Education in Emergencies Specialist Full-Time

The Plan International is hiring a Education in Emergencies Specialist.

The Organization

Plan International is a rights-based development and humanitarian organisation working for better lives for all children. We are independent of government and have no political or religious affiliation. Our purpose is to strive for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Our global strategy focuses on girls, as they are often the most marginalised and most often left behind. We have committed ourselves to the ambitious target of reaching 100 million girls over five (5) years to ensure they can learn, lead, decide and thrive. This is our contribution to achieving the sustainable development goals and, in particular, the goals of gender equality. Our organization is transforming itself to meet this enormous challenge everywhere we work.

In Mozambique, we are working to eradicate early marriage and early pregnancy through projects that focus on adolescent girls in Inhambane, Zambézia, Nampula and Cabo Delgado. These projects are programmed along four strategic pillars: Girl Education, SRHR, YEE and Protection. Our work is gender transformative and includes influencing work at national and sub-regional level.

Our goal is to make significant contributions so that Girls are protected from early and forced marriage and pregnancy. Plan International Mozambique is focused on four integrated and mutually supportive programme axes: Education, Adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights, Skills and Opportunities for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship and Protection.

The Role

This is a national position leading the assessment, response analysis, design, implementation and monitoring of the education in emergencies components of Plan’s emergency response programme. The post holder will need to coordinate with other response team members, and other Plan and Partner staff to ensure an appropriate and effective response. The person will need to ensure response to immediate education in emergencies project/programme issues with simultaneous consideration of longer-term needs. Depending on the situation the post holder may need to take a very active role in technical coordination, support and advocacy with education sector coordination and other stakeholders and technical agencies relevant to the sector. In the event of another major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

Management Scope, Reporting Lines, Key Relationships

Scope

• As an expert in the area, the post holder influences Plan’s decision makers (e.g. country management teams, and response programme teams) on quality education in emergencies programming. Key programme interventions including formal (primary and secondary) and non-formal education, as well as early childhood and parenting education.
• Provide technical support for Development and delivery of education in emergencies programme and plans for Plan International’s emergencies response impacting on girls and boys through projects and advocacy.
• The post holder will report to the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Manager.
• Direct reports – N/A.

Internal

• Project managers, DRM manager, sectoral (CPiE, WASH) and operations leads;
• MERL team;
• Business Development team;
• Country Management Team;
• Plan International networks such as Areas of Global Distinctiveness (AOGDs).

External

• Education cluster and associated working groups;
• UN agencies – UNHCR, UNICEF;
• Government institutions- DPGCAS and SDSMAS;
• Peer agencies.

Level of contact with children

• High interaction with adolescent children.

Physical Environment

• Office environment and travel to the field.

Accountabilities and Main work Activities

Programme Design and Assessment (40%)

• Review, assess and update the education situation in affected areas (including, but not limited to, early childhood education, access and barriers for vulnerable groups including girls, adolescents and children with disabilities, safe learning environments, quality of teaching and learning, community participation).
• Define aims and objectives of the overall education in emergencies programme, using Plan’s guidelines and Interagency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) Minimum Standards, develop a realistic evidence‐based plan, including both programmatic and advocacy activities with a strong gender, child protection and DRR focus in line with Plan International’s Global Strategy.
• Develop and prepare concept notes and proposals to mobilise resources that support the delivery of the Education in emergencies programme aims and objectives (including quality impact evaluations where possible), and work in close collaboration with other programme staff to ensure that interventions build upon each other and link in to longer-term programming.

Implementation, Monitoring and Accountability (20%)

• Work closely with Education project Managers and operational functions to ensure activities are planned and implemented in a phased and prioritised manner and projects are adequately resourced throughout the project cycle;
• Provide regular technical guidance and direction to the education team for effective planning, implementation and monitoring of agreed education plans, including early childhood education and the psychosocial wellbeing of children and teachers;
• Undertake frequent field visits to affected areas to monitor implementation of activities and compliance with relevant standards, follow up on recommendations made to project staff, identify opportunities and constraints and any adjustments needed, including additional staffing or staff training;
• With the M&E team, design and develop appropriate monitoring and evaluation systems (including M&E frameworks) for education interventions ensuring all data is disaggregated by sex, age and disability (considering requirements for collecting, storing and processing);
• Analyse and evaluate data and engage with project managers to ensure achievement of objectives, taking corrective action where necessary;
• Ensure early and rigorous implementation of quality and accountability mechanisms, and support and coordinate the monitoring and reporting of major concerns on education as well as child protection concerns inside and around the schools/learning centres.

Representation and Partnership (10%)

• Build and maintain relationships with, and represent Plan to governmental and non-governmental groups, as needed and agreed with the DRM Manager, to support the development of Plan’s response programming, particularly in regard to girls;
• Represent Plan in education coordination mechanisms at sub-national level including any relevant clusters (education, WASH and MHPSS), liaise with the country office to organise representation at national level and, where necessary and possible, recommend support from Plan to ensure such structures function effectively;
• In collaboration with other programme colleagues, identify opportunities for integrated programming and assist in the development of appropriate communication to support and/or advocate for project development;
• Identify opportunities and establish dialogue towards partnerships with other humanitarian agencies and local Civil Society Organisations;
• Connect with Plan’s global networks such as the Inclusive Quality Education (IQE) Network and other Areas of Global Distinctiveness (AOGDs) as appropriate.

Reporting and Evaluation (20%)

• Engage and follow up with relevant project manager(s) and provide regular updates to the DRM Manager, response team and cluster partners (including 5Ws reporting) on progress, priorities and constraints – verbally and in writing on agreed frequency;
• Provide brief updates and reports on Education activities/strategies to donors and other stakeholders;
  Draft education intervention reports to serve as standalone deliverables or to be included in larger response reports for both donor and internal purposes (including sitreps);
• Support project managers to prepare timely narrative and financial reports for management decision-making and donor compliance, following up on identified issues and recommendations;
• Conduct periodic programme reviews with government counterparts, other partners and key stakeholders and follow-up on implementation of recommendations and agreements;
• Organise quality evaluations of Plan’s education in emergencies activities as required, ensuring evaluation findings inform decision-making and key learnings are disseminated;
• Participate and provide input into Plan International Mozambique response programme strategy and budget reviews.

Learning and Capacity Building (10%)

• Identify training needs of Plan staff, partners, and other key stakeholders and objectives for the purpose of capacity building, programme sustainability as well as advocacy;
• Coordinate and/or implement training, coaching, mentoring and briefing of Plan staff, partners, and other key stakeholders on education and/or related issues;
• Build capacity of education and M&E staff to collect quantitative and qualitative data, ensuring all data is disaggregated by sex, age and disability;
• Identify and develop training materials and guidance documents as required, and ensure training reports are prepared and action plans from trainings are followed up;
• Develop implementation case studies and recommendations to facilitate internal and external learning;
• Ensure all program related documents are properly filed for institutional learning;
• Undertake any other assignment as and when directed by immediate supervisor.

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

• Understand and put into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC).
• Ensure that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in day to day work.
• Ensure that Plan Mozambique contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.

Leadership Competencies

• Setting and communicating ambitious but realistic work goals and priorities, explaining how these contribute to Plan International’s purpose.
• Setting high standards for self and others’ behaviour, inside and outside work. Championing our values and commitment to rights, gender equality and safeguarding. Supporting the health, well-being and both physical and psychological safety of our staff, including their safety to speak out.
• Holding self and others to account for what we have agreed, dealing with poor performance quickly, firmly and constructively.
• Creating a positive team spirit, helping people work well together, to reflect and continuously improve the efficiency and quality of what we do.
• Collaborating with team members, colleagues and partners in finding creative solutions to problems by sharing information, experience and ideas and actively seeking their input.
• Motivating and developing others by taking an interest, giving constructive feedback and praise, ensuring they are properly trained and helping them develop their potential.
• Positive about change and supporting others in adjusting to it, helping them understand.

Business Management Competencies

• Articulates the purpose, values, and global strategy to a range of audiences. Can explain how Plan International will deliver on its objectives through the theory of change and communicates the implications for their team.
• Understands the purpose, lines of accountability and decision-making capacity for each structural element of the organisation. Helps their team to understand where they sit within the organisational structure.
• Considerate of the political, economic, social and cultural climate of the local operating environment and the implications for our work and are aware of the local business environment, including financial, employment, and business laws.
• Advanced knowledge of programmes according to Plan International’s financial management procedures, including: the grant agreement process, the cost recovery process, forecasting, cost allocation principles, apportioned costs and scheduling and monitoring of expenditure, reports against programmes and budgets in line with the Funding and Sponsorship Agreement Document (FAD) and (SPAD).
• Understands digital enablers to improve team performance and working practices. Encourages digital behaviours through role modelling, the personal development processes and capability building. Uses digital and technological tools to support the management of risk, activities and resources, and people and information.

Key Relationships

Internal

• Project managers, DRM manager, sectoral (CPiE, WASH) and operations leads.
• MERL team.
• Country Management Team.
• Plan International networks such as Areas of Global Distinctiveness (AOGDs).

External

• Education cluster and associated working groups.
• Government institutions.
• Peer agencies.

Technical Expertise, Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• University degree in education, social sciences or related field with good knowledge of human rights and humanitarian law, as well as the Mozambique education system;
• Minimum of 5 years (at least 3 in the field) of progressively responsible professional experience in education in emergencies, humanitarian affairs and related fields;
• Significant experience in planning and implementation of humanitarian programmes;
• Good knowledge and experience of INEE Minimum Standards, the Education Cluster, key education in emergencies issues, and Do No Harm principles;
• Experience with participatory approaches to education, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, assessments, and other related areas;
• Experience providing technical support and oversight to education programmes;
• Experience of capacity building on education technical areas with a variety of audiences;
• Experience in programme design and proposal development and ability to secure funding;
• Excellent negotiation, representation, and communication skills and the ability to work comfortably with an ethnically diverse staff;
• Has a significant network with other organisations involved in this field;
• Fluency in English & Portuguese, written and spoken.

Desirable

• Significant experience of integrated humanitarian programming;
• Strong team work, staff capacity building and motivation skills in teamwork and networking;
• Excellent skills in writing funding submissions and donor reports.

Technical Competencies

Knowledge

• Mastery of the approaches to humanitarian/programme/project logic, trends in own and related fields of work and a range of effective strategies, approaches and practices;
• Advanced understanding of the development needs and their vulnerability of our Primary Impact Groups from birth to adulthood, the root causes of the issues affecting them, and the key actors most relevant to their interests and therefore to our work;
• Advanced knowledge of the rationale and practical implications of being rights-based, gender transformative, participatory, working in partnership; evidence-based and working to strengthen civil society.

Skills

• Integrating response programmes as far as possible into longer term strategies as expressed, for example, in relevant Country Strategy;
• Developing contingency plans, strengthens local capability and implements responsible exit strategies that reduce future aid dependency;
• Basing humanitarian response on communication and participation with the affected population;
• Providing clear direction and support to team members in the event of a crisis;
• Leading coordination systems, working towards common priorities and developing common strategies with other humanitarian actors;
• Ensuring that the appropriate human, financial and other resources, including the use of digital technology, are planned into proposed strategies and programme and project design;
• Identifying, assessing and nurturing mutually beneficial relationships to engage with and influence key actors and stakeholders, including government, inter-governmental organisations, civil society, youth organisations and the private sector;
• Using on-going monitoring and assessment, working closely with project teams to improve the quality of implementation;
• Interpreting and contextualising data, assesses results and draws conclusions to inform humanitarian initiatives and clearly communicating the results of evaluation and lessons learned as appropriate.

Behaviour

• Acts decisively and adapts plans quickly to respond to emerging situations and changing environments;
• Helps others to recognise and manage stress by showing empathy, prioritising workload and role modelling self-care in stressful situations;
• Promotes and guarantees safety and security behaviours and procedures for self and the team;
• Takes the time and patience to understand the concerns of other people and takes care of them as individuals;
• Avoids any negative impact of response – Do No Harm especially crucial in humanitarian settings;
• Promote individual and organisational learning through systematic reflection processes, documentation, dissemination and knowledge management;
• Adapting to local political frameworks and processes including in fragile contexts, conflict or political transitions and changes to national, regional human rights frameworks and mechanisms, and governance processes.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

• We are open and accountable;
• We create a climate of trust inside and outside the organization by being open, honest and transparent. We hold ourselves and others to account for the decisions we make and for our impact on others, while doing what we say we will do;
• We strive for lasting impact;
• We strive to achieve significant and lasting impact on the lives of children and young people, and to secure equality for girls. We challenge ourselves to be bold, courageous, responsive, focused and innovative;
• We work well together;
• We succeed by working effectively with others, inside and outside the organization, including our sponsors and donors. We actively support our colleagues, helping them to achieve their goals. We come together to create and implement solutions in our teams, across Plan International, with children, girls, young people, communities and our partners;
• We are inclusive and empowering;
• We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge inequality in our programmes and our workplace;
• e support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives. We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential.

Women Highly Encouraged to Apply

• Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early. A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Child Protection Policy.
• As an international child-centered community development organisation, Plan International is fully committed to promoting the realisation of children’s rights including their right to protection from violence and abuse. That means we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with.
• 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. We must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk. Plan International operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all areas of the international community.

Disclaimer

• Plan International doesn’t charge any monies to applicants for employment opportunities. Some individuals are contacting people offering false employment opportunities. We take such a matter extremely seriously, and by making you aware of this, we hope to avoid and ultimately stop victims falling for this scam.