Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Company: Plan International
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.
The position holder will be responsible to support the implementation of PIE’s strategy mainly through strategically leading Plan’s gender equality and inclusion interventions to ensure that PIE’s ambition of becoming a girl’s rights and gender quality organisation is realized. This would be demonstrated in undertaking responsibilities which includes provision of strategic leadership on gender transformative programming in the design and delivery of all development and humanitarian programs as well as strengthening staff’s and partners capacity on gender transformative programming. The leadership of the position holder will also be demonstrated through proactive internal and external engagement and partnership building (including in resources mobilization), networking and collaboration for policy engagement, and learning and knowledge management within the broader organization on gender equality and inclusion. These responsibilities will cut across both development and humanitarian sectors, with special attention paid to the nexus between the two.
Accountabilities and MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES
Strategic Leadership (35%)
- Demonstrate leadership and accountability in relation to Plan International policies and practices with respect to GEI, overall technical leadership on GEI programming, policy influencing & advocacy, capacity building, people development, partnership, representation, studies and evaluations of the GEI sector.
- Provide leadership and oversight in gender transformative programming; conduct regular assessment and evaluation of projects from a gender transformative programming perspective and support the project team in taking relevant actions to accelerate progress.
- Act as resource person in the organisation for GEI and keep oneself up to date with developments happening in this field both nationally and internationally.
- Â Lead in formulating country specific policies, strategies and objectives on youth employment and entrepreneurship for quality programming.
- Regularly develop and submit progress reports, status updates and briefs on emerging
 issues to relevant team members.
- Takes accountability for the quality of work in GEI to improve Plan International’s work and impact.
Strategic Partnership, Networking & Collaboration (20%)
- Represent the organization in relevant national and regional forums and platforms at international level concerning gender equality and inclusion
- Develop strategic partnerships with key constituencies to elicit support for and maximize impact of Plan’s work
- Develop and implement policy advocacy action plan related to GEI using all relevant tools and techniques and in close collaboration with the Influencing and Communications team. This will include, but not be limited to, developing policy briefs, advocacy messages, organizing conferences and seminars, etc.
- Proactive engagement in internal and external environment, networks, collations and alliances (Plan international regional forums, GEI and related technical working groups)
- Actively build and maintain collaborative relationships with colleagues and partners, facilitating and negotiating to reach practical solutions for all parties, often without using positional power.
Resource Mobilization (15%)
- Lead and deliver quality project / programme development in line with PIE’s country strategy to compete in funding opportunities (scanning the situations, come up with innovation and also consider sustainability and also impact of the projects and programmes)
- Present and share lessons, best practices, approaches and tested models for donors, government and other stakeholders, partners and alliances to further scaling up and reach wider beneficiaries as well as influencing and attracting more resources
Technical support (25%)
- Build the capacity of Plan Ethiopia staff, and strategic partners to promote gender equality and inclusion, with specific emphasis on gender transformative programming
- Ensure the application of a range of evidence-based strategies and approaches at Plan Ethiopia to inform quality GEI programming and policy engagement
- Develop tools and relevant guiding documents and manuals to systematically strengthen Plan Ethiopia’s GEI programming and policy influencing work
- Provide demand driven technical support to key departments and units within PIE (Program Quality & Operations, Humanitarian Department. Influencing and Communications; Business Development; Program Areas) and ensure high quality programme (design & implementation) and influencing work. This will include designing, conducting and coordinating training programmes, technical field visits, development and dissemination of guidance material, etc.
- Support and coach colleagues, partners, children and young people to develop their capability and take more responsibility.
- Document, share and disseminate lessons learned and accumulative experience of GEI activities.
Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI)(5%)
- Ensure, 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.
- Lead and make sure that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in day to day work.
- Ensures that Plan Ethiopia contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.
COMPETENCIES
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES
- Set and communicate ambitious but realistic work goals and priorities, explaining how these contribute to Plan International’s purpose.
- Set high standards for self and others’ behaviour, inside and outside work. Championing our values and commitment to rights, gender equality and safeguarding. Supporting the health, well-being and both physical and psychological safety of our staff, including their safety to speak out.
- Hold self and others to account for what we have agreed, dealing with poor performance quickly, firmly and constructively.
- Create a positive team spirit, helping people work well together, to reflect and continuously improve the efficiency and quality of what we do.
- Collaborate with team members, colleagues and partners in finding creative solutions to problems by sharing information, experience and ideas and actively seeking their input.
- Motivate and developing others by taking an interest, giving constructive feedback and praise, ensuring they are properly trained and helping them develop their potential.
- Positive about change and support others in adjusting to it, helping them understand.
- Actively promotes diversity, gender equality and inclusion both internally and externally.
- Creates a climate of continuous improvement and practical innovation, open to challenge and new ideas.
- Courageous, pro-active, and self-aware in tackling tough issues and working with others to implement practical solutions.
- Reflective and pro-active in developing and applying own technical expertise, keeping up to date with trends in theory and practice, and learning from others.
- Uses rigorous investigation and clear, balanced analysis of complex evidence to inform decisions and drive change.
- Communicates clearly, both in speaking and writing, adjusting to the needs and interests of diverse colleagues, partners, policy makers, and communities.
- Understands and adheres to the policies, processes, practices and standards relevant to own work and helps others do likewise.
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES
- Can succinctly articulate the purpose, values, and global strategy to a range of audiences. Can explain how Plan International will deliver on its objectives through the theory of change and communicates the implications for their team.
- Understands the purpose, lines of accountability and decision-making capacity for each structural element of the organization. Helps their team to understand where they sit within the organizational structure.
- Supports their team to understand the local operating environment and to consider the implications for work activities. Adjusts work activities and practices to reflect the political, financial, social and cultural context.
- Manages risk in accordance to the local and global appetites and tolerances; including full compliance with Plan International’s core risk-related standards.
- Contributes to strategic planning activities.
- Understands the procurement cycle and supply chain, including the importance of good procurement planning.
- Schedules and manages resource aligned to donor and organisational requirements and individual capacity.
- Manages internal and external projects in accordance with the project management and MERL principles.
- Manages performance by providing clear objectives, access to developmental tools and opportunities for coaching and mentoring.
- Cascades knowledge throughout the organisation by sharing key messages, having team meetings and working collaboratively with other teams or departments.
- Factors workforce needs into work plans, supports performance management and staff development especially through assessment, feedback and coaching.
- Effective communication in speaking and writing for different audience in line with brand and use of internal/external communication channel and methods.
- Practices evidence-based management using research and analytical skills.
- Identifies digital enablers to improve work practices and uses digital and technological skills and tools
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Qualifications/ experience essential:
- Masters in Gender Studies, BA/LLB or Masters degree in social work, sociology, psychology, law and other disciplines relevant to Plan International Ethiopia’s work
- A minimum of eight years of experience relevant for the position, of which three years at supervisory position
- Demonstrable experience of leading gender transformative programming and influencing/advocacy models in development and humanitarian settings. Demonstrable experience in promoting gender and inclusion and in advancing childrens rights and/or gender equality in a national context
- Comprehensive understanding of relevant governments policies, strategies, programs and priorities related to gender equality and inclusion.
- Proactive engagement and networking on GEI in Ethiopia
- Experience in designing & facilitating training for staff and partners using participatory methodologies
- Knowledge and experience in rights based and gender transformative programming and influencing
Qualifications/ experience desirable:
- Knowledge of development issues, trends, challenges and opportunities and implications to community development.
- Demonstrable experience on development and humanitarian nexus will be highly desirable
Languages required
- Fluency in English language is essential
- In addition to Amharic, Knowledge of Local Languages is a desirable
Location: Addis Ababa
Type of Role: Managerial
Reports to: Head of Program Quality
Grade: D2
Closing Date: October 14
Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.
We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.
We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.
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. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.
A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.