Project Officer Child Protection (BAHIA project)

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 PROFILE

Project Name	Agile response by the Belgian Alliance for Humanitarian International Action to control the spread of Covid-19 and mitigate its effects on pre-existing humanitarian crisis – BAHIA
Title	Project Officer Child Protection
Functional Area	Programmes
Reports to	Project Manager BAHIA
Location	Adjumani
Contract Duration	12 months	January 1st 2021 to Dec 31st , 2021
Effective Date	January 1st 2021	Grade

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.

The BAHIA project aims at controling the spread of Covid-19 and mitigating its effects on pre-existing humanitarian crisis and preventing the spread of COVID 19 in both the refugee settlements and host communities in Adjumani district in Pagirinya and ofuwa settlements and host communities of Pakele and Jzaipi sub counties.The Project Officer CPo is directly responsible for day-to-day planning and implementation of the child protection component of this project. S/He is accountable to the Project Manager BAHIAproject who is responsible for the delivery of the overall project results in line with project proposal, PIU West Nile emergency response strategy and BNO requirements.

DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE

• He/she is responsible for the delivery of the Child protection component of BAHIA ‘project results in accordance with Plan International’s values and behaviours, including gender transformative outcomes and Safeguarding of all Children.
• He/she supports the project coordinator in strengthening the community based child protection systems and ensure adequate and quality CP services for children, including case management services, are provided in refugee and host communities
• Support the project coordinator to ensure effective and safe CP systems that prevent and respond to CP concerns in refugee and host communities are strengthened Strengthening prevention and response to violence against children in school home and community settings.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Working in Close consultation and with supervision from the Project Manager, the Project  officer CP performs the following roles to implement the Child Protection component of this project:

 

• Provide technical guidance and specialized child protection expertise for implementation of the child protection activities under this project.
• Support in developing and implementing weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual project work plans, project activities and budgets.
• Prepare and submit to the project Manager, high quality activity, weekly, quarterly and annual narrative reports for all completed activities.
• Coordinate effectively with other project staff the Project Officer Health and WASH and the Project Officer Livelyhoodto leverage efforts, build synergy, team work and deliver high quality project results
• Support tracking, monitoring, evaluation, documentation and reporting of project outputs, outcomes, impact or results and changes in close collaboration with Project Manager.
• Support effective project budget utilization, management and monitoring for activities directly implemented by Plan staff and partners. 
• Support timely accountability for funds used to implement project in line with Plan international accounting policies and procedures and donor requirements. 
• Assist in effective management of project resources including procurements in accordance with Plan International Uganda policies and guidelines and in accordance with grant conditions.
• Support with representation in child protection sector working group meeting (CPSWG) meetings with UNHCR other stakeholders at settlement and district level in close consultation with the Project manager.
• Assist with project risk management in the implementation of the project to minimise their occurrence and possible effects on the project in line with Plan International Risk Management policy and project risk mitigation measures
• Ensure compliance with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy and guidelines in all project activities
• Mobilize target community members, children, families and key stakeholders at settlement level and host communities, sub county and district level to participate in BAHIA project activities
• Organize and directly facilitate trainings sessions and other capacity building initiatives for child protection committees, mentors, children groups, parents/ caregivers, chid protection case management.
• Support the Project Manager and the PAM WN in developing Concept papers/ proposals for funding opportunities.
• Performs additional duties as per the request of the Project Manager and PAM Emergency.

 

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

 

Internally: This position reports to the project Manager BAHIA

 

The Project Officer CP shall work in close consultation and coordination with Project coordinator. S/he is a key member of the Child Protection Thematic area supported by National Program Manager -Child Protection based at Country office.

 

Externally:

The Project Officer CP shall work in close collaboration with child Protection stakeholders at district and sub-district levels, community levels including Refugee Settlements. He/she will specifically maintain regular day-to-day working relationships with community based child protection structures established under this project, maintain coordination and collaboration with all Child Protection stakeholders at district, sub county settlement and community level.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

 

Knowledge / Expertise:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Child Development, Child Protection, Development Studies, Social Sciences or any relevant field with wide demonstrated relevant experience in managing child protection in emergency programs.

• Demonstrated skills and experience in promoting CPiE programming  
• Experience and skills in the use of participatory approaches and rights-based programming.

• At least 3 years professional experience in implementing CPiE programs in humanitarian context.
• Excellent communication, organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated experience in networking with other development partners in the field.

 

Skills:

• Good communication skills (written & oral) in English and local language where assigned
• Excellent skills in documentation and report writing
• Excellent budget management skills
• Strong skills in teamwork and networking
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills in multi-cultural contexts
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office Programs including MS Excel, MS Word and MS Power Point.

 

PLAN INTERNATIONAL’S VALUES IN PRACTICE

We are open and accountable

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

We strive for lasting impact

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

We work well together

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

 

We are inclusive and empowering

 

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

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

Project Officer Child protection will be based in: Adjumani district

LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN

High level: Frequent interaction with children

As a Child Centred Development organisation, Plan International Uganda strives to ensure that children are kept safe in all the areas we operate. The organisation further has a Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy that every staff is required to sign. As a result, this position comes with additional responsibilities for safeguarding children and young people:

 

Additional Responsibilities:

Children and Young people safeguarding Policy Responsibilities (mandatory for all staff)

• Adhere to the children and young people safeguarding policy and Code of Conduct
• Desist from all forms of child abuses including sexual, emotional, physical and or neglect.
• Desist from behaviour that paces children at risk of harm, exploitation or abuse
• Responsible for implementation of the children and young people safeguarding policy standards and Code of Conduct as they apply to area of responsibility.
• Ensure that all Plan International partners, visitors and associates in his/her area of responsibility are provided with, are made aware off and have signed and returned a copy of the children and young people safeguarding policy and Code of Conduct.
• Inform the partners, visitors and associates that they must comply with the policy in all contacts and communications with children during their visit.
• Report all child safeguarding concerns that have come to his or her knowledge within 12 hours using the approved reporting and responding procedures.

Location: Adjumani

Type of Role: 1 year Fixed Term ( Renewable)

Reports to: Project Manager Bahia

Grade: C1

Closing Date: 27th April 2021

 

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

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.