Technical Specialist: SRHR and gender transformative programming Full-Time

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 

Plan International’s global strategy is based on gender transformative programming and influencing. Gender transformative programming and influencing tackles the root causes of gender inequality and reshapes unequal power relations. It focuses not only on providing equal opportunities and outcomes for all, but on removing the barriers that keep girls from achieving their full potential and exercising their rights.

The global strategy prioritizes sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as one of its key thematic areas. We want to see that children and young people can have control of their lives and bodies, and make decisions about their sexuality, including whether, when and whom to marry and whether, when and by what means to have a child, free from discrimination, coercion and violence.  Our programme and influencing responses include youth-led advocacy, comprehensive sexuality education, social norm change, and strengthening adolescent-responsive health systems. We work at multiple levels, and across multiple sectors.

Purpose and dimensions of the role

The Technical Specialist will work as part of an international team to strengthen Plan International’s gender transformative programming on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights in East and Southern Africa and globally. The Specialist is expected to provide technical and strategic support to Ethiopia, Mozambique and Uganda with the focus on joint programme with Plan International Finland.

The role will be expected to keep up to date with SRHR developments in the target countries and in the region, and to communicate with programme teams and networks to ensure that our programme work is continually improving and reflects current best practices.

The technical specialist will work in close collaboration with Plan International’s SRHR Area of Global Distinctiveness. The role would liaise with Plan International’s gender and SRHR technical staff in country, regional, and national offices and the Global Hub. The post holder may also represent Plan International in various external networks to develop strategic relationships with stakeholders, including government officials, legislators, UN agencies and development partner staff, to position Plan International as an influential leader in SRHR, girls’ rights and gender equality.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Testing and rolling out Plan International’s guidance and tools on gender transformative programming and influencing and SRHR;
• Working alongside a selected number of programmes in Ethiopia, Mozambique and Uganda to provide deeper technical support on gender transformative SRHR;
• Development of training manuals, guidance documents, and toolkits on adolescent SRHR.
• Development of capacity building plans and providing training, coaching and mentorship on gender transformative SRHR to program staff and partners;
• Identifying and building opportunities and new partnerships to advance adolescent SRHR and girls’ rights in the target countries;
• Mapping and analysing operational contexts and trends to inform programme development;
• Documenting and facilitating consistent learning and sharing of good practices among staff and partners;
• Contributing to Plan International’s regional and global SRHR and gender networks.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

• Educated to University Degree or equivalent in relevant field or relatable experience;
• At least 8 years proven experience within the development sector in sexual and reproductive health and rights (experience in both development and humanitarian setting desirable);
• Strong expertise on gender transformative programming and good understanding on intersectionality and inclusion;
• Experience in providing technical support and oversight to adolescent programmes;
• Experience in capacity development of project staff; strong facilitation and training skills;
• Strategic thinking and analytical skills, and ability to seek practical solutions;
• Adjusting approaches, communication style and behaviour to work effectively across cultures and with diverse stakeholders, communities and technical teams;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with colleagues, a variety of team members and external contacts, through good written and spoken communication skills;
• Ability to plan work and meet deadlines when working under pressure on several projects;
• Commitment to Plan’s values and positions including the rights and needs of children and SRHR;
• Experience of working for an international organisation (desirable);
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken; Portuguese is an asset.

Location and duration of the contract:

The position is based in Plan International’s Country Office in one of the following locations: Kampala, Uganda; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; or Maputo, Mozambique. Employment terms will be as per local conditions and you must have the right to work in that country. This is a Fixed Term Contract until the end of December 2021 with a possibility of extension.

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.

The position requires extensive travel (50%) in Ethiopia, Mozambique and Uganda.

Level of contact with children

Mid contact: Occasional 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:

Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy (SCYP) Responsibilities (mandatory for all staff)

• Adhere to the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy, Code of Conduct and reporting any Safeguarding issues.
• Responsible for the implementation of the Safeguarding Children and Young People  standards as they apply to 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 off and have signed and returned a copy of the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy. Inform the partners, visitors and associates that they must comply with the policy in all contacts and communications with children during their visit.