Education in Emergency Officer – LEGO at Plan International

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 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

role PURPOSE

Plan International is an independent child rights and humanitarian organisation committed to children living a life free of poverty, violence and injustice.

We actively unite children, communities and other people who share our mission to make positive lasting changes in children’s and young people’s lives. We support children to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to claim their rights to a fulfilling life, today and in the future. We place a specific focus on girls and women, who are most often left behind. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 75 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Plan International Tanzania is looking for an Education in Emergencies Officer to lead day-to-day implementation of PlayMatters – Learning Through Play Project activities in Nduta/Mtendeli refugees camps. The project is aimed at supporting play-based learning for children aged 3-12 years in the 2 refugee camps and host communities in the Kigoma region. The project will focus on reaching out to nearly 1 million pre-primary and primary school aged refugee and host community children impacted by the humanitarian crises in East Africa and living in Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania. This project aims to build children’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical and creative skills through play in their homes, schools, and communities and will be implemented in partnership with War Child, International Rescue Committee, Ubongo, Behavioural Insights Team and Innovations for Poverty Action.

The EiE Officer will be fully responsible for timely, efficient, and gender-responsive day-to-day implementation of all project interventions in a bid to achieve the project outcomes aimed at ensuring that:

1) Principal caregivers and community play leaders apply Learning Through Play at home and in the community 2) Educators integrate high-quality, Learning Through Play in their classroom;

3) System Influencers, Humanitarian Actors & Policy Makers integrate Learning Through Play into their services and policies.

Dimensions of the Role

The Education in Emergencies Officer will be responsible and ultimately accountable for day-to-day implementation of project activities, quality delivery of results, coordination and collaboration and relations with project consortium members, teachers, PTAs, caregivers and community and religious leaders, and other stakeholders at camp level. The post holder will also be responsible to ensure that project activities are implemented in a timely and quality manner and in compliance with donor requirements. The EiE Officer will ensure timely data collection and analysis is used in periodic reporting and to inform project activities. S/he will be responsible for representing Plan International EiE team in relevant stakeholders’ meetings such as Education Working Group meetings on camp level and camp coordination meetings.

S/He will demonstrate ability to execute project activities, flexibility, organization and communication skills, while ensuring Plan International’s systems and policies and donor requirements are adhered to; especially Child Protection and Safeguarding, gender and Disability Inclusion.

RESPONSIBILITIES/ ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Program delivery

• Lead and supervise the implementation of all project activities as per the workplan and budget; and programmatic reporting on weekly and monthly basis.
• Input in the donor quarterly and annuals reports.
• Work closely with operations to ensure timely implementation of planned activities.
• Ensure the implementation of project activities adhere to Plan International’s policies, INEE minimum Standards, ECCD Standard guidelines and SOPs; as well as Core Humanitarian Standards.
• Assess project progress and identify technical quality issues or other implementation issues, provide solutions and implement modifications as required.
• Provide and coordinate capacity building trainings for incentive workers.
• Work with MEAL Coordinator and Officers to undertake assessments in coordination with partners.
• Support PlayMatters budget development and activity plans for coming years.

1. Communication, Advocacy, Representation and partnerships

• Representing Plan International in sector coordination meetings and inter-agency activities at field level.
• Support the implementation of inter-agency assessments.
• Support the documentation of best practices and lesson leant from project implementation to inform the design of future programs.
• Maintain active and cooperative relationships with all key stakeholders, including government officials, UN agencies, project partners, other implementing agencies, and related institutions. Support advocacy initiatives through developing briefs, documentation of evidence and impact stories.
• Promote community understanding on the importance on Learning-through-Play.
• Represent Plan International at district level and work closely with education focal point to ensure relevant stakeholders are aware of Plan International Programming.

1. PEOPLE Management

• Directly supervise Incentive Teachers and making sure they adhere to Plan International’s Policies, Code of Conduct and Procedures.
• Report any violations of Plan International’s Code of Conduct and Policies as per Plan International-Tanzania.

Key relationships

External – Close collaboration and strong working relationship with project consortium partners and members of the Education Working Group (IRC, Caritas, Save the Children, UNHCR, UNICEF, MHA, District Councils) etc. The EiE Officer will also maintain a relationship with local authorities, relevant Government institutions, and UN agencies to ensure Plan’s work is well linked to other initiatives.

Internally– The EiE Officer will report to the Program Manager, and S/he will coordinate with EiE MEAL Coordinator for the implementation of project activities at camp level. S/he will also work closely with finance officer, Procurement team, Communications and advocacy team and Human resources team. S/He will also work closely with the Child Protection team and ensure that protection is integrated in all Education activities.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree in an interdisciplinary area such as Education, Development Studies, International Development, Strategic Planning, Program Management, etc. or equivalent.
• At least 2 years of demonstrated experience in managing the implementation Early Childhood Development and Primary Education programs in Emergency and Development contexts.
• Experience with Learning through Play approaches and content development will be considered a strong asset
• Proven leadership, inter-personal and cross-cultural skills, and ability to build and motivate multi-disciplinary teams
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with consortium partners.
• Strong understanding of Child Protection, Disability and Inclusive Education, gender responsive programming and meaningful child participation in programs.

• Conversant with refugee and national education service delivery systems.

• Knowledge of effective participatory Monitoring, Evaluation and Research systems and processes

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work in a matrix environment
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including presentation and public speaking
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to multitask while working on projects with varying activities, objectives, and deliverables
• Good negotiation and influencing skills
• Creates a strong sense of purpose within the portfolio and with stakeholders
• Sound judgment and decision-making in complex situations

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

Physical Environment

The job holder requires 40 % field work in 2 camps and 60 % office-based environments.

Level of contact with children

High interaction with children

Location: Kibondo

Reports to: Programme Manager

Grade: C2

Closing Date: 27th September, 2020

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

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 his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for. Our organisation 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 will provide equality of opportunity and will not tolerate discrimination on any grounds. We foster an organisational culture that embraces and exemplifies our commitment to gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion while supporting staff to adopt good practice, positive attitudes and principles of gender equality and inclusion.