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.

BACKGROUND

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan has over 80 years’ experience and works in more than 75 countries across the world. We strive for a just world, working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners.

Plan International has been working in Tanzania since 1991. Our work supports marginalised children and youth, especially adolescent girls, to grow up physically and mentally healthy and ready to shape their future. We create an enabling environment and empower girls to be active drivers of change in realising their rights. We prioritise working with partners, and ensuring all of our work is evidence based. Keeping Adolescent Girls in School (KAGIS) project is a five-year (2021-2025) gender-transformative project co-funded by Global Affairs Canada and Plan International Canada. The project is being implemented in four councils in two regions located in western Tanzania namely Geita Region (Geita Town Council and Geita District) and Kibondo Region (Kibondo District and Kakonko District) with an estimated reach of 99,286 direct beneficiaries in 90 primary and secondary schools and out-of-school adolescent girls. KAGIS will contribute to the Government of Tanzania’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology’s (MoEST) objective of equitable access to and successful completion of basic education for all. It will address the causes of dropout at the primary and lower secondary levels. It will also train health workers connected to assisted secondary schools on adolescent-friendly and gender-responsive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services.

role PURPOSE

A key component of KAGIS involves improving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure at selected local primary and secondary schools in the four councils. The specific schools, number of sites (estimated at 20-35 schools), and type of works to be undertaken at each site are presently being determined. Anticipated works include the rehabilitation or expansion of existing sanitation and water supply facilities and/or new construction if such facilities are absent, insufficient, or proceeding with rehabilitation efforts would not be desirable or cost-effective. Table 1 outlines examples of potential WASH interventions that may be undertaken by KAGIS.

Table 1 – Summary of potential school WASH infrastructure interventions by KAGIS

Once all assisted school sites have been selected and details of the works to be undertaken at each school site have been determined, the Construction Technician will support the preparation of a detailed Construction Validation Plan (CVP) for Global Affairs Canada’s review and approval. The Construction Technician will also support the preparation of an updated Environmental Management Plan (EMP) and Class Screening Environmental Assessment (CSEA) for review and approval by Global Affairs Canada.

Once all requisite construction and environmental approvals from relevant Tanzanian government authorities and Global Affairs Canada have been received, Plan International Canada will tender for suitably qualified construction contractors to undertake the planned works at assisted schools.

Dimensions of the Role

The Construction Technician will provide technical support in the following areas

Planning and Quantitative Surveying Services:

• Validate the bill of quantities (BoQ) and cost estimates (labor, materials, equipment) for WASH infrastructural works to be undertaken on assisted school sites.
• Support the preparation of a Construction Validation Plan (CVP) for Global Affairs Canada’s review and approval.
• Support the preparation of an updated Environmental Management Plan (EMP) and Class Screening Environmental Assessment (CSEA) for review and approval by Global Affairs Canada.
• Help ensure all works meet applicable local/regional and or national construction and environmental requirements, including securing approval permits as required.
• Support the Plan International Tanzania procurement committee in the preparation for the engagement of contractors.
• Participate in the evaluation of bids, contribute to the examination of technical and financial bids submitted by bidding constructors.
• Ensure that contractors comply with the applicable construction and environmental laws, regulations, policies and directives of the Government of Tanzania, Global Affairs Canada and Plan International Tanzania.
• Support the Plan International Tanzania procurement committee which will involve district construction engineers to procure materials for construction.

Accountabilities

Quality Assurance Services (construction supervision and reporting):

• Prepare and implement a quality assurance plan to ensure engaged contractors undertake their assignment in accordance with contract, design specifications and quality.
• Ensure that all environmental and construction activities are planned and implemented in accordance with the requirements of the Government of Tanzania, Global Affairs Canada and Plan International Tanzania.
• Facilitate an orientation session to contractors to ensure that they fully understand their respective missions, contractual documents and other compliance expectations.
• Review and approve the implementation plans prepared by the engaged contractors which will cover the mobilization, construction and demobilization phases of their missions.
• Support the establishment and operation of a temporary Quality Control Committee (QCC) in each school to help with monitoring and supervision activities.
• Carry out regular monitoring and supervision of the work of engaged contractors at school sites.
• Review regular progress updates submitted by engaged contractors to ensure implementation is carried out in accordance with their respective contracts, including agreed design, quality and costs.
• Organize meetings with the main stakeholders of the project. These may include: monthly general meetings attended by contractors, government (district, regional) and Plan International; weekly coordination meetings with contractors; additional meetings as needed.
• Prepare and submit to the KAGIS Program Director monthly progress reports on the implementation status and performance of engaged contractors.
• Participate in the review and certification of payment requests to each contractor.
• Prepare the certificate of completion for each contractor.
• Produce a final quality assurance report that will include photographs of the completed WASH infrastructure at all assisted school sites.
• Provide technical clarity and guidance in all discussions between Plan International Tanzania and the contractors involved.
• Perform any other task that may be discussed and agreed with Plan International Tanzania.

Coordination and reporting

• Serve as the main point of contact between Plan International Tanzania and the contractors contracted to undertake the work at assisted school sites.
• Coordinate with regional and district government engineers / technicians and contractors to ensure timely inspection and approval at critical points in the construction process.
• In collaboration with the KAGIS Program Director and engaged contractors, develop a detailed construction monitoring and reporting work plan which includes among others: the preparation of timely progress reports; testing and acceptance of building materials, mechanisms to facilitate early identification of any potential challenges and delays, and development of mitigation plans if necessary; ensure that good health, safety and environmental practices are in place and followed.
• Responsible for overseeing the activities of engaged contractors and reporting to the KAGIS Program Director, ensuring that construction is completed on schedule and on budget. In addition, the Construction Technician will inform the KAGIS Program Director regarding the approvals for the release of funds pending satisfactory delivery of service steps by the engaged contractors.
• Be an active contributor to the KAGIS project team. The Construction Technician will liaise with the KAGIS Finance Manager as well as the procurement and logistics unit of Plan International Tanzania’s country office based in Dar es Salaam.
• Collaborate with Plan International Canada’s technical and project management teams on KAGIS’s construction and environmental deliverables and associated requirements of the Government of Tanzania, Plan International and Global Affairs Canada.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of Safeguarding policies.

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Ensure compliance to COVID-19 and other outbreaks safety measures

  Compliance to Global Polices

• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for safeguarding children and young people and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEIP) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring Plan and Partner’s staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures
  Communications and Working Relationships:
  Internal:

• This position works closely with Programme Unit Manager (high)
• This position works closely with the project coordinators within the project, program Director (high)
• This position work closely with other Head of Education, Head of Health and Nutrition (Medium)
• This position works closely with other technical leads and project team members (high)
• This position works closely with technical counterpart at Plan International Canada (medium)
  External:
• This position works closely with government stakeholders

  Key relationships

• Plan International Canada
• Plan International Tanzania Programme Unit & Country Office
• Senior Head of Program Quality
• Head of Health and Nutrition and Education
• Functional networks within Plan
   
  Technical expertise, skills and knowledge
  Required experience and Qualifications
• Diploma or Full Technician Certificate in Civil/building engineering.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience of similar assignments (WASH infrastructure, borehole development).
• Professional license valid / registered and in good standing with the relevant professional association / accrediting agency.
• Willingness to visit school sites frequently, stay in the field for long periods.
• Knowledge of / experience with environmental assessments, Tanzania’s National Environmental Management Council (NEMC) environmental assessment requirements and processes would be beneficial.
• Previous experience working with international NGOs, similar field and work experience in Geita and Kibondo regions are considered as assets.
  Essential
  Behaviours
• Hardworking with capacity to work independently with minimum supervision
• Honest, integrity, open and transparent personality.
• Working towards achieving a team goal
• Be able to Respect all groups of people in the community and culturally sensitive
• Persuasive and able to work with different cultural settings
• Motivated, energetic and strives to develop and support others
• Result oriented and a team player
• Working for the best interest of the organization and children
• Appreciate of child rights and gender equality

  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

• Working environment will include both typical office environment and field environment
• The position requires regular field travels, at least 40% of the work time

  Level of contact with children
  Mid contact: Occasional interaction with children during environmental assessment and construction.