~~Founded more than 75 years ago, Plan International (Plan) has global presence in 69 countries and is one of the oldest and largest children's development organizations in the world. Plan is committed to actively safeguarding children from harm and ensuring children are fully protected and safe. Plan takes seriously its responsibility to promote child-safe environment and practices. Positive actions will be taken to prevent child abusers from becoming involved with Plan International in anyway, and stringent measures will be taken against any Plan staff and/or associates who abuse a child.
Plan has been operating in Ethiopia since 1995, and currently operates in four regions of the country with a range of multi-sectoral development and humanitarian programmes. A process to realign the organizational structure and workforce with the current country strategic plan and its priorities has recently been conducted, and accordingly, we are looking for a suitable candidate to fill the following position from internal and/or external applicants.
Position 1 : ECCDiE Officer
Reports to : Program Area Manager
Number of Post : 1 (One)
Duty Station : Gambella Emergency response
Terms of Employment : Five months, fixed term contract
Closing Date : February 06, 2015
Purpose of the job
The job holder provides effective support in ECCDiE and standards to effectively respond to the needs of 0-8 year-old children and their families affected by emergencies and disasters in close coordination and integration with health/nutrition, child protection and education projects and sectors. The main objective is to ensure the implementation of ECCD projects in emergency/refugee and recovery by actively engaging in planning, monitoring, evaluation and documentation processes. He/she participates in designing/developing, coordinating and managing all ECCDiE projects in the refugee. His/her work enables Plan Ethiopia to reach, assist and protect many vulnerable children facing rapid and slow on-set emergencies and disasters across the country and this is directly linked with Plan’s mandate of promoting and ensuring the wellbeing of children in Ethiopia.
Dimensions of Role:
• Participates in fund raising initiatives and managing properly for the best advantage of children and their
families
• Coordinate and integrate with child protection, health/nutrition and education officers/coordinators for
quality delivery of the program
• Liaison with government offices and bureaus and also with UN agencies, NGOs and other civic
organizations operating specifically in the refugee camps and also in Gambella
• Has responsibility to comply with organizational and statutory policies and laws on HR legality matters
and also on matters related to protection of children in gender and child rights in particular in
emergencies and disasters.
• Represents Plan Ethiopia in humanitarian coordination meetings, taskforces, clusters and technical
working groups in ECCDiE matters.
Typical Responsibilities - Key end Results of the Position:
1. Assessment
Provide facilitation and expertise in the assessment (from initial to on-going)
Conduct initial rapid assessment of current situation in collaboration with local specialists and affected
population; determine priorities and immediate activities and resources
Review, assess and update the ECCD situation in areas affected by emergency
Highlight ECCD issues requiring a response – both immediate (less than 2 months) and medium term
and make recommendations on specific PLAN actions required.
Ensure core commitments to children are taken into consideration.
Identify potential site level partnerships to implement recommendations, assess potential partners
where available or make recommendations on how to fill gaps.
2. Program Design
Define aims and objectives of the overall emergency and ECCD program (focused on children 0-
8years).
In collaboration with national and international ECCD, Eduaction, Health/Nutrition and Child Protection
Actors, map current institutional response capacities – including conducting an ECCD specific.
In collaboration with stakeholders, develop a realistic evidence‐based, ECCD program plan, including
both programmatic and advocacy activities (results oriented).
Design most appropriate ECCD interventions based on the outcomes of assessments and the context.
Ensure that issues of gender, protection, DRR, and conflict sensitivity are factored into the program
design.
Ensure PLAN’s guidelines and UN ECCD-Education cluster standards are considered and any
departures documented.
Work in close collaboration with other program specialists to ensure that ECCDiE interventions build
upon each other and link in to longer term programming.
Develop an ECCD Program Plan, concept papers, and proposals (including log frames and
programmatic budgets and staffing plans) in respect of the above.
3. Response Management and Implementation
Work closely with the Project Implementation Manager to ensure that relevant activities are planned
and implemented in a phased and prioritized manner in full consultation and co-ordination with all
relevant agencies both governmental and non-governmental.
Proactively work for effective planning, implementation and monitoring of agreed ECCDiE plans with
special emphasis on the most vulnerable children and their families in the refugee camps and host
communities
Make frequent field visits to all sites to monitor implementation of activities, identify opportunities and
constraints and any adjustments needed.
Ensure early and rigorous implementation of interventions
4. Representation
Actively represent Plan Ethiopia at ECCD-Eduaction Cluster and other relevant coordination meetings
in and around Gambella region.
Represent Plan Ethiopia with donors while discussing ECCD in emergencies interventions
5. Response Monitoring, Reporting & Evaluation
Regularly monitor the program through field visits
Support other staffs and volunteers in monitoring program progress against indicators in grants
Prepare a reporting template for volunteers
Gather and produce regular reports indicating progress of the program activities
Ensure and consolidate monthly indicators and statistics data related to the ECCDiE projects
6. Information and Co-ordination
Provide regular updates to the Project Implementation Manager on progress, priorities and constraints
– verbally and in writing on an agreed frequency
Engage and follow up with relevant implementation manager(s)
Represent PLAN to governmental and non-governmental groups as needed and agreed with the PAM
Support the implementation of, and represent PLAN Ethiopia in emergency ECCD coordination
mechanisms including any relevant cluster.
Brief updates and reports on sectoral activities/strategies to donors and other stakeholders.
7. Capacity Strengthening
Coordinate and/or implement training and briefing of PLAN Ethiopia staff, partners, and other key
stakeholders on ECCDiE and/or related issues in the region.
8. Dealing with Problems:
Systematic approach is needed to deal with ECCDiE issues and post holder needs to follow innovative
approaches of working with children and families to empower them so that they take the leadership in
the implementation of the project
The post holder has to closely consult and also get approval from PIM or senior management of the
organization while embarking on sensitive issues in emergency situation.
Child Protection and Gender Equality Responsibilities
• Demonstrate commitment to Plan’s child protection policy through implementing the policy in its entirety, and report any actual or potential risk situations following the reporting procedures, being aware of abuse and risks to children, being vigilant, becoming familiar with the Child Protection Policy.
• Raise children’s rights/protection awareness and important of gender equality and respect to diversity within Plan and amongst partners and community members.
• Child protection and gender equality policies are understood by the staff and partners.
• Ensure equal participation and benefit of boys and girls and children with disabilities in all phases of programme/ project implementation.
• Ensure sufficient budget and resources are allocated for gender equality activity in their respective area annual plans and project activities.
• Support partners in understanding plans’ gender equality strategy and program criteria and capacity building activities on gender as part of the regular work at field level.
• Ensure the representation of Plan Ethiopia in their respective region from gender equality perspectives.
~~Communications and Working Relationships:
Internally: Education Program Lead, Programme Manager, Head of Programme, Country Director, Head of Business Development, Head of Finance, Emergency Grants-Finance Coordinator, Logistics Manager, Head of HR& OD, Emergency HR Officer, Program Implementation Manager, other Program Leads and Technical Coordinators, field based ERR Project Coordinators and relevant staff at RESA & IH.
Externally: partner NGOs, UN agencies, government, bilateral and multilateral donors, and other stakeholders and Plan Eth. Partners.
Qualifications and Experience
University degree in Psychology ,Education or related field
Minimum of 3 years of practical experience in ECCDiE (majority in the field)
Minimum of two successful assignments in a complex refugee emergency situation (at least one of
these must be field level post );
Experience with the following technical areas:
• Establishing and implementing temporary learning spaces and pre-schools
• Mobilizing and training of pre-school teachers
• Developing ECCD curriculum and training manuals (in English)
Knowledge and experience of using and providing training on the INEE Minimum Standards for ECCD in Emergencies Designing and implementing Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) interventions – not only pre-school interventions, but multi-sectoral support for young children 0-8 years Participation and/or coordination with the ECCD -Education Cluster Formal and non-formal education
• Experience with participatory approaches to ECCD, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief
management, or other related area. Experience in Gambella Region is an asset.
Knowledge & Skills Specific to the Post
• Secretarial skills, excellent computer operation skills
• Easily understand different software intended for Chid protection Information System (CPiMs)
Competencies and values
• Interest and love to work with children
• Good command of the English language (both spoken & written)
• Computer Skills