Re-Advert: Partnership and Engagement Advisor

WHO WE ARE

Plan International is a rights-based development and humanitarian organization working for better lives 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.

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. Our organization is transforming itself to meet this enormous challenge everywhere we work. We need bold, forward-thinking and innovative individuals to lead our country operations, driving change and delivering results that will allow us to reach our target of 100 million girls

Plan international has opened an office in Somalia/Somaliland and started programmes that focus on child protection, education and youth economic empowerment programming both humanitarian and development setting, working with/through partners and providing technical support to INGOs.

The position is expected to be the focal person in Plan international southern interventions to coordinate and manage ongoing interventions within Plan International and also technically support local implementing partners and hence expected to possess extensive professional knowledge and experience in project management, coordination and proven track record in closely working with different actors including the government, clusters and donor engagement.  The post holder will play a key role in establishing and maintaining sound working relationships and partnerships with local partner, donor and government counterpart and other civil society organizations.

MANAGEMENT SCOPE, REPORTING LINES, KEY RELATIONSHIPS

The Partnership and Engagement Advisor will be based in Mogadishu and S/he will uphold Plan's Core Values, promote mission and vision, programme principles (transparency, gender equality and diversity) to enhance programmes, and be committed to child protection and respect for human rights.

Reports to:  Country Director

Key relationships:

Internal: Plan International staff including; CD, BDM, PMs, TS, Finance, HR, and Regional /Global Hub staff as appropriate

External: Project partners, government line ministries, target beneficiaries and other agencies and groups.

Physical Environment

This position is based in Mogadishu with frequent travel to field sites and partners’ offices in the southern Somalia.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES

Relations with Government/Business opportunities/Donors Networking 50%

• Build and maintain strong relations with relevant Line Ministries, UN Agencies, INGOs, Somaliland NGOs and other key stakeholders.
• Support the priority areas of intervention, sectors and specific added value for Plan International in line with the current strategy.
• Coordinate with the fundraising and programme team the identification of funding opportunities
• Maintain coordination networks with delegation of donors in country, UN agencies: identification of specific areas of interested aligned with Plan’s strategy in country;
• Participation in coordination meetings and other relevant forums to raise Plan’s profile.
• Support in identification of national partners suitable for implementation and capacity building support, support to screening/assessing local partners
• Serve as focal point for cluster or sub cluster meetings and activities in the assigned area (provincial level).
• Gather relevant information from cluster or sub cluster meeting share it to management team and submit 4W/5W based on response activities to cluster or sub cluster coordinator.
• Coordinate closely with EiE specialist, CP Specialist, Program development manager, and Program Manager understand and respond to sectoral   needs and/or emerging concerns locally.
• Contribute to documentation of technical/project approaches, lessons learnt, and success stories.
•  Attend working group and task force meetings on a local level (as required).
• Ensure adequate and accurate reporting of data on Activity Info, internal databases, and Sitreps.
• Provide regular updates on the networking and engagements

Programme Development and implementation 15%

• Maintain regular communication and visits for project sites to ensure that the project achieves the goal.
• Collect, update and share information related to project’s progress with Programme Manager.
• Contributes that all Plan International and key donor compliance rules and regulations are adhered to for both Plan International and implementing partners.
• Provide coordination and administrative support in developing and carrying out partner staff trainings and development in the Somalia.
• Maintain ongoing surveillance of the developing humanitarian and security situation in target areas 
• Contribute to the development of standards and guidelines for partnership management are regulated updated, understood, adhered and reflected in practice

Safety and Security 20%

• Provide an objective overview and analysis of security trends and their implications for Plan and its partners
• Produce a monthly proactive mapping of security hot spots across the country and upcoming events to the Country Management Team
• Assess application of security policies and protocols

Admin and Logistics  10%

• Organize travel arrangements, visa, permits, security, arrangements alien registration for staff and visitors
• Ensure timely renewal certificate and tax clearance
• Organize meeting for staff and visitors to Mogadishu

Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) 5%

• Understand and put into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures;
• Ensure that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in project design, during implementation and as principles applied in day-to-day work.

• Bachelor degree in a relevant field such as project management, Social Science, Development Studies, Human Rights Law or any other relevant discipline.
• 3 to 5 years’ experience of designing, managing, monitoring and evaluating programmes specially in the humanitarian setting.
• Proven abilities in delivering results for humanitarian standards  
• Understanding and commitment to principles of child rights and child protection.
• Ability to identify the main gaps in the emergencies and development interventions in the Somali context to inform a holistic response for children.
• Excellent written and spoken English and Somali, including excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working in a multi-cultural environment and /or international.
• Experience in advocacy, lobbying and training around child rights, child protection and child participation.
• Ability to maintain consistent high standards of professional behaviour and achievement, including when working alone.
• Ability to communicate and maintain appropriate and productive relations with a range of actors, including children, parents and local authorities in political and militarily sensitive environments.
• Experience of working with partners and community using a participatory approach.
• Budget development and financial monitoring skills.

Qualifications/ experience desirable: 

• Proven truck record and understanding for the humanitarian programmes, coordination and government engagement, child protection minimum standards  
• Understanding of gender transformative programme, advocacy and policy influencing

Languages required: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Somali

Business Management Competencies

• Requires good communication skills and judgement to negotiate with project staff, and partners.
• Good communication skills with fluency in written and spoken English and Somali
• Ability to work under pressure and willingness to work flexible hours when necessary.
• Well planned and organized even within a fluid working environment and has a capacity for initiative and decision making with competent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong analytical and financial interpretation skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Committed, honest and transparent
• High degree of confidentiality and integrity

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. 

Early application is encouraged as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Female Candidates Are Strongly Encouraged to Apply