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

Title Project Manager – Rising Project
Functional Area Programmes
Reports to National Programme Manager – Education
Location

Nebbi, Uganda

Travel required Yes
Effective Date November 2019 Grade D2

role PURPOSE

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian not for profit organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan International is committed to reach 100 million girls to Lead, Learn, Decide and Thrive in Uganda.

 

Plan International will make a massive effort to achieve improvement in equality for girls playing a leading role in delivering transformative change for girls by having a movement of 100 million girls to claim their rights by mobilizing partners, power holders and supporters around this cause.

 

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

 

Plan International Uganda is looking for a Project Manager to provide strategic leadership in the implementation of a 4 year project “RISING”: Reaching and Enrolling Out of School Children Including Refugee Boys and Girls in Schools in Uganda, funded by Educate A Child (EAC). The project will be implemented by Plan International Uganda and Stromme Foundation, with the support of Plan International Canada. The project will cover nine districts in three regions of the country, four districts of West Nile (Moyo, Yumbe, Adjumani, and Arua) and five districts in the development program areas (Nebbi, Lira, Alebtong, Kamuli, and Buyende).

 

The Project Manager will be fully responsible for timely, efficient, and gender-responsive implementation of all the project activities including: 1) Strengthening district, school level, and community structures to collaborate, network, and implement project activities aimed at improving enrollment, attendance, re-entry and retention of children, especially girls; 2) Improving quality of education delivery and learning environments; and 3) strengthening gender awareness and accountability of communities and school-based structures in targeted primary schools.

Dimensions of the Role

The Project Manager will be responsible and ultimately accountable for the project’s strategic direction, quality programming and results achievement, financial management and compliance, team leadership, stakeholder and partner relations, and donor deliverables. S/he will demonstrate excellent project management and problem-solving skills, a very high degree of maturity, flexibility, organization and communication skills, and strategic thinking to meet the demands of a dynamic and sometimes unpredictable operating environment while ensuring Plan International’s systems and policies and donor requirements are adhered to, especially gender transformative programming and child and youth safeguarding. The Project Manager will be fully integrated into the Country Program Team based in Kampala and will provide effective and quality leadership to the projects’ implementation teams based in the field.

RESPONSIBILITIES/ ACCOUNTABILITIES

1- Program delivery

  • Defines and updates clear project work plans for each district/location regularly to reflect a changing environment.
  • Understands the project management cycle and utilizes tools (including detailed implementation plans) effectively to implement and achieve project results, and comply with donor requirements, government, and partnership agreements.
  • Achieves project results, and monitors appropriate benchmarks, targets and performance indicators.
  • Coordinates technical inputs on Education, WASH, child protection in emergency and gender to support a high quality of implementation ensuring that programmatic strategies are of high quality, based on best practices and in line with donor standards.
  • Articulate changes in project activities (if any) clearly and produce clear documents justifying changes, analysis of change impact, and budget impact.
  • Systematically review risks and challenges to quality implementation and compliance and develop clear and timely mitigation strategies including resources required.
  • Develop and implement a clear plan to strengthen program and compliance quality in the project delivery.
  • Write well-documented, accurate, and quality narrative reports in line with donor reporting requirements.
  • Create an efficient knowledge management system/approach that helps learning, sharing, scaling up, and innovation.
  • Produce knowledge management documents in coordination with Plan Uganda’s and Plan Canada’s technical advisors, showcasing achievements as outlined in the project documents.
  • Participate and provide valuable input into the technical network meetings.
  • Support the Resource Mobilization Unit and the National Programme Manager in developing proposals that may facilitate the continuity of the project.
  • Promote full integration of the project with other initiatives implemented in the same location in close coordination with the Programme Area Manager.

 

 

2- Communication and Working Relationships

  • Builds strong relationships with Plan Uganda and Plan Canada staff and develop clear communication protocols on project management;
  • Engages and effectively represent Plan International in strategic partnerships with relevant NGOs (local and international), National and district local government entities /stakeholders as appropriate, to maximize use of our resources and emergency program impact and ensure alignment and strong partnerships so that co-funding requirements and targets are met;
  • Effectively networks with donors, and NGO’s involved in emergency project implementation;
  • Develops appropriate internal and external Working Relationships (and partnerships) to support quality project delivery and compliance.

3-Advocacy, Influencing, and Visibility

  • Represent Plan International at the district and national level to implement the advocacy activities as stated in the project.
  • Support with technical documentation of evidence from the project and write stories of change when required.
  • Ensure close technical and operational collaboration and coordination with Government Agencies & Education, Emergencies, Gender and WASH Networks
  • Ensure that the project is fully aligned with the Advocacy Strategy and the SDG influencing plan.

 

4– Staff Management/Partner Leadership

  • In consultation with the National Programme Manager-Education (NPM-Educ), recruit, interview and select staff and/or volunteers with appropriate skills for the project activities.
  • Manage project staff and/or volunteers according to the established policies and practices of the organization.
  • Ensure roles, responsibilities and expectations are clearly communicated and understood by the full project team and consortium partner, Strømme Foundation, and tasks are appropriately delegated.
  • Ensure a collaborative and strong relationship is developed with Strømme Foundation, including structured regular meetings to share processes, lessons learnt and challenges.
  • Internal team and consortium planning meetings are organized regularly to provide direction and guidance.
  • Team members are mentored and coached to achieve their full potential and results of the project.
  • Staff performance reviews are conducted in line with Plan International Uganda’s Performance Management System.

 

 

Sponsorship Commitments Responsibilities

  • Design and support implementation of programmes that are aligned with the Sponsorship Commitments, ensuring that the interventions benefit Sponsored Children in Program Areas benefiting from sponsorship funding.

 

Key relationships

  • Close collaboration and strong working relationship with consortium partner, Strømme Foundation.
  • Close collaboration and interdependence with the Programme Team and Resource Mobilization Unit at Country Office, Program Area Offices, and other support departments (Finance, Admin, Risk Management, Human Resource, Sponsorship)
  • Regular working relationship with Program Area teams, especially Project Coordinators /Project Managers and other focal points implementing similar projects.
  • Communications Department to ensure proper visibility and compliance with branding.
  • Local, national and international Civil Society Organizations, Private Sector actors, Government institutions (especially District Education Offices and Office of the Prime Minister) and UN agencies to ensure Plan’s work is well linked to other initiatives.

 

The incumbent will work in close cooperation with the following staff:

In-country:

  • Project Coordinators;
  • Emergency Response Manager;
  • Technical Advisors;
  • Country Management Team members;
  • Finance staff;
  • Donors’ Representatives.
  • With Plan Canada:
  • Program & Compliance Managers
  • Technical advisors: gender, education, child protection, WASH, M&E

 

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

 

  • At least 8-10 years of demonstrated experience in managing Primary Education programs in Emergency and Development contexts
  • Master’s degree in an interdisciplinary area such as Education Management, Development Studies, International Development, Strategic Planning, Program Management, etc. or equivalent
  • Proven leadership, inter-personal and cross-cultural skills, and ability to build and motivate multi-disciplinary teams
  • Demonstrated experience working collaboratively managing consortium projects with skills in effective partnership management
  • Previous financial management of projects with budgets of $10 million or higher, and with multiple partners (including government and civil society).
  • Ability to communicate clearly and professionally in person and with remote teams
  • Strong understanding of gender responsive programming and meaningful child participation in programs
  • Conversant with national and decentralized education service delivery systems, structures, operations, and networks
  • Knowledge of effective participatory Monitoring, Evaluation and Research systems and processes
  • Ability to work independently and as a team player who demonstrates leadership
  • Experienced in engaging with the international donor community and developing donor reports for grants
  • Experience with Educate A Child (EAC) is considered a strong asset
  • 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
  • Aware of the impact on others and adjusting own behavior accordingly
  • Frequent travel within Uganda

 

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

 

  • We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential
  • We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace
  • We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives.

 

Physical Environment

  • Typical Office environment with frequent travel to the field

.

Level of contact with children

 

  • Occasional direct interaction with children

 

Child Protection Policy Responsibilities (mandatory for all staff)

  • Adhere to the Child Protection Policy, Code of Conduct and reporting any CPP issues.
  • Responsible for the implementation of the CPP standards as they apply to the area of responsibility plus the development of actions to address identified gaps and monitoring their effectiveness.
  • Ensure that all Plan International partners, visitors, and associates in his/her area of responsibility are provided with, are made aware of and have signed and returned a copy of the child protection policy. Inform the partners, visitors, and associates that they must comply with the policy in all contacts and communications with children during their visit.
  • 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.

Location: Nebbi

Type of Role: 1 year fixed term renewable

Reports to:  National Programme Manager – Education

Grade: D2

Closing Date: 6th 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.

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