Protection Coordinator at Plan International Rwanda: (Deadline 19 December 2022)

Protection Coordinator at Plan International Rwanda: (Deadline 19 December 2022)

Career Opportunities: Protection Coordinator (45264)

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 75 countries.

ROLE PROFILE

role PURPOSE

Plan International is a rights-based development and humanitarian organization working for a better life for all children. We are independent of government and have no political or religious affiliation. Our purpose is to strive for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Plan International Rwanda Strategy statement.

Our global strategy has a specific focus on girls, as they are often the most marginalized and most often left behind. We have committed ourselves to the ambitious target of reaching 100 million girls over 5 years, to ensure they can learn, lead, decide and thrive. This is our contribution to reaching the sustainable development goals and in particular the goals on gender equality.

The Protection Coordinator is responsible for the supervision of all child protection activities, including Gender-Based Violence in the refugee camp and will directly report to the Project Manager with overall supervision from the CPP Manager. S/he is the team Leader and provides in-depth support to the Child Protection Officer(s), GBV Response Officer(s), Community Engagement Officer(s) and other casual workers and consultants as necessary or required. The Protection Coordinator will be responsible for the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all child protection & GBV camp-based activities. In that line, he/she will provide strategic guidance for child protection & GBV interventions and play a coordination role with other level camp-level implementing partner-level sector standards by providing training, coaching and mentoring to scale up a range of complimentary protection initiatives within households and communities.  S/he will dedicate potential support to case management as the core pillar in protection to ensure the best interest of the child/survivor is put into action and adequate service is provided.

MANAGEMENT SCOPE, REPORTING LINES, KEY RELATIONSHIPS 

Direct reports:  Project Manager (Child Protection & GBV Projects) 

Key relationships 

Internal:

• DRM&R Program Manager
• Child Protection Program Manager
• Country Human Resources Manager
• Plan International Refugee response staff
• PUM within the refugee camp area

External:

• UNHCR field offices
• MINEMA field offices
• Protection of implementing partners at the field level
• District authorities

LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN 

• High level: Frequent interaction with children

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT 

• Expected to deliver the work in the refugee camp, with limited movements to the Country Office

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES

Overall Camp Management & Coordination (50%)

• Ensure project implementation in the camp is in conformity with Donor and Plan International’s standards and policies.
• Ensure the overall coordination of all Plan International’ activities/interventions in camps
• Ensure project implementation and policy guidance to ensure alignment with minimum standards of child protection in humanitarian action and required minimum qualities
• Ensure the availability of essential GBV response interventions by developing a referral system, which includes comprehensive case management, psychosocial support/mental health services, legal assistance (if applicable), and capacity-strengthening of local service providers, in line with international standards.
• Maintain active dialogue with local authorities, local organizations, and a wide range of service providers to foster collaboration, ensure alignment with government priorities and standards, and solicit feedback to make regular improvements.
• Participate in the preparation of the project’s annual budgeting for efficiency purposes.
• Ensure that all assets are adequately maintained, and inventoried and are only for the project’s official business to avoid mismanagement.
• Facilitate the capacity building of other implementing partners to ensure protection from violence is cascaded across all sectors.
• Train community-level protection structures for the sustainability of the project’s interventions and emphasise of community ownership in fighting against violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect.
• Produce accurate and timely reports and success stories to showcase project lessons, and results to contribute to the wider sector and institutional knowledge.
• Manage Child protection cases (review BIAs and where necessary conduct BIDs) In collaboration with the Child Protection Officer(s) and ensure proper referral pathways are complied with, in accordance with the set standards of operations
• Review GBV case files in collaboration with the GBV Response officer(s) and ensure proper referral pathways are complied with, in accordance with the set standards of operations
• Monitor all activities in line with child protection & GBV; provide regular reports and updates to the CP Program Manager, Project Manager and other actors/stakeholders.
• Ensure all field-level staff (camp-based staff from different projects) are well coordinated by creating a climate of trust through weekly staff meetings that should inform projects’ complementarity
• Lead all necessary staff meetings and oversee training/workshops   delivered in all refugee camps to refugee communities,
• Take all-rounded action for cost management efficient and effective utilization of all resources; lead staff towards cost management practice.

Capacity building and people management (10%)

• Fully understands and supervises the Performance Management & Development activities for employees under her/his responsibility;
• Engages in ongoing and continuous feedback and support particularly for employees under her/his responsibility and other staff members where needed;
• In close collaboration with HR, to ensure that job descriptions for employees under her/his responsibilities are up to date, seeks feedback and support from the HR department if needed;
• Ensure all staff performance objectives are well set, and they are contributing to key project deliverables;
• Mentor and support staff’s capacity needs and their professional development and foster a positive team spirit to encourage innovatively and quality programming including concrete formal and informal capacity planning and training for staff under his/her supervision;
• Plans and coordinates the holidays of the employees under her/his supervision to ensure continuity of the operations throughout the year and makes sure that there are no open holiday balances at the end of the year;
• Ensure refugee response staff are familiar and complying with important policies such as the Code of conduct, safeguarding children and young people policy, Harassment, Discrimination and Bullying policy and Gender Transformative
• Conduct mid-term and annual staff performance evaluations and assist the office in developing a framework for staff career development, training, and coaching.
• Maintain a system of best practices for regular staff evaluation, and standard procedures for new position posting, interviewing, and applicant selection

Monitoring Systems (15%)

• Monitor the overall financial management of the project in the camp in collaboration with the grant accountant and Project Manager.
• Develop and follow up the implementation of field-level mandatory reporting timeline sector reports, management reports, donor reports and government reports where required.
• Be proactive to facilitate regular surveys on the provided services; collected data are analyzed, documented, and accessed by relevant staff.
• Ensure full compliance with reporting systems and review all information gathered
• Works closely with the M&E team on accurate data collection, strict monitoring and feedback on program implementation and timely weekly and periodic program reporting

Representation (10%)

• Coordinate and ensure relevant information from interagency, coordination, sector, and working group meetings are timely shared with concerned staff, Project Manager, Program area level, technical managers and CP Manager
• Coordinate effectively with field level Donor offices, stakeholders, Camp management, district officials and other implementing partners to ensure our cause to protect children from violence is advocated for and influenced at all levels.
• As necessary, participate in and coordinate Cluster group meetings

• Forster effective working relationships with all key external personnel mentioned above
• Work in close coordination with field-level implementing partners to ensure a response to child protection & GBV is provided in a holistic manner.

Problems solving (15%)

• Provide counselling and support for employee relationship problems. Ensure Office disciple is in place
• Complexity of problems handled & the degree of investigation, analysis, & creative thinking required solving them
• Conduct regular discussions with key partners to identify and settle approaches to address staff’s stress levels and sense of security.
• Ensures effective communications among staff and other staff across all camps- and among different levels of responsibilities at field and country levels.
• Ensure all kinds of incidents in the camp are supervised and reported to the Project Manager and the CP program manager within 24 hours.
• Ensure PIR’s staff, goodwill brand, and assets are safe and secured.
• Closely work with the security network and take timely security measures.

Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI)

• The Protection Coordinator is the focal point person of safeguarding concerns within the refugee camp
• Ensure full compliance with the Global safeguarding children and young people policy.
• Ensures 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.
• Encourage reporting of any safeguarding issue through awareness raising of the policy within the community.
• Ensure staff, volunteers and those who work directly for Plan, are well equipped with knowledge around safeguarding and gender equality to ensure no program participant is harmed by Plan staff and those associated with us.
• Establishes a taskforce within the team including community volunteers, for awareness raising of the organisation’s safeguarding commitment, reporting channels and referral pathways.

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 a 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 empower others by taking an interest, giving constructive feedback and praise, ensuring they are properly trained and helping them develop their potential.
• Accept change and support others in adjusting to it, helping them understand.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES 

• Understand relevant sectoral context including how the sector operates in terms of funding and governance and awareness of Plan’s purpose, values, and global strategy
• Manage legal and reputational risk including risk assessment, communication, risk management and reporting in full compliance with risk-related standards, including in areas such as Child and young people Safeguarding, Gender equality and inclusion, Counter Fraud, Safety and Security
• Manage activities and resources including skills in strategic thinking, planning and organising, financial planning and monitoring, negotiation and programme and project management
• Manage people and information including skills in assessment and coaching, evidence-based management, communication skills, both speaking and writing, and digital working, including personal digital skills

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

Qualifications/ Experience Essential: 

Knowledge

• University degree or equivalent in Social Work, Psychology, Law, Gender studies, Sociology, Development studies or related fields.
• Minimum of 5 years relevant working experience in Child protection and working in a refugee context and with children preferred.
• Experience working directly with children and young people at risk.
• Experience with vulnerable populations, including refugee populations and SGBV survivors
• Working experience in a similar role in bilateral organizations or INGOs.
• Knowledge and experience in working around protection of children from violence, exploitation and abuse as well as GBV
• Provide on-going oversight, training, and guidance to staff to ensure GBV programming meets best practice standards and prioritizes the safety and security of beneficiaries and staff
• Proven experience in working in case management of child protection & GBV incidents and providing regular documentation.
• Knowledge and experience in dealing with Safeguarding and PSHEA concerns

Languages required 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Kinyarwanda. Knowledge of French or Swahili is an added value

Specific skills of this position

• Excellent networking and partnership building skills
• Strong skills in monitoring, evaluation, research and conducting participatory, community-led assessments
• Excellent community mobilization skills and abilities.
• Strong training/facilitation skills.
• Good communication, facilitation and report writing skills
• Strong team-building and motivational skills
• Strong negotiating, strategic thinking and influencing skills
• MS office skills

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

We create a climate of trust inside and outside the organization by being open, honest and transparent. We hold ourselves and others to account for the decisions we make and for our impact on others, while doing what we say we will do.

We strive for lasting impact

We strive to achieve significant and lasting impact on the lives of children and young people, and to secure equality for girls. We challenge ourselves to be bold, courageous, responsive, focused and innovative.

We work well together

We succeed by working effectively with others, inside and outside the organization, including our sponsors and donors. We actively support our colleagues, helping them to achieve their goals. We come together to create and implement solutions in our teams, across Plan International, with children, girls, young people, communities and our partners.

We are inclusive and empowering

We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge inequality in our programs and our workplace. We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives. We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential.

Location: Refugee Camps

Type of Role: Child Protection

Reports to:  Project Manager

Grade: D1

Closing Date:19-12-2022

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. 

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply using the “Apply” button below not later than 19th December 2022.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY