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.

role PURPOSE

Plan International is an independent child rights and humanitarian organisation committed to children living a life free of poverty, violence and injustice. We actively unite children, communities and other people who share our mission to make positive lasting changes in children’s and young people’s lives. We support children to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to claim their rights to a fulfilling life, today and in the future. We place a specific focus on girls and women, who are most often left behind. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 75 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Plan International Tanzania is looking for an EiE Specialist to provide Technical expertise and support towards the implementation of a 5-year project- “Play Matters- Learning through Play Project funded by the LEGO Foundation. The project is aimed at supporting play-based learning for children aged 3-12 years in the 3 refugee camps and host communities in the Kigoma region. The project will focus on reaching out to nearly 1 million pre-primary and primary school aged refugee and host community children impacted by the humanitarian crises in East Africa and living in Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania. This project aims to build children’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical and creative skills through play in their homes, schools, and communities and will be implemented in partnership with War Child, International Rescue Committee, Ubongo, Behavioural Insights Team and Innovations for Poverty Action.

Dimensions of the Role

The EiE Specialist will be fully responsible for developing and/or adapting the PlayMatters Learning through Play content; and the testing and piloting of the content within the context of the emergency response. S/he will lead the development of training manuals/modules, tools, guidelines, resource materials to roll out Learning through Play Guides for ECCD education, parents and caregivers. S/he will also participate in the PlayMatters Country and Regional coordination and technical meetings. S/he will be providing technical support for education in emergency team on early childhood care and development (ECCD) intervention in refugee context. Additionally, the EiE Specialist will be responsible for ensuring design and implementation of project activities engage other key stakeholders required to achieve results such as government officials, the UNHCR, UNICEF and other humanitarian coordination actors, as well as other implementing agencies outside of the consortium. S/he will mentor and build the capacity of existing education staff on project monitoring, assessment, documentation of best practices and lesson learned.   S/he will work closely with EiE team, the CPiE Specialist, the Compliance and Business Development departments in developing quality and successful EiE funding proposals and producing donor reports.

RESPONSIBILITIES/ ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Program delivery

• Developing and/or adapting the PlayMatters Learning through Play content; and the testing and piloting of the content within the context of the emergency response.
• Leading the development of training manuals/modules, tools, guidelines, resource materials to roll out Learning through Play Guides for ECCD education, parents and caregivers.
• Leading the roll out, piloting and testing of the Learning through Play guides, contents and curriculum in coordination with other consortium members in the refugee camps and host community.
• Systematically reviews risks and challenges to quality implementation and compliance and develop clear and timely mitigation strategies including resources required.
• Working in collaboration with MEAL Manager and consortium partners to develop M&E tools, conducting assessments and research as well as reporting.
• Develop, review, and monitor, in coordination with DNO technical team and partners, annual work and performance plans to ensure long-term and short-term priorities are on track
• Work with MEAL manager in Developing sound monitoring and evaluation framework with appropriate indicators for EiE & ECCD activities to facilitate assessment of progress and impact of interventions.
• Scaling-up of Plan internationals’ EiE & ECCD Interventions and in particular learning through play activities and supporting with teacher training on the methodologies.
• Leading in conducting teacher’s needs assessments, in order to ensure that scope and sequence of the training is relevant and responsive to teachers’ needs.
• Contextualizing, adapting, and customizing sequencing, content, and activities of learning through play package to meet the specific needs and interests of teaching for teachers, by considering National curriculum and TIE guidelines, Cultural norms, Legal and policy frameworks that apply to education and child protection in the local context.
• Ensuring that teachers have ongoing support and opportunities to practice what they have learnt; support with initiatives to strengthen their practice
• Leading in training teachers, parents/caregivers, education personnel on Learning through Play approaches. Lead teachers and education personnel to integrate and mainstream Learning through Play in their teachings and support ways for parents/caregivers to integrate Learning through Play to day to day children activities.
• In consultation with teachers, education personnel and other stakeholders, conduct participatory consultations to establish education & ECCD needs of girls and boys

• Working in coordination with Business Development Manager team in identification, mobilization and sourcing of financial and other resources to expand/improve Plan international Education in Emergency (EiE) interventions.
• Review monthly, quarterly and annual donor reports through both formal and informal debriefings and written inputs for submission.

2. Representation and advocacy

• Represent Plan International – Tanzania at PlayMatters Country and Regional coordination and technical meetings.
• Working in close relationship with the government representative in Kigoma region, Kibondo and Kakonko Districts and other partners/UN agencies present in the refugee setting.
• Organising, contributing and/or participating in inter-sectoral working groups, forums, meetings or other initiatives within this emergency response especial education meeting and education working group meeting.

3. Documentation and M&E

• Conducting onsite visits, periodical reporting, on-going documentation and dissemination of experiences about Plan International EiE & ECCD interventions.
• Contributing in documenting Plan’s experience, lessons learnt and case studies

      Support report writing and proposal development

4. Capacity Building

• Training EiE staff in key aspects of EiE programmes and relevant aspects of INEE guidelines and Contextualization of TICC.
• Providing input to the development of orientation and training materials for teachers.
• Training staff and teachers on Learning through play methodologies as well as testing the methodologies within the refugee setting.

Key relationships

External – Close collaboration and strong working relationship with project consortium partners (War Child, International Rescue Committee, Ubongo, Behavioural Insights Team and Innovations for Poverty Action.). The Programme Manager will also maintain a relationship with local authorities, relevant Government institutions, and UN agencies to ensure Plan’s work is well linked to other initiatives.

Internally– The EIE Specialist will report to the Emergency Response Manager whilst working closely with the Programme Manager -Play matters, the EIE Coordinator as well as the EiE officers who will be supporting implementation at camp level and at in the host community. S/ HE will also work closely with the MEAL Specialist, finance officer, Procurement team, Communications and advocacy team and Human resources team. S/He will also work closely with the Child Protection team and ensure that protection is integrated in all Education activities. At the same time S/He will be working closely with Denmark National Office Technical and Regional Teams.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

• At least hold a Master’s degree in Education, with specialization in interdisciplinary area such as Curriculum Development, Education Management, or relevant
• At least 8 years of demonstrated experience in managing Early Childhood Development and Primary Education programs. Experience in working with education program in Emergency is an added advantage.
• Demonstratable strong background in developing contents, modules and guidelines for teachers, parents and caregivers. Experience with Learning through Play approaches will be considered a strong asset.
• Proven leadership, inter-personal and cross-cultural skills, and ability to build and motivate multi-disciplinary teams
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively managing consortium projects with skills in effective partnership management
• Strong understanding of gender responsive programming and meaningful child participation in programs
• Conversant with national education service delivery systems, structures, operations, and networks
• Knowledge of effective participatory Monitoring, Evaluation and Research systems and processes Previous experience of applying relevant interagency humanitarian frameworks and standards in education & ECCD in emergencies (for example INEE Minimum Standards).
• Previous experience in managing projects, including project design, monitoring and evaluation (i.e. preparation of documents and reports for external dissemination).
• Experience of and demonstrated ability to effectively network with a diverse range of organizations and relevant government departments at the district level.

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to work in a matrix environment
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including presentation and public speaking
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to multitask while working on projects with varying activities, objectives, and deliverables
• Good negotiation and influencing skills
• Creates a strong sense of purpose within the portfolio and with stakeholders
• Sound judgment and decision-making in complex situations
• Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating in difficult working conditions

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 job holder requires 40 % field work in 3 camps and 60 % office-based environments.

Level of contact with children

High interaction with children  

Location: Kibondo Kigoma

Reports to:  Emergency Response Manager

Grade: E

Closing Date: 31st July, 2020

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

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 his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for. Our organisation 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 will provide equality of opportunity and will not tolerate discrimination on any grounds. We foster an organisational culture that embraces and exemplifies our commitment to gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion while supporting staff to adopt good practice, positive attitudes and principles of gender equality and inclusion.