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. 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.

Job Description                                                                                                                  

Position Project Coordinator 

(Project in the area of ​​peace, security and engagement of young people) 

Grade C

Service and site Disaster Risk Management / PU Maroua Date February 2020

Duration: 12 months renewable

Supervisor: Emergency Response Manager

Goal :           

Operating in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas, Plan International aims to reach as many children and adolescents as possible, especially those who are victims of exclusion and / or marginalized. To this end, the organization is developing high-quality programs capable of producing lasting effects by increasing the incomes of beneficiaries, developing partnerships with other key stakeholders. Plan International is committed to providing a response to the problems of children and adolescents in emergency situations in its various countries of intervention.

Given the current humanitarian crisis in the Far North region of Cameroon, Plan International is committed to providing vital humanitarian assistance, protection, education and psychosocial support. Its operations are implemented in the key sectors of protection (child protection and Gender-Based Violence), education, health, food aid and nutrition, livelihoods , potable water, sanitation and hygiene and non-food items, in coordination with all other humanitarian organizations.

Thanks to new funding from various donors, Plan International will continue in 2020-2021 its response in the affected region, through the implementation of projects in the sectors mentioned above. Mainly in the areas of social cohesion and youth engagement and under the supervision of the Director of Humanitarian Response at the Office of Maroua / Plan International Cameroon, the Project Coordinator in the area of ​​peace and security is responsible for planning , coordination, implementation and overall monitoring and evaluation of the activities of the Project "Youth leads stabilization efforts in the Lake Chad Basin", in accordance with the strategic guidelines and the programmatic and administrative standards of the donor and from Plan International. The incumbent is also responsible for supervising the personnel under his authority, managing the project budget and ensuring the quality of the intervention, both at the level of the beneficiaries and of the partners. It will also contribute to the management of the partnership with the actors involved in the implementation of the project. 

The Project Coordinator will be based in the Maroua Program Unit area, particularly in the city of Maroua and with frequent trips to the various project intervention areas.

Job dimensions and associated responsibilities:

The Security and Peace Project Coordinator  will be responsible for the implementation of all project activities. The position holder, with the support of the Monitoring & Evaluation Officer, will ensure the implementation / operation of the project monitoring and evaluation system and the management of data from the activities of the various project components. While ensuring the coordination and implementation of the project, he will ensure that this implementation is done in accordance with the schedule and budget. The incumbent will also provide the interface and support to members of the project team.

project management

• Provide technical advice and capacity for project management, including implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities;
• Carry out with quality and on time project activities which are provided directly by Plan International, in accordance with the standards and requirements of Plan International and the funder;
• Ensure the quality and timely implementation of project activities which are the responsibility of the implementing partner;
• Design, development and implementation of any strategy, mechanism, tool and guidance material to ensure proper implementation of project activities;
• Ensure the preparation of financial documents for approval by the supervisor;
• Leadership / organization of regular follow-up visits and, if necessary, revise and modify the project action plans;
• Responsible for the preparation of all narrative and financial reports (with the support of the Finance and Grants / Grants departments, as well as the technical review in accordance with the requirements of donors and Plan International;
• Ensure compliance with donor requirements (rules, procedures):

• Monitoring and management of the project budget, including for the purchasing and distribution of resources, time management, work plans and files;

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning

• Management of project monitoring and evaluation operations, in accordance with the principles and procedures of Plan International and the funder;
• Establishment of the project memory by organizing the collection, consolidation, archiving of data related to the project, as well as the establishment and operationalization of the databases necessary for the capitalization of the project, in collaboration with the Data Management Officer and the MEAL Coordinator of the Maroua Program Unit;
• Establishment of the appropriate device for monitoring the achievements and performances of the implementing partner of certain project activities;
• Identification and sharing with the Emergency Response Manager of any opportunities, constraints or readjustment needs related to the project;
• Management of project reporting by the development and timely submission to the Emergency Response Manager of the various reports required, namely the weekly, monthly and quarterly program reports, as well as any useful report requested by the supervisor and the lessor.

Information and Coordination

• Management of partnership relations with the various stakeholders in the implementation of the project, including the Partner Association, state structures, the municipalities concerned;
• Organization of monthly and quarterly meetings of the project team, validation of reports and action plans of the components and action plans of the implementing partner;
• Representation of Plan International Cameroon in the coordination mechanisms related to the areas of intervention of the Project and in particular in the meetings of the sectoral peace and social cohesion group and technical groups related to peace, security, social cohesion, recovery early, youth engagement.

Human Resource Development

• Animation, management, supervision and capacity building of the Project team, the team of the partner Association, other partners and communities in strategies, approaches and child protection, peace and security, social cohesion.
• Mentoring and supervising the project team, including reviewing the performance of all project staff;
• Coaching of the team of the Partner Association.

Resource Mobilization

• In collaboration with the DM & M & E Officer, and / or the YEC Officer develop project summaries, lessons learned and documents on best practices which could feed into new project ideas;   
• With the technical support of the YEC advisor and / or the YEC Officer, develop Concept Notes and new funding proposals, particularly in the area of ​​peace, security and youth engagement;
• Execution of any other task entrusted by the supervisor.

Communication and working relationships:

Internal

• High level of communication with the Emergency Response Manager, project staffs, the YEC Officer, as well as the YEC advisor .
• Moderate level of communication with other Specialists (Protection, GBV, Livelihood, Education…).

External

• High level of communication with the youth association of Mendeze, the young people of the intervention area, the traditional chiefs, the communes, the administrative authorities, the technical authorities in charge of youth.

Knowledge, skills and behaviors required to achieve the objectives of the position:

Knowledge

• Hold a university degree Bac + 4/3 in project / program management or equivalent, in social science;
• Long experience and perfect knowledge of Planning, Programming and Monitoring / Evaluation of Projects procedures;
• Have knowledge and practice in the use of IT tools
• Knowledge of digital methods for collecting POiMapper data, Kobocollect… ..) would be an asset;
• Have skills in analyzing statistical data;
• Have at least 03 years of continuous experience in the management of humanitarian projects having much more to do with promoting peace, security and the engagement of young people;
• Practical and relevant experience in emergency response, in particular with regard to peaceful coexistence;
• Significant experience in youth participation and engagement as well as participatory approaches;
• Experience in the area of ​​children's and girls' rights;
• Experience in community development projects, participatory development, social / community mobilization (young people, etc.); 
• Be bilingual (English and French);
• Have good reporting skills;
• Good knowledge and understanding of established humanitarian principles and international standards on peace, security and social cohesion;
• Strong experience in project and budget management.

skills

• Ease of Communication;
• Great planning and organizational skills;
• Influence and persuasion;
• Strong capacity for discernment, analysis and problem solving;
• Excellent writing skills (English and French); 
• Have a great capacity for synthesis;
• Have a great ability to work in a team;
• Have the ability to work independently and under pressure;
• Respect of deadlines;
• Ability to work under pressure;
• Team spirit.

Behaviours

• Promote the spirit of high performance;
• Be open to criticism;
• Lead by example and respect partners;
• Be focused on achieving the program objectives;
• Have a good time and priority management approach;
• Communicate in a style that inspires confidence and professionalism and builds the credibility of current and future employees;
• Be discreet and keep professional secrecy;
• Be flexible and dedicated;
• Great listening skills;
• Proactivity.

Environment and physical requirements:

• Be mature and have a personal balance to face situations of distress, be patient and optimistic;
• Being able to manage reactions of dissatisfaction;
• Be available and physically able to fully exercise their function;
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to work under pressure;
• Work both in the office and in the field through frequent visits: the Project Coordinator will spend at least 60% of his time in the field as part of the coordination and periodic monitoring of activities.
• Ability to work in a context where security issues are topical.