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 PROFILE

Title: Education in Emergency Officer

Functional Area : Program

Reports to  Project Coordinator

Location: Mora

Grade: B

ROLE PURPOSE

Working in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas, Plan aims to reach as many children as possible, particularly those who are excluded or marginalized with high quality programs that deliver long lasting benefits by increasing its income, working in partnership with others and operating effectively. Plan is committed to responding to children affected by emergencies in the countries of our operation.

Given the current humanitarian crisis in the Far-North Region of Cameroon Plan is engaged in providing life-saving humanitarian assistance, protection, education and psychosocial support. Its operations are implemented in key sectors of Child Protection, Education, WASH, NFIs, Livelihood and Food Assistance and in coordination with all other humanitarian institutions.

With funding from BMZ, Plan International is implementing the project to restore the peaceful coexistence and social cohesion of the population affected by the conflict in the Lake Chad Basin in the Logone and Chari and Mayo Sava divisions since October 2019. This project that will ending on February 2022 aims to promote social cohesion through the rehabilitation of social infrastructure and the integration of displaced persons and refugees. It has an education component and a peaceful coexistence component and will be implemented in the Far North region, specifically in the Logone and Chari and Mayo Sava divisions.

This project has two components namely education and social cohesion. It takes place in a context of continuous resource reduction, which requires the development of alternative solutions to meet the ever-increasing needs in a sustainable way. In this perspective, the incumbent will be responsible for organizing the planning, monitoring and evaluation of field activities and advocating for greater State and municipal commitment to the promotion of education in 04 communities of the Mayo Sava division namely Amchide and Kerawa (Kolofata sub-division) and Bounderi and Tayer (Mora sub-division). 

Dimensions of the Role

This position is responsible for planning, monitoring and evaluation, advocacy and partnership development in the conduct of maternal and primary education activities in Mayo Sava division. The incumbent will be responsible for effective interventions, strategic and operational guidance and technical advice. He/she will work directly with the Project Coordinator and all the staff involved in the education component of the project. He/she will participate in technical coordination meetings related to the education sector.

The emergency education officer will be based in the Mora office.

Accountabilities

Key End Results and Typical Responsibilities:

• Develop a database on gaps in relation to kindergarten and primary schools in the four targeted communities with regard to sector standards
• Elaborate the file of needs of staff, teachers and facilitators in terms of capacity building  
• Propose strategic orientations to be considered to strengthen the effectiveness of the education component of the project in the context of resource reduction
• Propose an advocacy plan with results and indicators.
• Develop inclusive planning tools for the maternal and primary education sectors
• Develop monitoring and evaluation tools for academic activities, staff, teachers and preschool animators
• Elaborate the specifications and a reporting framework for the pedagogical supervision missions led by MINEDUB
• Develop operational and strategic partnerships with organizations relevant to the education component of the project
• Carry out advocacy activities with state and local authorities in order to find sustainable solutions to the problems encountered in connection with the functioning of nursery and primary schools in four targeted communities
• Organize the process of continuous evaluation of academic activities, staff, teachers and preschool animators
• Ensure capacity building for staff, teachers and preschool leaders
• Produce and regularly update data on the performance of students, teachers and preschool leaders
• Participate in sectoral and multisectoral meetings related to project implementation  
• Produce weekly, monthly and quarterly reports according to the guidelines defined by the supervisor
• Ensure the completion of any other relevant tasks defined by the supervisor
   

Dealing with Problems:

• Complexity of problems handled & the degree of investigation, analysis, & creative thinking required to solve them.
• The job requires intense interventions on the field, in areas often at risk. This requires prudence, vigilance and respect for compliance with security instructions on the part of the staff.
• Decisions may affect the lives of thousands of disaster affected children, millions of dollars, security of staff, and the profile of Plan across the humanitarian sector and across media.
• Excellent and creative leadership skills will be utilized to correct implementation of education activities, in accordance with the standards and with possible resistance from colleagues as is often the case in emergency response work 
• He/she should work under pressure and accept travels and stays in areas often austere.

Communications and Working Relationships:

Key Internal Contacts

Project Coordinator, other members of the Emergency Response team, Plan staff.  

Key External Contacts

Other agencies and groups responding to the emergency, in particular those working in the emergency Education sector.

Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:

Knowledge

• Be a holder of a degree in Education, social sciences or related field with good knowledge of Education Principles and INEE standards;
• Good knowledge of the functioning of public services in charge of education issues and municipalities
• At least 05 years' professional experience in the education sector, including 02 years at strategic levels
• Minimum of one successful assignment in an emergency situation/context;
• Good knowledge and understanding of humanitarian principles and established international child protection standards is an asset;
• Proven professional experience in education, child protection, humanitarian affairs, human rights, and related fields;
• Practical and relevant experience of operating in emergency;
• Ability to speak one of the local languages (Haoussa, Kanouri) is an added advantage;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Experience in the Far North of Cameroon is an asset.

Skills

Team player
Demonstrable experiences in carrying out advocacy activities
Good skills in planning, monitoring and evaluation and documentation of educational activities
Background in complex emergencies situation analysis, needs assessments and response planning and management;
Knowledge of international humanitarian standards (SPHERE, INEE,) and Red Cross Codes of Conduct;
Timely and effective delivery of project activities and other outputs (reports, etc.);
Proven capacity to facilitate trainings, coach staff and provide supportive supervision;
Commitment to child protection, gender equality and participation;
Demonstrate ability to assess best practice, document and disseminate lessons learned;
Excellent computer skills (Microsoft office including words, excel, power point, internet etc…);
Ability to network with grassroots structures;
Willingness to travel at short notice and be flexible to changing circumstances
Communication Skills: Well developed written and oral communication skills. Able to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders as a representative of PLAN.
 

Behaviours: 

Commitment and adherence to humanitarian values and standards,
Aware of own strengths, weaknesses and pro-active in using feedback and self-development
Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to PLAN's core values and humanitarian principles
Resilience/Adaptability and flexibility: Ability to operate effectively under extreme circumstances including stress, high security risks and harsh living conditions. Works and lives with a flexible, adaptable and resilient manner.
Awareness and sensitivity of self and others: Demonstrates awareness and sensitivity to gender and diversity. Have experience and the ability to live and work in diverse cultural contexts in a culturally appropriate manner. Has a capacity to make accurate self-assessment particularly in high stress and high security contexts.
Patient, adaptable, flexible, able to improvise and remain responsive under pressure.
Preparedness to live and work in uncertain security environments.
 

Physical Environment and Demands:

Work intensively in the field: The EiE officer will spend at least 80% of his time on the field in the context of the implementation and monitoring of activities.
Periods of intense work at all times of day.
Working in multiple locations and on the move.

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) 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.

Key relationships

Contact with children, their families and communities.
Contact with service providers and suppliers for the collection of quotations, receiving and dispatch of goods, material, equipment, mails, deposits etc.
Contact with all country office and program unit staff to facilitate prompt movement of staff towards the implementation of Plan’s programs and activities.
Collaborate and consult with colleagues at CO and PIIA –

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential

Communication Skills: Well developed written and oral communication skills. Able to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders as a representative of Plan International. This includes effective negotiation and representation skills.

Integrity: Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to Plan International’s values and humanitarian principles.

Resilience/Adaptability and flexibility: Ability to operate effectively under extreme circumstances including stress, high security risks and harsh living conditions. Works and lives in a flexible, adaptable and resilient manner.
.

Awareness and sensitivity of self and others: Demonstrates awareness and sensitivity to gender and diversity. Have experience and the ability to live and work in diverse cultural contexts in a culturally appropriate manner.

Work style: Is 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.

Knowledge and skills: knowledge of Plan International’s policies and procedures, Code of Conduct, etc. Requires general finance, administration, information management and telecommunication skills and proficiency in information technology/ computer skills.

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.

Location: Mora

Closing Date: 12th August 2021

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

All applications must be submitted ONLINE at : https://jobs.plan-international.org/search/?createNewAlert=false&q=cameroon