Project Officer (REAL Father Initiative) at Plan International Rwanda: (Deadline 27 August 2023)

Project Officer (REAL Father Initiative) at Plan International Rwanda: (Deadline 27 August 2023)

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 85 years, and are now active in more than 80 countries.

ROLE PROFILE

ROLE PURPOSE

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian not for profit organization 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 its 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.

Plan International (Plan) in partnership with the Institute of Reproductive Health (IRH) of Georgetown University is implementing the Gender Transformative Programming for Advancing Care for Children in Adversity activity. This project aims to integrate, adapt and scale-up in Rwanda the Responsible, Engaged and Loving (REAL) Fathers Initiative, an evidence-based parenting program that addresses violence against children, parenting and intimate-partner violence (IPV).

Through a process of adaptation and integration into ongoing programs, Plan seeks to reduce IPV and physical child violence, and develop strategies for further scale up. The project will contribute towards promoting nurturing and protective family care, and improving the safety, wellbeing and development of vulnerable children through the addition of a specific intervention to engage young fathers in ongoing programs that comprehensively address child protection and early childhood development. In Rwanda and Senegal, we will engage young fathers in ongoing Plan ECD and child protection programs that strengthen the capacity of both civil society and government institutions working to improve systems and structures nationally.

The project officer will effectively facilitate the implementation of the REAL Father initiative project in Rwanda and build meaningful relationships among the multiple stakeholders in the community development process. He/she will ensure the maintenance and strengthening of linkages, networks and collaborations between Plan International and the community interests, groups, local governments and other NGOs within their area.

Dimensions of the Role

The post holder reports directly to the Project Manager. He/she has no people under his/her supervision. S/he is responsible of overall implementation of the project activities within workplace, collaborates with local authorities and Governance structures at field level and other Plan staff, and reports regularly the project progress to his/her supervisor. This position will be a fixed term contract of 24 months.

Accountabilities

Key responsibilities

Implement the overall project activities which include but not limited to:

• Participation in project-related budget and programmatic preparation;
• Participation in project review workshops;
• Participate in the mentors’ training
• Ensures that project administrative processes are carried out in conformity with the agreed standards and policies, to ensure alignment to the project objective;
• Responsible for the introduction of the project to the key stakeholders within the PU
• Responsible for the recruitment of young fathers who will participate in the project
• Responsible for the selection of mentors who will implement the REAL father initiative in the intervention zones
• Act as the focal point person for the project within the assigned sector(s);
• Facilitate project evaluations
• Assist, supervise and mentor mentors
• Assist in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project;
• Document lessons learnt, success stories and/or challenges about the project;
• Ensures services are gender-sensitive and child/youth-friendly.

Empowerment and sustainability

• Training of mentors, IZUs and local leaders who will deliver the REAL father initiative
• Regular field visit to support mentors
• Support the adaptation of the REAL father manual to local context

Community mobilization and facilitation

• Facilitate project design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation in the assigned area of operation
• Facilitate the integration of program and ECD activities in the field

 Coordination and Networking

• Establish good working relations with children, families, community leadership, community-based organizations (CBOs), government extension staff and other stakeholders at ward and village levels
• Participate in stakeholder meetings and networks at ward and village levels

Child Protection

• Promote child rights-based programming at field level
• Report all incidents and concerns on child abuse
• Ensure all partners and other relevant stakeholders, including children and communities are trained and have access to the child protection policy

Learning and knowledge management

• Sharing; learning; best practices
• Contribution to initiative/research

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences, Education, Gender studies, conflict management, and other related fields
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience
• Extensive experience in development work at grassroots level.
• Strong skills in collaboration with local leadership and stakeholders.
• Experience with USAID funded project preferred
• Should be computer literate in word, excel and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrate problem solving skills.
• Ability to work under minimal supervision
• Experience with research, monitoring and evaluation preferred
• Excellent Report writing skills

Languages required

• Fluency in the English language is essential (written and spoken).
• Knowledge of French is desirable.

Skills Specific to the Post

• Communication skills
• Good organizational and interpersonal skill
• Willingness to work extra hours
• Willingness to live and work with the rural community
• Demonstrated training skills
•  Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary and multicultural environment
• Willingness to work with communities at all levels.
• Strong team building and motivational skills
• Strong negotiation, facilitating and influencing skills
• Strong command in Kinyarwanda language and English
• Experience in conducting training

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

• The project officer will be based at Bugesera PU

Level of contact with children

• Medium

Location: Bugesera Program Unit

Type of Role: Fixed-Term Contract

Reports to: Project Manager

Grade: C1

Closing Date:27^th August 2023

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.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE AND APPLY