Project Coordinator

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

Vijana na Ubora, Malengo na Afya (VUMA) project is a 7-year Global Affairs Canada (GAC) funded project, aiming at increasing realisation of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for Adolescents Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in all their diversity in Katavi region. The project will increase AGYW’s individual and collective agency by building Sexual Reproductive Health Rights, Sexual Gender Based Violence, Mental Health, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Nutrition by empowering them via increased social capital; and by helping them to acquire skills, capacities and increased financial capital. The project will also strengthen the provision of gender and adolescent-responsive and inclusive (GAR&I), integrated and innovative ASRHR and protection services and support for AGYW by building community, school, health facility and governmental capacity, infrastructure, planning and management.

In addition, the project will work with local Women Rights Organizations (WROs), Youth Led Organizations (YLOs), adolescent groups and stakeholders to ensure that gender equality (GE), ASRHR and protection frameworks, policies and services are gender-responsive and evidence-based.

ROLE PURPOSE

This role will coordinate the planning and implementation of VUMA project activities in collaboration with the project Manager, technical specialists and implementing partners to deliver major project objectives efficiently. She/he will ensure that the project is embrace in the theory of change and aligns with government guidelines and work towards gender equity during the undertaking of the activities.  She/he will participate in the planning, implementation and monitoring project progress, prepare donor reports and coordinate project meetings.  This position reports to the project Manager. 

Dimensions of the Role

• Assist Project Manager in coordination and support to relevant partners staff, project team and project beneficiaries in activities implementation processes.
• Coordinate regular project progress and review meetings with community volunteers, implementing partners and other stakeholders as needed
• Ensure effective monitoring and supportive supervision of partners activities as per supportive supervision plan developed
• Ensures Gender is mainstreamed into all project related activities in the region and maintain gender sensitivity towards staff and partners’ organizations
• Collection, documentation and sharing of project   case studies, success stories best practices and learnings in collaboration with M&E specialist and implementing partners.
• Coordinate and ensure activities base reports are developed and shared from the project implementing partners, Project assist and consolidates for monthly and quarterly updates.
• Effectively Coordinate, Monitor, supervise and support all key/relevant stakeholders at regional and district level in project implementation region.
• Represent the project team in district and regional government and other stakeholders meeting or workshops.
• Under the direction of Program Manager, He or She will be responsible in coordinating the project administrative work, including preparation for the meetings, follow up on the procurements purchase requisitions and filed work plan
• Participates in the development of action plans, budget preparation, and help implement them to achieve project goals and results
• Performs any other duties to be assigned by Program Manager to support the achievement of project or organizational goals.

 Accountabilities

• Prepare and submit to Project Manager high quality activity plan, weekly updates, quarterly and annual narrative report for all activity.
• Work with the Project Manager to provide effective coordination and management of partnerships as well as with all other actors with a focus on achieving desired results in line with desired project impact.
• Support timely communications of project activity plans with project partners and all other stakeholders to ensure smooth running of the project
• Ensure monitoring of project activity implementation by different project partners and ensure they are in line with the project detailed implementation plan
• Establish good working relations with children, families, community leadership, and community-based organizations (CBOs), government extension staff and other stakeholders at district levels
• Ensures that Plan International’s 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.

Implementation, MER, REPORTING AND DOCUMENTATIONajira

• Liaises with M&E Coordinator to prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weakness, identify lessons learned and use the knowledge gained to guide and improve implementation.
• Assist Program Manager in develop monthly activity implementation plan with project partners and monitor activities implementation and provide monthly updates.
• Coordinate quality implementation on activities on livelihoods promotion, adolescent and sexual reproductive health, child protection systems strengthening, promotion of education
• Prepare project implementation reports as per requirement of donors and project on a timely manner
• Coordinate periodic review and reflection workshops/meetings to review project plan and strategies and document learning and evidences

Key relationships

Working contacts inside and outside the organization; include the purpose and level (high, medium, low) of the contact.

Internal (High)

• Project Manager - for guidance in the implementation, partners and external communication, overall supervision and project deliverables.
• Project finance officer and procurement officer; on budget and expenditure tracking and compliance including proper use of charging codes
• Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist:  for monitoring follow ups and documentation, case studies, monthly and donor reports.
• Gender Specialist: for Gender Mainstreaming in all project activities

Internal (Low)

• Other project staff - support them with understanding project goal and strategies to be used for the attainment of project Outcomes.

External (Medium)

• Project partners
• Government at Council level
• CSO and Networks that support achievement of project outcomes
• Children, Adolescents girls and young women
• Community members

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential

• Education - University degree in Project Management/ Medicine/ Health Services Management / Sociology / Community development / Social science/ development studies.
• Training – key exposure to courses on:  Adolescents Sexual Reproductive health and Rights, Project management, Child protection, Gender equality, Monitoring and evaluation, partnership management; Human Rights Conventions, Social Behaviour change communication.
• At least 5 years practical experience in implementation of development health projects and budget management in donor funded projects.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, good communication and coordination skills.
• Knowledge of Gender and Child rights issues
• Strong team-building and motivational skills
• Cultural sensitivity i.e. building and working effectively within a diverse working environment
• Analytical and innovation skills.
• Strong negotiating, facilitating and influencing skills.
• Training and facilitation skills
• Proficient in Microsoft applications and use of relevant software and other applications, e.g. word processing, spreadsheet, database, internet.

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 work environment will involve frequent field visits (70%) and office based- Katavi (25%), travel to Plan’s Country office whenever necessary for project management purposes and meetings (5%)

Level of contact with children

• High level: Frequent interaction with children: as the post holder will require working with children in the project communities.
• Plan International Tanzania strives to ensure that children are kept safe in all the areas we operate. The organization further has a Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy that every staff is required to sign. As a result, this position comes with additional responsibilities for safeguarding children and young people.