, and stakeholders in the implementation of interventions to protect children, especially girls and young women from CEFM and FGM/C. This includes mainstreaming Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy (SCYPP) Child protection across the OPEG II project activities; ensuring that Community Based Child Protection and Mechanisms (CBCPM) are functional; and implementing feedback mechanisms to promote sustainability and community participation.

Duties and responsibilities:

Accountabilities

• Programme and Project Design & Implementation
• Lead the identification of critical factors, risks, gaps and actions necessary for the promotion, protection and respect for the protection rights of children and young women
• Provide technical guidance during the implementation of project activities to achieve the programme objective in ways that challenge gender norms and harmful practices
• Provide technical guidance on CPIMS+ assessments and roll out in collaboration with the CP advisor of Plan international Sudan
• Work closely with OPEG Project Coordinators and partners to ensure that Plan International and partner offices are safe places for children and youth by implementing the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy (SCYPP) activities and CPP standards.
• Ensuring the integration of child protection in each project activity from design to implementation, and monitoring that program areas comply with minimum requirements.
• Support OPEG II Project Coordinators and local partner staff to ensure Community Based Child Protection Mechanisms (CBCPM) are functional, through identification of the main gaps, challenges, needs and support required for making them active and responsive to child protection concerns, considering motivation and strategies in our support approach that can increase the likelihood to make them sustainable
• Support Project Coordinators and partners in the implementation of feedback mechanisms to promote sustainability and community participation

Project Management & Monitoring

• Ensure the detailed annual work plan for the project (Pfv) is implemented timely, that feedback and Lessons learnt are taken into consideration and shared for implementation to stay relevant that amendments agreed upon are approved and that any amendments are approved
• Manage the Child protection project budget, including project procurement management, and ensure avoidance of over/under expenditure; ensure judicious expending of the project funds; and demonstrate value for money in the outcomes and impact of the project
• Monitor project achievements and project implementation milestones relating to PfV
• Track Pfv activities budget utilisation monthly and quarterly against annual plans and analyse outputs, achievements, and issues.
• Monitor national and global developments and trends on child protection (including updates from UNICEF, UNHCR and UNFPA) to ensure alignment with priorities and plans.
• Contribute to the coordination with the relevant actors for the CPIMS + and the CBCPM activities and outcomes and outputs to be achieved in collaboration with other CP staff of Plan international Sudan.
• Contribute to movement building with other civil society actors to identify areas for influencing to address issues of girls and adolescents.
• Prepare reports such as quarterly and annual reports which showcase progressive achievements across all programme areas.
• Ensure that discussions and analysis are happening with partners on a monthly basis to capture progress, challenges and lessons learned of the actions implemented, risks or changes in the context.
• Case studies on good or challenging lessons learnt are captured properly documented and archived by carrying out regular project/program reviews.
• Any other functions and responsibilities of an appropriate nature to project management.

Ensuring that CBCPM are functional

• Support the Project Coordinators in establishing and strengthening CBCPN in communities according to the guidelines
• Identify the main gaps, challenges, needs and support required to make CBCPN active and responsive to ending CEFM and FGM/C in all project locations based on the baseline report and own check.

Capacity Building & Organisational Learning

• Upskill staff, partners and key stakeholders in approaches for quality protection from violence interventions
• Facilitate cross & peer learning with stakeholder and government staff working on violence against children and women, and lead in compiling and sharing best practices
• Lead on the development of lessons learned and supporting cross-organisational learning on successful approaches and interventions
• Maintain the end-to-end knowledge management, from knowledge creation or gathering to knowledge utilisation and application

Representation, Influencing and Networking

• Engage in relevant Plan International working groups (Pfv AoGD network) at the regional and global level.
• Represent Plan International in relevant external fora and interagency working groups, particularly child protection and GBV sub-sector meetings.
• Build strategic relationships with government ministries, UN agencies, and the private sector.
• Participate in influencing government duty bearers on policies, and national budgets to fulfil the protection rights of children and girls in particular.
• Enhance collaboration with local CSOs and Youth-led organisations.

Safeguarding, Risk Management, and Gender Equality & Inclusion

• Ensure gender equality is core to all PfV activities, positioning Plan International as the go-to agency for gender-responsive programming with specific attention to adolescent girls.
• Ensure integration of safeguarding and PSEA into all PfV work.
• Identify key programme risks and project-specific risks, and add them to the risk management matrix of the project and the CO to ensure control measures to manage them
• ​​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.​

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Internal Communication

• Project Manager – High level of communication to report, seek approvals, sharing reports and views to strengthen the program areas and to ensure continued support for the program quality and compliance with Plan policies.
• Programme Area Manager – High level of communication to report, seek approvals, and share monitoring and activity reports.
• Child Protection Lead – Medium communication to share work progress and updates in regard to training plans, training, and functionality of child protection mechanisms. Also, seek support and guidance in the same issue to ensure local systems are operational.
• Technical Leads – High level of communication to get support and to understand the policies, programme approaches and contribution to country strategy targets
• Other departmental heads and M&E – Daily communication for better integration of gender and child protection, and demonstration of lasting impact across project activities
• Project Accountant: High-level contact for communication to process requests, payments, reconciliations and monitoring the budget utilization according to plans and get updates on expenditure status
• Program Manager and technical advisors at SNO – regular communication for strategy guidance.
• Plan International Global: Pvf groups – for technical support on Global Policy, best practices and standards.

External Communication:

• Implementing Partners – high level of communication with implementing partners to understand their process and progress on implementation of the SCYPP and provide the required support.
• Donors/ coalitions
• Government Officials Technical ministries, local authorities, and other related entities.
• Relevant civil society actors/ CSOs
• Local communities and direct and indirect project beneficiaries.
• Gender equality and Inclusion experts and leading personalities for mutual learning exchange, represent and profiling Plan’s work in the area.
• Government institutions.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Skills

Presentation skills/ Abilities:

• Demonstrate Knowledge of social norms, gender equality/ mainstreaming and protection including the end of CEFM and FGM/C.
• Have a background in protection programming including issues of rights, protection, vulnerabilities, social change communication, women empowerment etc…
• Have Facilitation, Presentation, Negotiation, Analytical, logical, and Communication skills
• Good knowledge of programming processes, systems and principles, and the ability to provide leadership and support to partners working at the community level.
• Ability to analyse achievements on outcome level, and challenges and propose mitigation measures
• Demonstrated leadership skills to maintain teamwork and to build the capacity of team members, including partners.

Personal Qualities, Competencies, and Values:

• Responsible and energetic, Person with high integrity, ethics and honesty.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinions of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
• Commitment to excellence, adaptability, innovation, building relationships, communicating effectively, coaching and mentoring, initiating action, strategic decision-making, planning and organizing, and leading through vision and mission.
• A good understanding of and commitment to gender and diversity considerations.

Communication skills

• Good Computer skills (word, excel, PowerPoint, access, Teams, Zoom…etc)
• Good command of written and spoken English and Arabic languages.
• Ability to think creatively to develop new ideas, present them to others and understand associated risks.

Knowledge and expertise

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Management, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Human Rights, or other related fields. A master’s degree is an added advantage.
• At least 4 years of experience in a similar role, in the management of Protection, Gender or social change projects preferably within the development or humanitarian context
• Proven understanding of programming concepts and human rights-based approaches in development and emergencies and understanding of partnership management.
• Experience in conducting capacity development programmes for partners and right holders
• Good skills in project cycle management, MQE and project quality standards.
• Demonstrated ability to set up learning and development processes and strategies for partners and community groups.

Desirable

• Understanding and commitment to Plan International values, purpose and mandate.
• Proven ability to influence change at an operational and strategic level based on Plan International’s Country Strategy both among staff and implementing partners.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

• This requires frequent travel to different sub-office to monitor and supervise Child Protection Activities and program
• LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN High level: Frequent interaction with children as the key person to deal with violence and concerns facing children and investigate the feedback information in Plan International Sudan operations.

***NOTE***
This Job Is For National Sudanese Only

Location: Sudan, Kassala

Type of Role: Programme

Reports to: Project Manager

Grade: D1

Closing Date: 14/2/2024

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

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 organisational 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 organisation, 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.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.