Project Coordinator- Safer Cities Plan International

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child. However, this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination, and it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners in more than 70 countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas, Plan International’s purpose is to strive for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality of girls. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. 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.

The Project Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that PIU’s Safer Cities for Adolescent Girls – Netherlands project is implemented with the highest standards and quality for impact on the lives of children as defined in the Plan International Uganda (PIU) country strategy. The incumbent will be accountable for delivery of the project on time, scope and budget as per project management standards.

ROLE DIMENSIONS:
The Project Coordinator contributes to the development of the project plans, aiming to optimise beneficial impact to the beneficiaries in the programme area. The job holder implements the assigned project portfolio within the programme area ensuring the achievement of project targets

The Project Coordinator provides effective project management for a delegated portfolio of project activities, ensuring that results are achieved, and quality interventions are delivered in line with project guidelines

The role is not responsible for managing a departmental budget; however, the job holder can influence the utilisation of the project budget

The major challenge of the role is to achieve project goals on time and to standard, adaptively managing the project to optimise PIU’s beneficial impact on vulnerable children and youth, especially girls. This requires the job holder to:
• Have an accountability for the implementation of the project
• Implement tasks on track in their activities, in a dynamic and changing environments with multiple stakeholders
• Have communication and interpersonal skills to deal with various stakeholders at local levels
Level of contact with children

This position has been classified as “high contact”: Significant interaction with children

Key result areas:
KRA 1: Project Planning & Initiation
• Participate in the design, planning, initiation and implementation of the Safer Cities for Adolescent Girls in target schools and communities within Plan Uganda’s Kampala Urban Program.
• Participate in the situational analysis, baseline studies to get a full understanding of the project scope, targets and intended impact. Collect data and document stories of change depicting the before and after project implementation impact for advocacy and donor project impact progress update and marketing.
Working closely with the Urban Program Manager, set and evaluate Project milestones to be realised during and after project implementation and ensure that the project contributes to improved safety of urban spaces for adolescents and youth, especially girls, who are vulnerable to violence in Kampala.
• Support conduct planning meetings and come up with ways of addressing any gaps that are identified including supporting district stakeholders during supervision and monitoring of Project activities.
• Monitor and ensure timely implementation of project activities as per detailed implementation schedule
• Contribute towards the implementation of the project by ensuring desired results are achieved on time and to the standard

KRA 2: Partnership Management
• Coordinate partner on-boarding for effective implementation of the project by ensuring that ongoing relationships with partners are maintained:
• Support partners to cascade project plans and milestones for clarity of linkages and contributions to the main project
Review reports on partner due diligence and capacity assessments ensuring that the project is on the right track and feedback shared with the partners for any corrective action
• Develop programme for induction, coaching and training for partners to equip them with the necessary skills, knowledge and tools to effectively implement the project
• Support organize and conduct Project reflection and review meetings at team and district levels that bring on board different stakeholders
• In collaboration with the Urban Program Manager, support with the tracking, monitoring, evaluation, documentation and reporting of project outputs, outcomes, impact or results and changes.
• Support partners to develop project proposals that contribute to the Country’s strategic plan

KRA 3: Communicating for Influence
• Support the development and implementation of an innovative influencing & communication plan for the Project.
• Actively participate in meetings within the Urban Programme that raise PIU’s profile and advocacy agenda
• Support strategic partnerships, alliances, networks, and coalitions to spearhead and promote project objectives and outcomes
• Work with other team members to implement internal PIU principles of communication
• Contribute to the development and implementation of a communication strategy
Organise regular community awareness meetings about Plan programs and approaches, in particular ensuring that urban stakeholders and target communities are updated on the overall Plan’s interventions in the City and the Safer Cities for Girls project in particular.
• Provide technical information and analysis from Project results that help in influencing and raising PIU urban program profile.

KRA 4: Ensuring Impactful Implementation
• Work collaboratively with the Urban Program team and other colleagues in the programme department to develop and implement a cost-effective and impactful project delivery strategy that will ensure that:
• There is increased awareness, knowledge and skills among adolescents and youth, especially girls, and local communities on prevention of and response to violence in urban spaces, including schools. This should be evidenced by MEAL indicator # 1 & 2 as per the proposal document.
• There is Increased advocacy and demand for accountability of duty bearers by adolescents and youth, especially girls and local communities on prevention of and response to violence in urban spaces, including schools. This should be evidenced by MEAL indicator # 1 & 2 as per the proposal document.
• There is Increased engagement and capacity of duty bearers to provide greater accountability and action towards improved safety, prevention and response of SGBV cases in urban spaces. This should be evidenced by MEAL indicator # 1 & 2 as per the proposal document.
• Work hand in hand with the Kampala Capital City Authority Education directorate, departments and other relevant stakeholders in the joint implementation and monitoring of the Project interventions. Work with the respective relevant City technical working Committees for smooth implementation and coordination of all Project activities.
• Support the execution of the project as per the project plan, with all activities carried out on time, scope and budget; carry our regularly final reviews of the project expenses, provide timely justification for any changes / modifications and variances as will be required
• Support project stakeholders conduct joint quarterly project monitoring and support supervision visits and meetings.
• Review data, analysis and reports from PD&Q and MERL teams to assess whether implementation progress is being realised as per project milestones and other parameters.
• Support the Project Manager with all the transition activities to ensure proper closure of the project (lessons learned, financial and contractual closure activities, etc.)

KRA 5: Risk, Compliance & Accountability
• Effectively identify and manage risks, in particular those associated with procurement, finances, safeguarding, and staff health, safety and security:
• Implement all relevant policies, procedures and guidelines (e.g. finance, procurement, security, IT, gender equality & inclusion, harassment, bullying & non-discrimination policy as well as Children and Young People Safeguarding policy etc.) at all levels
• In collaboration with Project Manager, comprehensively map out all the project risks and compliance requirements relevant to the project area, update the risk register and the implementation plan on a quarterly basis.
• Conduct quarterly project monitoring and support supervision visits and meetings to the partners:
• ensuring compliance to project guidelines.
• Implement the policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC) to all areas of work, and concerns promptly reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures

KRA 6: Safeguarding, Gender Equality & Inclusion
• Ensure that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion 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.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS:
Qualifications
• A Degree in Social Work and Social Administration, Social Sciences, Education, Community Phycology Development studies or others with relevant experience in community development work.
• At least 3years’ post-graduation experience, with a minimum of one years’ experience in supporting donor projects preferably with an International Non-Governmental Organization
• Desirable: Experience in networking with poor children and their families, local and international NGOs, local government partners, and local community-based organizations

Leadership Competencies
Myself as a Leader
• Behaves in line with our values, bringing energy and commitment to the task of safeguarding girls, children, young people, vulnerable adults and colleagues; constructive and optimistic in facing challenges and change.
Lasting Impact
• Focuses effort where it will make the best contribution to PIU’s purpose and strategic goals; takes the initiative to find new and better ways of doing work.
Open & Accountable
• Holds self and others to account for what we have agreed, dealing with poor performance quickly, firmly and constructively; at all times acts in the best interests of PIU and her beneficiaries.
Work Well Together
• Acts as a good team player, communicating effectively and being open and supportive towards those around them; is aware of the potential impact of their behaviour on others and makes sensitive choices.
Inclusive & Empowering
• Collaborates with team members, colleagues and partners in an active and engaged manner; shares information, experience and ideas with the aim of helping or empowering others.

Skills & Knowledge
• Takes responsibility for own performance and development: reflecting, seeking and listening to feedback, learning from mistakes, finding people or resources to help them learn, keeping knowledge and skills up to date.
Critical Business Management Competencies
• Good understanding of broad trends in Urban development and humanitarian sector and key external organisations relevant to the project.
• Experience of using project management principles and practices to lead significant projects; ensuring the achievement of results on time and to standard
• Good understanding of financial and procurement systems, with a good track record of complying with relevant procedures and controls.
• Good analytical skills as required to obtain and process information and numerical data from a range of sources and use the insights gained to inform decisions or communications.
• Good written and spoken communication skills, including in [any required language], with an ability to effectively adjust content and presentation to connect with an audience.
• Track record of leading a team to work effectively together, using negotiation and mediation techniques to manage conflict, and ensuring that diverse perspectives and viewpoints are welcomed.
Critical Technical Competencies
• Experience of the project management cycle, especially on the participatory approach, and a track record of successful delivery of impactful projects