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 85 years, and are now active in more than 75 countries. terms of reference
Background
Plan International is a global organization that works side by side with communities in 50 developing countries to end the cycle of poverty for children and their families. Plan International works at the community level to develop customized solutions in order to ensure long-term sustainability. Our solutions are designed up-front to be owned by communities for generations to come, and they range from clean water and healthcare programmes to education projects and child protection initiatives. Across programme areas, Plan International’s activities are guided by a Child-Centered Community Development (CCCD) approach, which is rights-based, holistic, gender-sensitive, and inclusive.
Job Summary
The Project Coordinator will be a Plan International Guinea Bissau employee based in the Plan International Guinea Bissau Country Office or in Bafata PIIA according to the project needs and dedicate full-time to guiding Plan International’s work on the Irish Aid funded Safe, Quality, Resilient, Inclusion-based Education (SQRIBE) project.
The goal of the project is to ensure, vulnerable and marginalized children and youth aged 9-15 years (includes the last 2 years of primary and lower secondary, with attention to Out to School children, girls and CwD - noting the intersection of age, gender and other vulnerability factors) realize their rights to access and benefit from a Safe, Quality, Resilient and Inclusion-Based Education.
This position will build on previous programmes and focus on improving learning outcomes for out-of-school children and adolescent girls as the key target groups while continuing to support the overall safe, quality, resilient, inclusion-based education eco-system.
Communications and Working Relationships
The Project Coordinator will report to the Head of Programme and Business Development, within Plan International Guinea Bissau. Within the SQRIBE project structure, s/he will have a dotted report to the Plan Ireland Irish Aid Team Lead. S/he will provide technical guidance and managerial leadership to all the work of Plan International staff on SQRIBE, including the implementation strategy. S/he plays a critical function as the focal point between Plan International Guinea Bissau, Plan Ireland and SQRIBE within Guinea Bissau. S/he holds first line responsibility for programme and financial planning and monitoring of project resources including compliance with the donor requirement.
The Project Coordinator will have a dotted line to Plan Ireland, liaising and coordinating closely with the Plan Ireland Irish Aid Team Lead, for overall programme management and to ensure needed Plan Ireland technical and management support.
Knowledge, Skills, Behavior’s, and Experience Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:
Gained through education, training, & experience
Very good strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
Very good relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
Ability to work with government stockholders in the central level and field level.
Team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams.
Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.
Responsibilities:
Ensures clear and regular communication between SQRIBE project and the management, its technical team and Plan International Guinea Bissau for coordination, planning, implementation and management purposes.
Ensures clear and regular communication between Plan International Guinea Bissau and Plan Ireland for planning, programme, financial and technical management, troubleshooting and reporting.
With the support of Plan International Guinea Bissau finance and management staff, functions as the Budget Manager for Plan International under SQRIBE, ensuring that activity progress/workplan implementation stays on track as well as budget performance.
Represents Plan International Guinea Bissau with focus on its SQRIBE role as requested by the Plan International Guinea Bissau Programme Head and Country Director.
Provides technical leadership for Plan International’s programmatic contributions to SQRIBE in close coordination with the MER and other Plan International staff in Guinea Bissau.
Ensures that Plan International Guinea Bissau best practices are adapted to and adopted by SQRIBE. Identifies additional programme support needs from Plan International and facilitates these.
Coordinates and oversees the development of Plan International Guinea Bissau annual project workplan, ensuring it meets the requirements of Guinea Bissau management.
Develop the monthly; quarterly and other required SQRIBE programmatic reports, ensuring these are of high quality and timely.
Develops or coordinates development of other ad hoc reports and presentations as required.
Ensure the project PO in system is aligned with actual implementation plan,
Insert and regularly update the project performance data in YODA and PMERL system
Performs any other duties that may be assigned from time to time.
Requirements:
Recognized technical experience and qualifications in managing education projects ;
Demonstrated experience of successful management, including management of functions of complex, multi-activity projects.
Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
Experience engaging partners including government partners and CBOs and strengthening partnerships.
Degree in Social Sciences, Education, International Development, International Relations or a relevant technical area(s).
5 or more years of relevant management and technical experience, with experience in one of more of the following areas: Community approach to education, Quality and Inclusive Education,
3 years of experience dealing external donors, required. Strong knowledge and experience in budget management.
Demonstrated experience of successful project management, including management of complex, high-value, multi-activity projects, with challenging logistics.
Experience in working in partnerships.
Ability to represent and present at high levels in Portuguese, French and English could be an advantage.
Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Visio), web conferencing applications, and information and budget management systems.
Key relationships
This post interacts within the Head of Programmes, Global Research Hub working group, Regional M & E/ Research/Knowledge Management, MERL Mano River, Programme team and MERL team.
High level contact: Internal: the Country Office and PIIA level programme team, in particular the other members of the PMERL unit and Plan Ireland.
External: Ministry of Education Partners and consultants
Medium level contact: the Country Office operations team, the RO MERL unit, and Plan colleagues in neighboring Cos delivering the same programme
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.
