Project Officer -She Leads Alliance Project at Plan International

The Role

The Project Officer-She Leads Alliance Project will be responsible for the implementation of the project activities that ensures Adolescent Girls and young women has increased and sustained influence on decision making in target Counties. This will be achieved through working in collaboration with existing community structures and amplifying the voices of adolescent girls. 

S/he will work closely with the Project Manager, implementing officers from the She Leads Alliance consortium, government officers in the various line ministries concerned with children, private sector players, community-based organizations (CBOs) and targeted girls to provide relevant training, coaching and mentoring in the areas of child rights, Gender Based Violence including Child Marriage, Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Sexual Reproductive Health Rights. In addition, the role is intended to manage partnerships at community and county level and sustain good working relationships for greater impact.

Accountabilities and MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES

Planning, strategy and policy (20%)

• Ensure She Leads Alliance Project is effectively implemented to contribute to the project outcomes and results are realised.
• Take lead in the implementation of the She Leads Alliance project in a gender transformative approach as per the country and Global strategies.
• Facilitate consultation, participation and feedback to the community in relation to Plan programs and policies.
• Coordinate the development and harmonization of annual and quarterly costed work plans in accordance with Plan’s financial years.
• Ensure smooth and synergized day-to-day implementation of all She Leads Alliance field activities.
• Coordinate weekly review meetings with She Leads Alliance field teams and implementing partners.

Programme Implementation, Project Design and influence (30%) 

• Ensure effective participation of all project beneficiaries and communities in project cycle for the achievement of outcomes.
• Maintain close collaboration with local partners – Youth Led Organisations, Community based Organisations, religious leaders and all relevant stakeholders
• Train and support youth advocates and support them to participate in relevant forums at local and national level.
• Influence stakeholders to address the varied and complex root causes of the issues that impact girls' lives.
• Consolidate/write project periodic reports in line with the laid down donor requirements and Plan standards.
• In consultation with the Project Manager and She Leads Alliance team, support the drafting of Project Outlines in SAP.
• Participate in relevant stakeholders’ forums at county level including Gender TWG, SRH TWG and CM Working groups and coordination forums as may be required.
• Facilitate access to relevant and accurate information on the She Leads Alliance project to all project stakeholders and partners.
• Consolidate/write project periodic reports in line with the laid down donor requirements and Plan standards.

Networking and Collaboration (15%) 

• Engage and maintain cordial stakeholder relationships throughout the project cycle for effective project delivery and achievement of She Leads Alliance Project deliverables.
• Management of identified implementing partners to effectively support She Leads Alliance project delivery.
• Maintain a high level of external communication and contact at the community and county levels. This is to facilitate the implementation of She Leads Alliance project activities effectively.
• Build and strengthen working relations with local structures (local administration, schools, BoMs, Youth groups, among others) and ensure their participation and support to program activities.
• Represent the She Leads Alliance project in different technical working groups at Ward and Sub-County level
• Conduct selected implementing partners’ capacity gaps in delivery of She Leads Alliance project, work and develop capacity building plans for mutual development

Quality improvement and standards (10%)

• Deliver timely and quality She Leads Alliance project deliverables as per monthly and quarterly schedules.
• In liaison with the M&E coordinator ensure She Leads Alliance project activities and outputs are regularly tracked towards the realization of results and put appropriate remedial measures to ensure project implementation is on track.
• Work with the M&E and Research and Learning and Knowledge management team in documenting project best practices and lessons learnt.
• Facilitate and coordinate joint reflection sessions with She Leads Alliance Project beneficiaries, and stakeholders to inform programming/improve on quality of interventions.

Financial Management (10%)

• Develop quarterly and monthly activity costed plans and budgets as per donor approved work plan and ensure all activities are on track with appropriate scheduling, quality and timelines.
• Monitor expenditures by interventions and ensure compliance with approved budget.
• Review expenditure reports on a monthly basis.

Risk Management (5%)

• Develop risk assessments for the project and put in place mechanisms to mitigate/manage the risks during the implementation phase.

Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) (5%)

• 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.
• Leads the orientation of programme staff to ensure that they 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 project design, during implementation and as principles applied in day-to-day work of Programme team;
• Ensures that Plan Kenya contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted. 

Other duties (5%)

• As assigned by the supervisor.

Leadership COMPETENCIES

• Courageous in taking a lead, focussed on Plan International's purpose and making the most effective contribution within their own work context.
• Behaves in line with Plan International values and safeguarding practices, inside and outside work.
• Challenges own attitudes, unconscious bias and behaviour and speaks up when they see wrong doing, especially by those who use their power over others to create fear or abuse.
• Understand and adhere to the policies, processes, practices and standards relevant to own work and keeps their knowledge and skills up to date.
• Honest and efficient in use of resources, including own time.
• Takes responsibility for own performance and development: reflecting; seeking and listening to feedback; learning from mistakes; finding people or resources to help them learn.
• Constructive and optimistic in facing setbacks, challenges and change, using own initiative to analyse issues and improve things.
• Good team player, communicating effectively and being open and supportive towards those around them.

Business Management competencies

• Understands Plan International in context, including its purpose, values and country strategy, and can communicate these to varied audiences, including how Plan International will deliver on its objectives.
• Managing activities and resources including skills in project design, planning, monitoring and reporting
• Managing people and information including skills in capacity assessment and coaching, communication skills, both speaking and writing, and digital working, including personal digital skills

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Qualifications/ experience essential: 

• A Bachelor’s degree in Education, Social work, community development or another relevant field.
• At least 3 years’ experience in working with children and young people in protection, education and development
• Strong Knowledge of community development with a focus on ASRH and adolescent health.
• Knowledge in donor reporting mechanisms.
• Evidence of having worked and collaborated with government line ministries, County governments, private sector, communities, young people and other stakeholders in supporting youths from marginalized backgrounds.
• Knowledge and experience in execution of participatory trainings.
• Understanding and experience in advocacy and influencing.

Qualifications/ experience desirable: 

• Strong report writing skills
• Community facilitation, networking, partnership development and management skills
• Good communication, negotiation and advocacy skills
• Good interpersonal, relationship and team working
• Conflict Management skills

Languages required

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Kiswahili and English.

TECHNICAL cOMPETENCIES

Knowledge:

• Knowledge and experience of working with children and youths
• Strong Knowledge of community development.
• Knowledge on management of partners including capacity assessment and strengthening.
• Understanding of the implications of working with a rights-based approach to development and is able to analyse the situation of children’s and particularly girls’ rights in his/her working context