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.
ROLE PROFILE
Title
Project Officer-ECCD
Grade
C1
Functional Area & Location
Programs – Homa Bay Program Unit
Date
September 2017
Reports to
Project Coordinator – Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD)
Duration
1 Year fixed term contract
ROLE PURPOSE
The project aims to improve child well-being (health, learning and protection/participation) in targeted vulnerable and marginalized communities through effective and holistic early childhood supports.
Dimensions of the Role
Reporting to the Project Manager- ECCD, the Project Implementation Officer (PIO) – Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) is required to develop work plans, implement, monitor and report on progress of gender sensitive project activities for the benefit of the targeted communities. S/he will be the community mobilizer and will work closely with partners, relevant line ministries, private sector players and community based organizations to ensure synergy and integration of project interventions. S/he will be accountable for the management of the project budgets.
Accountabilities
(These are the expected results, and activities towards this end may vary)
- Caregivers, parents /women and men in target communities’ take action to improve child wellbeing in home and community.
- All targeted girls and boys equally participate in quality ECCD centers in the year or two before primary school.
- All targeted girls and boys equally participate in school-based and community-based activities that improve performance and retention in school.
- National polices and plans across sectors to ensure early childhood outcomes.
- Strengthened Families for ECCD Implementation Approach/Activities.
- Activities for transition to primary support.
Mobilisation and Participatory Planning
- In close collaboration with the Project Coordinator – ECCD and PU staff, ensure that the ECCD project activities are effectively implemented in the target communities in a cost effective and timely manner.
- Informed by analysis and the project outline, facilitate systematic participatory development of implementation plans with clear objectives, tangible deliverables, timelines and support the various teams and structures to rollout the activity plans. Consultations must include communities and children on specific discussion on ECCD issues from their perspective and possible mitigating actions and strategies to be incorporated into project design.
- Ensure that project makes full consideration of the local child growth and development context, as well as legal and social wellbeing provision and this informs all stages of the project cycle.
- Coordinate planning and implementation with Plan Kenya other projects at the PU, other development actors in the area to enhance synergies and accountability while precluding duplication and competition
- Ensure appropriate consultations with relevant stakeholders in the design and implementation of ECCD initiatives in the target areas.
Project Implementation
- Ensure community participation in the project planning, implementation and monitoring including consultations with children and parents on ECCD issues that be incorporated into project design.
- Working with school authorities and communities, facilitate the establishment (whilst supporting existing structures) of peer learning networks on development of children through the parenting groups and the pre – school.
- Ensure that the monthly activities and budget plans are implemented as per approved breakdown and that all activities are on track with appropriate scheduling, quality and timelines.
- Work with relevant staff to ensure all logistics and procurement at a local level including events management are in conformity with Plan and donor policies, procedures and standards.
- Facilitate access to relevant and accurate information on ECCD to the project implementation stakeholders including the government officers, parents, children and other project stakeholders.
- Play an advocacy role to ensure that Government of Kenya (GoK) and County Governments take responsibility to institutionalize well-structured ECCD system.
- Promote use of ICT4D technologies, e.g. POI Mapper system to enhance reporting, response, documentation and management of project information on ECCD.
- Ensure that gender considerations are appropriately defined and incorporated across all phases of design, implementation and reporting.
Capacity Building Trainings
- In close collaboration with the Project Coordinator -ECCD and other stakeholders, participate in the development and rollout of appropriate parenting education training customized to address locally identified gaps on early childhood upbringing practices in the project’s target communities.
- Follow-up to assess effectiveness of delivered trainings and provide remedial refresher trainings to enhance the adoption and application of the new knowledge to enhance child upbringing practices in the target communities.
- Work with the various project implementation teams to support initiatives to cascade the capacity trainings to target groups to enhance efforts to promote conducive environment for early stimulation for effective development of children in the target communities.
- Using analyzed information, give input to the development of appropriate criterion to select training participants and champions for various interventions as outlined in the project design document approved by the donor and the project DIP.
- Adapt existing government of Kenya and other globally recognized guidelines, on Early Childhood Care and Development, to the local context to facilitate the implementation of the ECCD project activities.
Stakeholder Relationship Management
- Through collaborative approaches, engage various project implementation teams relevant to ECCD, including education, Health and child protection in the implementation of ECCD project activities.
- Facilitate use of inclusive processes in scheduling project implementation activities sensitive to the local calendars and seasonality of activities.
- Ensure clarity on roles, responsibilities, deliverables and timelines for the same for each actor.
- Effectively participate in planning, progress review and coordination meetings with stakeholders, sharing updates, future plans, resource limitations to manage expectations, engage actors in identifying and addressing challenges, etc.
- Ensure coordinated implementation of work plans and act as the project accounting officer.
- Respect cultural sensitivities to sustain harmonious relations with stakeholders and communities at large.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Documentation
- As outlined in the project M&E framework, contribute to design and rollout of the project baseline and end-line studies, other focused surveys and routine monitoring and facilitate the dissemination of findings from such studies/monitoring to the relevant audience.
- In collaboration with the Project Coordinator -ECCD, use baseline findings for benchmarking the project/setting targets and regularly incorporate feedback and other monitoring observations to implementation to enhance effectiveness.
- Effectively document progress with respect to implementation methodologies, effects and outcomes of intervention activities to generate evidence for reporting, decision making, policy advocacy, up-scaling best practices and lessons to be drawn from the project.
- Facilitate reflective sessions with children, Schools Board of Management, parents and stakeholders to keep all parties appraised on implementation progress, emerging challenges, opportunities, effectiveness of design, monitoring and implementation processes and seek their feedback and input into the project.
Reporting and Documentation
- From the outset, familiarize self with various reporting formats, information needs and schedules and ensure evidence based quality reporting.
- Regularly gather data and other information relevant for reporting including maintaining register of ECCD centres and parenting groups and update on regularly basis.
- Submit regular/scheduled complete, accurate and timely consolidated interim reports that conform to prescribed formats and other parameters from Plan and the donor.
- Contribute to documentation and sharing of best practices with stakeholders as appropriate.
- Facilitate coordinated joint reflection meetings/sessions at County level (among partners).
- Ensure budget burn rate remain consistent with the reports submitted and provide brief explanations as appropriate for discrepancies.
Communications and Working Relationships
- The position holder is expected to maintain a high level of external communication/contact at the community, District and County levels to facilitate appropriate project implementation.
- Medium level external communication with the INGO, LNGO, CBOs partners in the county.
- Low level external interface with Plan National Office (NOs) sponsorship communications.
- 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.
Key relationships
Internal Contacts
- Other Plan Project Officers and Program Unit Managers
- Technical Support Team
- Designated Project Accountant
- Finance, procurement, fleet, administration
- ECCD Project M&E officer
- Designated Project Grants and Contracts Officer
External Contacts
- County/ Sub County Government, Administrators
- School Heads, teachers and Parents
- Government Technical Departments/Line Ministries
- Other INGOs, local NGOs, UN agencies and organizations implementing in the same geographic areas, program sectors, et.al.
Technical expertise, skills and knowledge
Educational Qualification and Experience
- A Bachelor’s degree in Education, Early Childhood Development, Social Sciences or Development Studies.
- At least 4 years’ experience in project management/coordination.
- Strong Knowledge of community development.
- Conversant with Education programs especially Early Childhood Care and Development issues.
- Experience in grants management, proposal development insights and resource mobilization.
- Experience in education/health/gender related projects, partnership building, networking and collaboration with GOK, county governments and other actors including the private sector are a critical requirement.
- Knowledge in donor reporting requirements an added advantage.
- High level of integrity, values, ethics and attitudes that align with principles of Plan’s Child Protection Policy.
- Knowledge of local language desirable.
Skills specific to the post
- Striving for high performance: plans and commits to deliver quality outputs in each aspect of their work.
- Decision making and risk management: Sound judgement and decision-making in complex situations; alerts others to risks inside and outside the program.
- Self-awareness and resilience: Remains calm and positive under pressure and in difficult situations; plans own learning and development; aware of impact on others and adjusts own behaviour accordingly; has a positive impact on those around them.
Behaviours
- Transfers knowledge and skills; supports implementing partners to deliver program services and support according to the approved work plan, standards, and timelines.
- Strong report writing skills; ability to identify the key elements and criteria of writing quality reports. Capacity to produce accurate, consistent, high standard reports for the project in compliance with donor standards.
- Communicates with influence: Demonstrated effective interpersonal communication skills, including conflict resolution and negotiation skills community consultation skills and an ability to prepare accurate and detailed documentation.
- Building effective teams and partnerships: Acting as a team player, even if this results in adjustment of own priorities; develops mutually trusting relationships with complex partnerships to deliver excellent business outcomes.
- Proficient in computer skills: including a proficiency in Microsoft Office and working knowledge with different computer programs, both computer and web-based.
- Motorcycle riding skills: The mode of transport is a motorcycle therefore motorcycle riding skills are a must (including a valid riding licence).
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.
Physical Environment
Typical office environment with 70% field visits.
Level of contact with children
High level: Frequent interaction with children .
Please note that only applications and CVs written in English will be accepted.
References will be taken and background and Anti-terrorism checks will be carried out in conformity with Plan International’s Child Protection Policy. Plan International operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all persons meeting the skills and experience required. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
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