Organization Background

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian non-governmental 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 its 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 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Working in Zambia since 1996, Plan International Zambia’s development and humanitarian programmes focus primarily on Inclusive Quality Education, Skills and Opportunities for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, Early Childhood Development and Gender Responsive Child Protection. Child protection is key in all that we do. Plan International Zambia has Programme Areas (PAs) in; Central, Luapula, and Eastern Provinces including in Lusaka, where the Country Office is located.

Location: Country Office, Lusaka

Reports to: Head of Programs

Grade: E

Closing Date: 8 March 2024

Position Description:

The purpose of Sponsorship Manager is to manage the planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of child sponsorship programmes; manage child sponsorship communication, finances; and mobilize resources for child sponsorship programmes as well as promote the achievement of country goals in growth, beneficiary satisfaction and the establishment of an effective linkage with National Organizations.

The incumbent will be reporting to the Head of Programs.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the development of the sponsorship related aspects of the Country Strategy.
• Ensure staff ownership and monitor progress against the strategy.
• Support the Program Area teams to realize Country Strategy Plan and Country Programs with specific focus on sponsorship projects development and implementation.
• Influencing stakeholders and duty bearers to enactment and enforcement of policies relevant to Plan’s work.
• Provide support in the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all PU Project Outlines leading to subsequent approval.
• Provide technical support for day-to-day operations to Programme Areas in sponsorship management.
• Monitor programme units through field visits to follow up sponsorship work, support issue resolution and provide assurance on meeting corporate requirements.
• Build and maintain productive contacts in relation to relevant Government of Zambia departments, Meet all relevant reporting requirements
• Build and maintain effective relationships with Community Based organizations including the local NGOs in the provinces, partners at national level and donors to enhance and promote Plan’s reputation and global identity.
• Ensure Plan International’s global sponsorship commitments are fully achieved.
• Develop clear phase in and phase out strategies aligned to the country strategy.
• Operationalize the strategy through annual and quarterly plans (including budget planning), undertake quarterly participatory review of the plans and budget and share quarterly report.
• Identify and manage sponsorship risks.
• Report sponsorship risks in a timely and transparent manner.
• Ensures that Programme staff are properly inducted on and understands their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and Gender Equality and Inclusion policies.
• 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 Plan international’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in project design, during implementation and as principles applied in day-to-day work of Sponsorship Programme team.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Degree in Social Sciences, Development, Education, Social Work, International Relations, Gender studies or similar field.
• 5 years relevant experience working in similar settings
• Experience in corporate sponsorship systems
• Demonstrated experience in managing child sponsorship operations
• Experience of strategic leadership and planning processes
• Experience in INGOs sponsorship management systems and financial regulations

Competencies:

• Knowledge of key programme areas such as child protection, education, livelihood and economic empowerment.
• Knowledge of gender inclusion and global/local development issues,
• Knowledge in girls’ rights and child rights, feminist movements, the key actors and institutions, and the power dynamics involved.
• Understanding of key gender inequalities, gaps, barriers and opportunities at the national, regional and global level and gender and inclusion in programs, and especially for children and girls.
• Good understanding of the policies, processes, institutions and organizations that shape the development and humanitarian context and standards within Zambia

Plan International provides equal employment opportunities to qualified and experienced women and men, Women are especially encouraged to apply.

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 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.

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

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