Inclusion Officer Full-Time

The Plan International is hiring a Inclusion Officer.

The Organization

Plan International is a rights-based development and humanitarian organization 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 has a specific focus on girls, as they are often the most marginalized and most often left behind. We have committed ourselves to the ambitious target of reaching 100 million girls over 5 years, to ensure they can learn, lead, decide and thrive. This is our contribution to reaching the sustainable development goals, and in particular the goals on gender equality. Our organization is transforming itself to meet this enormous challenge everywhere we work. We need bold, forward-thinking and innovative individuals to lead our country operations, driving change and delivering results that will allow us to reach our target of 100 million girls.

Plan International has been operating in Mozambique since 2006 and is one of the leading organizations in the advancement of children’s rights and equality for girls and young women. Plan International in Mozambique has a permanent office in Maputo and maintains a presence in Nampula, Inhambane, Zambézia and Cabo Delgado provinces with strong presence at district levels, implementing both long term development and humanitarian initiatives.

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 Protection.

Role Purpose

The purpose of this role is to work both with the Project implementing partners, OPDs – Organization of People with Disability, LGBTIQ+ organizations, Government institutions and Communities to ensure that the project is implemented in line with government relevant policies and meets the key deliverables required by the project within Disability and LGBTIQ+ Inclusion component on time and on defined quality. The post holder will coordinate activities with the Project Manager on regular basis and will support Plan International Mozambique Country Office in integration of Disability and LGBTIQ+ in all CO projects.

About the project

Plan International Finland has set up a programme called “My Body My Future” for the year 2022-2025. This Programme is firmly anchored in a human-rights approach in terms of its standards and design, and reflects a comprehensive gender transformative approach to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). It is composed of an overseas component, involving six projects in six developing countries, Mozambique included; and a domestic component, for activities in Finland. The overseas component focuses more on the sexual, reproductive health and rights theme, while the domestic component has a broader scope of engaging youth and the public on sustainable development and equality for girls.

The Programme involves four Outcome areas: 

• Children, adolescent and youth in all their diversity have the support and the confidence to make informed, responsible, positive and healthy choices about their SRHR and future – PIMz to lead.
• Children, adolescent and youth in all their diversity have improved access to quality, inclusive, gender-responsive and adolescent- and youth-friendly SRHR services and especially girls most at risk have stronger social protection.
• Children, adolescents and youth in all their diversity live in safe and supportive communities that transform gender roles and challenge harmful social and gender norms and stigma around SRHR.
• Children, adolescents and youth in all their diversity participate and benefit from a vibrant civil society that advocates for increased public investment and improved SRHR policy and promotes equality for and agency of girls.
• In Mozambique, the project is called MANDZIKU and the work will draw on elements of the previous project, WUTOMI, which was implemented between 2018-2021 to challenge gender inequality and social norms that hinder the fulfilment of sexual and reproductive health and the rights of young people aged 10-19.

Management Scope, Reporting Lines, Key Relationships

Scope

The post holder will be working with partners, project manager and other team members. Will also provide inputs to the Country Office on disabilities and LGBTIQ+ inclusion.

Direct reports: The post holder reports directly to the MANDZIKU project Program Manager and in dotted line to Gender and Influencing Specialist at CO.

Key relationships

Internal

• Works closely with the MERL team, Communication Officer, Program Area Manager and project manager.
• Advises technically on disability and LGBTIQ+ inclusion issues.
• Works with CO Gender and Influencing Specialist, Regional Hub/NO colleagues on issues related to disability and LGBTIQ+ inclusion.

External

• Partner organisations.
• OPDs (Organization of People with Disability).
• LGBTIQ+ Organizations.
• Community leaders.
• Civil society organizations.
• Youth and youth organisations.
• Consultants.
• Government institutions and Academia.

Level of contact with children

• Medium contact: occasional interaction with children.

Physical Environment

• Typical Office environment with 40% travel in Country.

Accountabilities and main Work Activities

• Responsible for promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities and sexual orientation minorities (LGBTIQ+), both within the “My Body, My Future” project (MANDZIKU) and CO program with the aim of enabling CAYs, especially teenage girls to enjoy and fulfill their sexual and reproductive health and rights, which will be implemented by Plan International Mozambique in partnership with: the ASSOCIATION MAHLAHLE, LAMBDA and AMODEFA; and support CO in integration of Disability and LGBTIQ+  in all projects including advocacy and influencing activities.
• Establishes regular contact and maintain credibility and good relations with partners, stakeholders and communities where the project is implemented.
• Establishes good relationship and collaboration with other organization working in Disability and LGBTIQ+ Inclusion including support to ODPs and LGBTIQ+ Organizations.
• Integrate the ODPs and LBGTIQ+ organizations in the networks of CSOs working with SRHR, for advocacy and influencing at provincial and national level.
• Selects and compile existing IEC and training materials or design others that are disability and LGBTIQ+  inclusion and responsive, as deemed necessary.
• Train Plan project staff, including those from the implementing partners and government, especially service providers from health, education and social affair sectors, and promote other trainings to relevant beneficiaries in Disability and LGBTIQ+ Inclusion.
• Guides group discussion sessions on Inclusion among project implementors representatives, beneficiary groups (children and their families) and government officers to define challenges, expectations and decide on goals to achieve, while ensuring active involvement of CAYs with disability and their families.
• Guide group discussion session on LGBTIQ+ inclusion, restricted at the Policy and Decision makers levels and services’ providers (health and education) due to the sensitivity of this thematic at community level.
• Monitors activities implementation through regular visits, meetings with community (for disability inclusion) and other stakeholders and make informed decisions as necessary to inform the project implementation.
• Ensures the collection of quality desagragated data to inform ME database.
• Support in reviewing, with Disability and LGBTIQ+ inclusion and responsive lens, all project document, TORs, IEC materials and ensure that external consultancies are aware of.
• Supports in preparation of all monthly, quarterly and annual project work plans and reports as required by Plan International Mozambique and the donor and by other project stakeholders and beneficiaries as appropriate.
• Documents project implementation and changes generated by the project through success stories, documentaries, Most Significant Changes, booklets, etc and maintains crucial project documents which track project progress.
• Identifies any potential issues or risks that could affect the progression of the project and communicate these items with the Project Manager.
• Perform any other duties within the scope of the position as assigned by the supervisor.
• Reporting.
• Supports in reporting process, in particular monthly, quarterly and annual reports, to the Project Manager and CO including timely submission of all required reports and implementation of follow-up actions and recommendations.

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

• Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
• Ensures that Humanitarian Program staff are properly inducted on and understands their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies;
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in project design, during implementation and as principles applied in day-to-day work of Programme team;
• Ensures 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

• Courageous, pro-active, and self-aware in tackling tough issues and working with others to implement practical solutions focused on Plan International’s purpose and making the most effective contribution within own work context;
• Behaves in line with Plan’s values and safeguarding practices, inside and outside work;
  Challenges own attitudes, unconscious bias and behavior and speaks up when seeing wrong doing, especially by those who use their power over others to create fear or abuse;
• Understand and adhere to the policies, processes, practices and standards relevant to own work and keeps knowledge and skills up to date;
• Uses rigorous investigation and clear, balanced analysis of complex evidence to inform decisions and drive change;
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement and practical innovation, open to challenge and new ideas;
• Works to the highest standards of integrity, operating with discretion in sensitive situations;
• Communicates clearly, both in speaking and writing, adjusting to the needs and interests of diverse colleagues, partners, policy makers, and communities;
  Actively promotes diversity, gender equality and inclusion both internally and externally;
• Honest and efficient in use of resources, including own time;
• Takes responsibility for own performance and development: reflecting; seeking and listening to feedback; learning from mistakes; finding people or resources to help them learn;
• Constructive and optimistic in facing setbacks, challenges and change, using own initiative to analyze issues and improve things;
• Good team player, communicating effectively and being open and supportive towards those around them.

Business Management Competencies​​​​​​​

• Knowledge of programmes according to Plan International’s Programme Quality and Influencing Policy procedures.
• Seeks opportunities to reflect on and learn from all work, programme and project activities.
• Critically appraises and interrogates data to identify anomalies and patterns. Analyses and interprets a range of evidence to inform decision making and implement actions Translate the interpretation and implications of data into language that is accessible and relevant for staff.
• Keeps abreast of internal and external changes or developments adapt accordingly.
• Understand relevant sectoral context including how the sector operates in terms of governance and awareness of Plan’s purpose, values, and global strategy.

Technical Expertise, Skills and Knowledge

Qualifications/Experience Essential:

Qualifications

Essential

• Experience in design of IEC, DI and LGBTIQ+ IEC and training materials;
• Expertise in facilitation of training communities’ members, children, services providers (education, health, etc.);
• Familiarity with National Policies on D&I, LGBTIQ+ and SRHR for CAYs and networks;
• Expertise on advocacy and influencing in issues related to SRHR, Disability and LGBTIQ+ inclusion;
• Recognized abilities on results-based planning, progress report writing, project activities monitoring and documentation;
• Good interpersonal relationship, team working spirit and conflict resolution;
•  Solid abilities in problem analysis oriented to results.

Desirable

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences/Education/public Health;
• 5 years of experience in the field of Inclusion working with OPDs, LGBTIQ+ communities, Government institutions at all levels (national, provincial and local levels), Services providers and communities;
• Good communications skills in Portuguese and English.

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.
• Understanding of the development needs and 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.
• Knowledge of the rationale and practical implications of being rights-based, gender transformative, Inclusion, participatory, working in partnership; evidence-based and working to strengthen civil society.
• Ensures that strategy, policy, standards and plans related to disability and LGBTIQ+ inclusion are based on rigorous internal and external evidence, including examples of effective practice.
• Assesses effectiveness to improve evidence and quality by designing appropriate measures and assessment methods, using on-going monitoring and assessment to improve project implementation, conducting evaluation, assessing the results and sharing learning.
• Understands the rationale for and practical implications of key programming and influencing principles including being rights-based, stimulating gender transformative change, using participatory approaches, working in partnership and being evidence-based.

Skills

• Excellent organization and planning skills and ability to resolve problems constructively.
• Computer literate, with strong knowledge of MS Office applications, spread sheets, database programs.
• Flexibility, persistence, and ability to work well in a multi-sectoral and multi-cultural team.
• Ability to work in a challenging and stressful environment with unexpected challenges.
• Ability to interact and work effectively with others at all levels.
• Good analytical skills.
• Strong skills in facilitation and negotiation.
• Team player.
• Ability to prioritize work effectively for execution with limited resources.
• Ability to work independently without close supervision.
• Strong Advocacy and influencing skills.
• English and Portuguese oral and written skills required.

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;
• 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 implementation – Do No Harm;
• Promote individual and organisational learning through systematic reflection processes, documentation and dissemination;
• 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

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.

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.