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.

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 78 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

ROLE PURPOSE

The CPiE Specialist will be responsible for strengthening of the quality of and overseeing Plan International Uganda’s Child Protection in Emergencies programme, with a focus on case management including support to implementation of durable solutions such as repatriation and resettlement, community based protection and community and family based psychosocial support. S/he will be responsible for strengthening community groups and mechanisms that have a role in protecting children in humanitarian settings, enhancing accountability to the affected population with a strong emphasis on meaningful child participation. In addition, the specialist will ensure implementation of the child and youth safeguarding policy, PSHEA and CP mainstreaming. The Specialist will also play a lead role in external advocacy and coordination at response and district levels as necessary.

Dimensions of the Role

Programme Development and Quality Implementation: Provide technical support for PIU’s Protection in Emergencies portfolio including activities related to case management, community-based child protection, cash and voucher assistance for protection and PSS elements of the emergency response programme. This would also include but not limited to regular assessment and analysis, making strategic suggestions for programme design / modification, documentation of learnings, trainings and capacity building and resource mobilisation (concept note and proposal writing).

Representation and Advocacy: Represent Plan International in government / inter-agency coordination meetings and initiatives on child protection in emergencies at national and field level. Contribute to ongoing efforts to develop context specific guidance notes and policy-making efforts.

Child Protection, Safeguarding and Gender Equality & Inclusion

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in emergency and humanitarian programmes and projects in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines. 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.

AccountabilitieS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Programme development and quality implementation

• Contribute to child protection in emergency programme design and implementation to effectively respond to the protection and development needs of vulnerable children in the settlements and host communities.
• Provide technical guidance on development and implementation of Cash and Voucher Assistance programming for protection.
• Support effective case management activities by developing and adapting case management tools and guidance to ensure appropriate and safe alternative care arrangements with special attention to the unaccompanied and other most vulnerable children.
• Develop a strategy and mechanisms to integrate child protection into other Emergency Response Program activities with IASC guidelines and CP Minimum Standards (CPMS) in humanitarian settings.
• Ensure the access of child protection services and psychosocial support as needed to affected population (precise programming depending on identified needs, existing services and capacities and actions of other agencies)
• Support the implementation of the Best Interest Procedure (BIP) for case management in the response.
• Develop a system that tracks and helps identify Children at Risk including UASC at safe spaces and during project activities.
• Conduct monthly/Quarterly review meeting with the Protection teams to ensure delivery of quality CPiE Programs.
• Ensure participation in inter agency and Plan International initiated assessments and other relevant studies
• Work in close collaboration with the sector leads to ensure child protection mainstreaming in all Plan International’s activities (SRHR, Education, Livelihood etc) in humanitarian response programs.
• Conduct regular child protection risks assessments in the response to inform programming.

Representation and advocacy

• Respect and work according to local policies and regulations
• Work in close relationship with the government representative in the area of operation and other partners/UN agencies present in the refugee setting
• Support liaison between Plan International and any relevant stakeholders, local, national and international partners and local authorities
• Participate in protection, child protection, Case Management, CVA and SGBV working groups/bilateral meetings and represent Plan in all relevant forums
• Maintain regular interaction with other NGOs and UN bodies including Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) to effectively respond to emerging child protection and strategic issues
• Coordinate with Country Office advocacy team to develop child rights and child protection in emergency advocacy initiatives

Documentation and M&E

• Conduct regular assessments, analyses and thus advise programme design and modifications to meet the existing needs and ground realities
• Contribute in documenting Plan’s experiences, lessons learned, case studies, impact stories and advocacy documents
• Develop/review monitoring and evaluation tools together with the M&E team to ensure programme quality and accountability
• Support the establishment and strengthening of child friendly and/or centred complaints and feedback mechanisms

Capacity Building

• Conduct capacity building assessments and develop a comprehensive capacity building plan for staff teams including inter agency ones and other resource plans
• Train Plan International staffs in key aspects of CPIE programmes and relevant aspects of IASC guidelines and CPMS
• Lead the development of orientation and training materials for staff and stakeholders including children
• Conduct training for staff and partners including tailored Training of Trainers on children with special needs and gender equality
• Coach and mentor Plan International staffs to implement timely, quality and appropriate CP interventions

Key relationships

Internal

• Technical Advisors: Protection, WASH, Education, SRHR, and Youth Empowerment
• Advocacy and Gender Specialists
• Business Development Manager
• Grants Management and Compliance Team
• MER manager
• Project Managers/Coordinators
• Programme Area Managers
• CPIE leads in National Offices, Regional and Global Hubs

External:

• Implementing Partners
• CSO Partners
• Relevant UN agencies such as UNHCR/UNICEF
• Government MDAs, OPM, Local Governments
• Consultants

Leadership and BUSINESS management COMPETENCIES

Leadership COMPETENCIES

• Set and communicate ambitious but realistic work goals and priorities, explaining how these contribute to Plan International’s purpose.
• Set high standards for self and others’ behavior, inside and outside work. Championing our values and commitment to rights, gender equality and safeguarding. Supporting the health, well-being and both physical and psychological safety of our staff, including their safety to speak out.
• Hold self and others to account for what we have agreed, dealing with poor performance quickly, firmly and constructively.
• Create a positive team spirit, helping people work well together, to reflect and continuously improve the efficiency and quality of what we do.
• Collaborate with team members, colleagues and partners in finding creative solutions to problems by sharing information, experience and ideas and actively seeking their input.
• Motivate and developing others by taking an interest, giving constructive feedback and praise, ensuring they are properly trained and helping them utilize their potential.
• Accept change and support others in adjusting to it, helping them understand.

BUSINESS management COMPETENCIES

• Understand relevant sectoral context including how the sector operates in terms of funding and governance and awareness of Plan’s purpose, values, and global strategy
• Manage legal and reputational risk including risk assessment, communication, risk management and reporting in full compliance with risk-related standards, including in areas such as Child and Youth Safeguarding and Protection, Gender equality and inclusion, Counter Fraud, Safety and Security
• Manage activities and resources including skills in strategic thinking, planning and organising, financial planning and monitoring, negotiation and programme and project management
• Manage people and information including skills in assessment and coaching, evidence-based management, communication skills, both speaking and writing, and digital working, including personal digital skills.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential:

• The qualified candidate will be a child protection in emergencies professional with relevant degree in Psychology, anthropology, Social work or equivalent.
• At least 5-7 years’ experience working  in child protection in emergency programming,  particularly on Case Management, Best Interest Assessments and Child Protection Information Management System, CVA for case management and alternative care arrangements.
• Proven experience of working in refugee settings and in host communities
• Excellent project design, participatory monitoring and evaluation skills
• Experience in coordination and technical assistance provision at the level of working group/task force or equivalent
• Proven capacity to train, coach staff and provide supportive supervision
• Effective team management skills across several locations and operating in a cross cultural structure
• Strong communication and reporting skills in English
• Ability to work under high pressure with a great level of personal organization
• Good knowledge of and experience in Child Protection Minimum Standards  in Humanitarian Action, Inter-agency Guidelines on Separated and Unaccompanied Children, case management, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
• Experience leading child and youth safeguarding implementation as well as Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Abuse

Desirable:

• Experience in leading/co-leading a child protection coordination mechanism
• Experience leading/being part of an inter-agency transition to CPMiS Primero
• Experience of managing grants and donor reporting requirements
• Experience supporting implementation of durable solutions such as repatriation and resettlement
• Experience leading and providing oversight regarding child and youth safeguarding
• Knowledge of CPMIS systems such as Progress V 4

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.