Project Specialist

Project Specialist

Number of Vacant Position: 1
Functional Area: Inclusive, Quality Education (IQE) and Early Child Development (ECD)
Reports to: Program Specialist – West Regional Office, Surkhet
Location: Dhanusha
Travel required: Yes (up to 50%
Grade: D1

Type: Fixed-term until February 2026 based in Dhanusha; Open for all applicants

ABOUT PLAN INTERNATIONAL

Plan International is a development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We strive for a just world, working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners in over 75 countries. Our programs are underpinned by

a core of defined values, including transparency and accountability, team collaboration, inclusion and integration, as well as the overall ambition to empower girls and young women as legacy.

Plan International has been working in Nepal since 1978 and developed a strong reputation as a respected development and humanitarian actor helping marginalized children, their families and communities to access their rights to health, education, economic security and protection. Through the support of local partners, Plan International has worked in 42 districts in Nepal since 1978.

Plan International strives for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for g Our ambition from now to 2027 is to see All Girls Standing Strong Creating Global Change.
Plan international Nepal seeks candidates who practice feminist leadership, promote diversity, actively seek innovative solutions for problems, courageously and respectfully share their opinions and ideas, break down barriers and engender cross-department collaboration, practice active listening, maintain confidentiality, build trust and are passionate about children’s rights and equality for girls.

ROLE PURPOSE

[A concise statement, capturing the primary reasons that this role exists and a clear articulation of the context of the role. How will this role contribute to creating lasting change for children?]

With direct supervision of regional Manager-East RO, this position is responsible to oversee and ensure a high-quality project delivery/ implementation of Promoting gender equality through education (Shikshya) project in Dhanusha and achieve the project targets set. Though S/he has to manage overall project cycle management, s/he has to support Project Manager of this project from Plan International Japan National Office, based in Nepal. The key role of this position is planning, budgeting, capacity building, documentation, reporting, quality assurance and partnership management. Engaging with Business Development (BD) team, s/he will ensure the Plan and/or donor compliance; and timely and high-quality reporting. Furthermore, she/he will be responsible to manage overall performance of partner under Learn program at district level. The position will represent Plan in various forums in the respective sector/s; including government at municipal and district level, other stakeholders and likeminded organization. This position holder requires to ensure compliances of organization and donor including improve school facilities, build the capacities of teachers, to prepare/update comprehensive school safety Action Plan along with integrating it in school improvement plan (SIP), promote community-led initiatives for education, and influence education policy to consider gender-responsive and inclusive education in school. S/he shall also be mobilized for emergency response, as per the organizational need. The position will also work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Manager, and MERL Specialist to enhance the capacity and skill of partner NGO on the sector of data management, capture the evidences and reporting.

Description

DIMENSIONS OF ROLE

[This section provides a summary of the size and authority of the post. It covers the size of the budget held, the numbers of direct reports, other key stakeholders who may depend on it, the type of communication required, the external representation involved and the reach of the role.]

Reports to: Regional Manager, East RO

Budget Accountability: Yes (as per Plan Nepal’s LoA)

Number of direct reports: None

Number of Indirect reports: None

External relationships and representation: Frequently represent Plan International Nepal to external stakeholders, both at district and municipality level

ACCOUNTABILITIES

[This section is critical for clarifying expectations of the role, providing the framework for its relationship with colleagues and providing areas of accountability against which performance can be managed.
This should include a series of brief statements that define the end results required. E.g. drive, contribute identify, manage, responsible for, advise/coach, build, develop, provide, conduct, oversee, establish, participate etc.
Statements should ideally be worded so that they will lead to thoughts of measurement. For example, it is better to state something like “achieve maintenance standards” than “undertake maintenance”. The former leads to a measure against the maintenance standards.]

Project Management

• Lead the project entitled – ‘Promoting gender equality through education (Shikshya) project in Dhanusha’; and ensure partners have annual detailed implementation plan including realistic phased budget, outlining project activities and timeline for the funds allocated in required planning templates provided by the Organization/NO/Donor.
•  Ensure appropriate fund allocation and expenditure on a monthly basis and take corrective measures by revisiting plans and communicating proactively with Line Manager and Partners.
•  Undertake close monitoring of the project on triple project dimensions – scope/quality, budget/resource and time.
•  Review the project’s Budget vs Actual (BvA) and transaction reports and report on any glitches identified.
• Execute budget revision of the project during budget forecast or when changes are required; and on exchange rate fluctuations as per organizational procedures.
•  Ensure a detailed implementation plan is in place and implementing partners complete the project according to schedule, within budget and following all mandatory compliances.
•  Lead administrative and supportive activities to ensure the contracted services and expectations are carried out by the project team within Implementation Partner organisation/s in accordance with executed contracts and the donors’ expectations.
•  Ensure quality, timely and accurate reporting capturing disaggregated data, outputs, outcomes and impact of the project/program.
• Monitor project implementation to track progress against plan and as per technical benchmarks and recommend corrective measures.
•  Identify risks and challenges in project implementation and partnership and develop and put the mitigation measures in place proactively.
• Manage the project through SAP and PMERL system including PO creation and modification; undertake PCR and project closure.
• Support Regional Manager – ERO in the implementation and partnership management of education projects as required.
• Act as liaison between partner organization and Plan International Nepal to ensure smooth delivery of project/program in the District.

Programme Quality

• Develop project implementation guideline with quality benchmarks at the support of Technical Adviser – Education, STA-Learn, Construction Coordinator, Construction Specialist and MERL Coordinator/Specialist; and orient partners bringing common understanding on project scope, budget and time among project team.
• Ensure/follow up if defined project implementation guidelines/benchmarks are duly met on the ground while at implementation.
• Develop additional resource materials required for project implementation
• Support to project lead at partner’s in planning, implementation and monitoring of project plan as per the agreed guidelines.
• Coordinate with STA-Learn, Regional Manager – ERO and Construction Specialist at CO to ensure technical quality of the project.
• Ensure that all action plans developed after project reviews, evaluations and assessments are followed up and completed by partners on time.
•  Identify strength and area of improvement of partners for quality delivery of the projects and come up with plans to improve such gaps
•  Ensure that data is well optimized for the project at all levels by partners, and regular update is done.
• Ensure incorporation of feminism and gender transformative approach in project’s interventions. Effective Partnership Management
•  Lead project partnership both at project implementation and influencing as per Plan’s partnership principles. Manage implementing partners to ensure project deliverables are met as per the project design.
• Adequate training and support to deliver projects, including but not limited to, PMD/D Pro tools and guidance on Plan’s project cycle procedures.
•  Implement and monitor audit actions and recommendations of the assigned partners and seek necessary support from Partner Support Specialist and Finance Specialist as required.
•  Support Regional Manager-ERO to identify gaps in partner’s governance and staff capacity and develop areas of improvement and its monitoring mechanism
• Execute annual partnership reviews, make recommendations on performance status of partners against partnership dimensions and indicators.
• Ensure mutual oversight and regular two-way feedback with partners.

Staff Management:

• Ensure and support the project staffs in project set objective and goals
•  Coordinate and hold regular review meetings across sectors to avoid duplication of effort and to keep all key staff up to date.
• Ensure staffing is appropriate to reach project goals and their Level of Effort (LOE) is coded appropriately per the budget.

Influencing, Campaigns and Communications

• Develop priorities for district/local level campaigns ensuring harmonisation with global/national priority campaigns at the support and consultation with regional Manager- ERO and STA- Learn program.
• Working together with local authorities to identify key area to strengthen stronger inclusive and gender-sensitive programmes at municipal level.
•  Ensure operationalization of Global Policy on Safeguarding Children and Young People in the project.
• Lead evidence-based lobby and advocacy within the project scope in planning and delivering campaigning and advocacy work and ensure that Project plan include influencing objectives.
• Represent Plan in relevant committees, professional networks and mechanism to maintain organization’s professional image.
•  Be innovative to conduct campaigns at district and local level to promote quality education for girls, children with disabilities and children from most marginalized communities.
• Be innovative to influence local government to initiatives for inclusion in education from very initial stage of planning process.
• Contribute to communications and media work as required.

Review, Document and Learn

• Ensure sponsored children/families are reached through the project interventions; and ensure the documentation of disintegrated data of sponsored children/families reached through the project.
• Document field lessons acquired through monitoring visits and interaction with targeted communities, especially girls and young women.
• Identify best practices, problems and issues around project implementation and works toward finding solutions for improvements, documenting, disseminating them.

Mainstreaming Plan’s corporate policies in Implementation

•  Ensure risks associated with Safeguarding Children and Young People are identified and mitigation measures placed during implementation of the project activities.
•  Ensure partner/s and their relevant staff understand and abide by Plan’s mandatory corporate policies during implementation of projects/programmes.
•  Ensure Anti-fraud, Anti-bribery and Corruption policy is clearly articulated to partners and necessary checkpoints are in place to prevent breach.
•  Ensure value-based leadership is practiced by partner/s’ staff.

Monitoring and supervision

•  Work closely with MEARL Team, Regional Manager, Project Manager and S/TAs to carry out surveys required by the project.
•  Ensure effective project monitoring by taking necessary corrective actions that are being followed up and reviewed periodically
•  Undertake frequent field monitoring visits and report performance against established schedules and targets with regular update in SAP as per the milestones set in Project Outline (PO) and PMERL System.
• With support of MERL Officer and project manager develop and roll out of indicator track table (ITT) and ensure outcome level data is tracked including in PMERL system and available to inform future program and influencing.
• Work closely with MERL Manager, MERL Officer for Shikshya Project and MERL Coordinator/Specialist based in Regional Office and also with Regional Manager-ERO to ensure that implementation of activities is done in line with M & E requirements. This include ensuring that links exist with reporting requirements, data management, documentation of best practices, case studies and learning
•  Provide technical support to Partner NGOs to make best use of data in their project planning process/adaptation the project implementation modality through input, analysis and utilization of data.
•  Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People (SCYP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) 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 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.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

[This section details the skills, knowledge and expertise the post holder will be required to demonstrate in doing the job well.
This should include clear levels of technical expertise and skills that support our work at national, international, and global level.]

Essential

•  Master’s Degree in Education or Social Sciences or relevant sector with 4-5 years of experience in education project/grant management having construction-based project management experience.
• Preference will be given for candidate having relevant experience in Madesh province.
• Advanced knowledge and experience of International and National Education program, projects and policies
• Experience in project implementation, partnership management, government engagement, designing / managing of integrated Projects.
• Proven experience of managing team, budgets and other management domains
•  Work experience on local level partnership/coordination
•  Experience of development and humanitarian issues affecting children, women and families
• Up to date on various project design and evaluation models and government program and policies.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with colleagues, a variety of team members and external contacts through good written and spoken communication skills.
• Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation of integrated Project.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in successfully using key influencing strategies such as advocacy, lobbying, movement building, or policy development
• Strong knowledge of child and women’s rights and gender justice
• Good understanding of the development and NGO sector.

Desirable

• Understanding of the structures, processes and trends in the Nepal political system and their impact in education sector.
• Good understanding of the processes by which you achieve policy change and of how to conduct power and political analysis.
• Ability to plan work and meet deadlines when working under pressure on a number of projects.
•  Commitment to Plan’s values including the rights and needs of children.
•  Experience of working for an international organisation.

Skills

• Analytical, strategic thinking and negotiating skills.
• Ability to build effective relations for influencing and team work.
• Excellent organisation and prioritizing skills and Ability to write clearly and concisely in English and Nepali
• Innovative and creative thinking with problem solving
• Managing work relationships (internal/external), coordination and networking.
•  Proven IT skills: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint etc.
• Report writing and documentation.
• Ability to prioritise and multitask work when dealing with competing deadlines, sometimes with limited resources.

Attitude and Behaviours

• Respect and promote marginalized people; men/women, boy /girls, youth and young women and recognize their capabilities and ideas.
•  Takes responsibility for social change, gender sensitive and transparent. o Taking initiative to be innovative and creative to achieve results.
• Strives for quality in all they do, respecting deadlines, working continuously to improve performance.
• Takes responsibility for their actions, and learn from behaviour, successes and failures.
• Supports gender equality, diversity and multi-sociocultural and challenges forms of inequality or harassment.
• Encourages children young people, partners and colleagues to be meaningfully involved in decisions that affect them.
• Listens to and understand views of colleagues and partners. Draws on their experience and learning to ensure high quality and result oriented work.
• Ability to build, nurture and manage team.
•  Ability to work comfortably and sensitively across cultures.
•  Uses evidence-based results to make choices and drive change.

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

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

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

• The position is based in Dhanusha, Madesh Province with frequent travel to project areas including provincial capital, Janakpur itself as required.

LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN

High level: Frequent interaction with children

“Say Yes ! To Keeping Children and Young people safe and Protected”

Application Deadline: Friday, 5th May 2023

Source: Kantipur Dainik, 22 April, 2023

Tagged as: Dhanusha, NGO INGO, Plan International Nepal, Project Specialist