Plan International Nepal Vacancy for Project Coordinator- USAID Equity and Inclusion in Education

Functional Area: Program

Reports to: Technical Advisor

Location: East Regional Office- Dhanusha and West Regional Office- Surkhet

Travel required: Yes

Grade: C2

Type: Open to all applicants, Fixed term employment until Dec 2025; based in East Regional Office- Dhanusha and West Regional Office- Surkhet.

ABOUT PLAN INTERNATIONAL

Plan International is a development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We strive for a just world, working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners in over 75 countries. Our programs are underpinned by a core of defined values, including transparency and accountability, team collaboration, inclusion and integration, as well as the overall ambition to empower girls and young women as legacy.

Plan International has been working in Nepal since 1978 and developed a strong reputation as a respected development and humanitarian actor helping marginalized children, their families and communities to access their rights to health, education, economic security and protection. Through the support of local partners, Plan International has worked in 42 districts in Nepal since 1978. 

Plan International strives for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Our ambition from now to 2027 is to see All Girls Standing Strong Creating Global Change.

USAID Equity and Inclusion in Education is a five-year project set to implement in Karnali and Madhesh Province with the objective of contributing to reduce barriers to access and retention in grade 6-10; improve quality education for marginalized children; and ensure quality implementation of disbursement linked indicators related to equity and inclusion activities under School Education Sector Plan (SESP). The project will be implemented in approximately 1900 schools spanning 215 LGs across 18 districts of Karnali and Madhesh Province.

Plan international Nepal seeks candidates who practice feminist leadership, promote diversity, actively seek innovative solutions for problems, courageously and respectfully share their opinions and ideas, break down barriers and engender cross-department collaboration, practice active listening, maintain confidentiality, build trust and are passionate about children’s rights and equality for girls.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Project Coordinator- E&I (the Coordinator) of the USAID Equity and Inclusion in Education project will work under the direct supervision of Technical Advisor (TA) of the project. The Coordinator will provide technical support to the Implementing Partners (IPs) in their respective province. Through frequent field visits, s/he will support project manager, cluster coordinators, Education Officers (EO) and Local Government Equity and Inclusion (LGEI) coordinators and Community Mobilization Supervisors (CMS) in implementing USAID Equity and Inclusion in Education interventions at the provincial and local levels. S/he will support enhance capacity of partners and government stakeholders on education planning (including local education plan), local curriculum development, data collection, analysis and reporting on education equity and inclusion related interventions along with reporting requirements of the Disbursement Linked Indicators under SESP. The Coordinator will also coordinate with government entities at provincial and local level to ensure quality implementation of Equity and Inclusion related activities under the School Sector Education Plan (SESP). S/he coordinate and support to strengthen GON official’s capacity to develop, implement and assess education and equity related activities.  

Coordinate and lead provincial level meetings, workshops and review meetings with the government counterpart to review the progress and sets the targets on equity and inclusion related interventions. 

S/he will be responsible to provide technical support to roll out the Equity Strategy Implementation Plan (ESIP) in the project targeted schools. S/he provide on-the-job training, mentoring, collaboration, and applied, real-time troubleshooting to implement the USAID Equity and Inclusion in Education project. 

Description

DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE

Direct Line Manager:  Technical Advisor

Dotted Line Manager: Regional Manager 

Budget Accountability:  None 

Number of direct reports: None

External relationships and representation: Implementing Partners, Government Agencies at Provincial and Local Level, other Development Partners.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

The Project Coordinator performs her/his roles under the guidance of CoP/DCoP. However, S/he has to have a regular communication and collaboration with various units and positions inside the organization and outside of the organization so as to charge her/his responsibilities. The table below states the relationship that the incumbent has to establish with.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Ensure implementation of USAID Equity and Inclusion in Education Activities in coordination with respective government bodies

• Disseminate USAID Equity and Inclusion in Education related policies, programs, strategies and interventions to the concerned stakeholders at province and local levels.

• Support implementing partners to develop annual work plan and implementation guidelines.

• Support to disseminate the SESP and associated DLI reporting requirements to the provincial and local level officials and implementing partners.

• Provide technical support to the LG officials to develop local education plans, local curriculum for basic education level.

• Support and ensure rapid review of the systems and procedures at provincial and local levels for implementing, measuring and reporting on the program interventions.

• Ensure that the necessary tools, checklists and approaches for reporting progress on equity and inclusion related activities are disseminated with various stakeholders.

• Hold a technical review meeting including pause and reflect events at provincial and local levels.

• Support Implementing Partners (IPs) to prepare quarterly reporting.

Enhance capacity of provincial and local level government stakeholders to strengthen data collection, monitoring and analysis of the Equity and Inclusion interventions 

• Coordinate and support to strengthen the capacity of government officials and the implementing partners for the smooth implementation of education and equity related activities.

• Identify training need of local government officials, USAID Equity and Inclusion in Education staff on data collection, analysis and reporting on equity and inclusion in education activities.

• Coordinate and support to organize capacity building training to the government officials Plan and partners staff to bridge the capacity gap on planning, programming, budgeting, data collection, analysis and reporting on education equity and inclusion related indicators.

Monitoring and Reporting 

• Frequent field visit and support to cluster coordinators, education officers, LGEI coordinators and CMS on smooth program implementation, coordination and collaboration, data collection, analysis and reporting. 

• Provide on-the-job training, mentoring, collaboration, and applied, real-time troubleshooting through Cluster Coordinators.

• Provide technical support implement Equity Strategy Implementation Plan (ESIP) and roll out the ESIP in the project targeted schools.

• Coordinate and support to improve continuous monitoring and reporting of equity and inclusion-related data.

• Conduct joint monitoring visit comprised of provincial ministry officials, local officials, subject area experts and key stakeholders.

Coordination with other actors/development partners working for equity and inclusion in education

• Liaison and work/support to Provincial Government counterparts to map out the involvement of other actors active in equity and inclusion in education.

• Work with youth-led organizations in order to make sure the meaningful engagement of the youth in equity and inclusion related interventions.

• Support to strengthen coordination mechanisms at provincial and local levels.

• Ensure the availability of E&I related data for strategic decision making and further improvement.

Leadership and Management

• Lead smooth implementation of equity and inclusion related program activities at provincial and local level.

• Identify areas of collaboration with government entities, key stakeholders, partner NGOs and school management committees on equity and inclusion in education related activities.

• Provide feedback to the Plan International Nepal/USAID Equity and Inclusion in Education CO team to ensure equity and inclusion related interventions continue to demonstrate positive results even during emergencies.

• Participate in province level meetings on behalf of USAID Equity and Inclusion in Education, including USAID partners' meeting.

SAFEGUARDING

Ensure that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Program Participants and Gender Equality and Inclusion (DEI) 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. 

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Education qualification and experience

• Master’s Degree in Education (preferable), Social Sciences, Development Studies, Gender & Development Education or in relevant field.

• Minimum 3 years of experience in monitoring, evaluation, learning and research preferably with USAID programs in Nepal.

• Significant experience in liaising with respective government in education sector.

• Expertise in applying data-driven decision making, with a firm understanding IEMIS system and education indicators. 

Knowledge

• Advanced knowledge and experience of international and national education program, guideline and policies.

• In depth understanding about the Nepal government priority program in education and related policies and plans.

• In depth knowledge about School Education Sector Plan (SESP) and the role of development partners in its implementation.

• In depth understanding about the issues of equity and inclusion (E&I) in education.

• Firm understanding of USAID’s Collaborative, Learning and Adaptive (CLA) mechanisms and approaches.

Skills 

• Education planning, programming, and budgeting.

• Strong communication, and coordination skills.

• Participatory data collection and analysis including usage of statistical tools.

• Strong problem solving and relationship building skills.

• Demonstrated ability to build positive and trustworthy relations for influencing.

• Experience in managing time constraint.

• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing in English and Nepali complex and technical information to technical and general audiences and 

• Proven IT skills: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoints etc. 

PLAN INTERNATIONAL’S VALUES IN PRACTICE

We are open and accountable

We create a climate of trust inside and outside the organisation by being open, honest and transparent. We hold ourselves and others to account for the decisions we make and for our impact on others, while doing what we say we will do.

We strive for lasting impact

We strive to achieve significant and lasting impact on the lives of children and young people, and to secure equality for girls. We challenge ourselves to be bold, courageous, responsive, focused and innovative.

We work well together

We succeed by working effectively with others, inside and outside the organisation, including our sponsors and donors. We actively support our colleagues, helping them to achieve their goals. We come together to create and implement solutions in our teams, across Plan International, with children, girls, young people, communities and our partners.

We are inclusive and empowering

We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge inequality in our programmes and our workplace. We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives. We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

• This position is based in East Regional Office- Dhanusha and West Regional Office- Surkhet, with frequent travel to field as necessary.

LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN

Medium Level: Medium interaction with children

"Say Yes ! To Keeping Children and Young people safe and Protected"   

Application Deadline: Thursday 25th July, 2024


NOTE: Applications are solely accepted through People2People online application procedures. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further selection process. Canvassing at any stage of processes shall lead to automatic disqualification.

Due to urgent priority to fill in the positions, recruitment can be held on a rolling basis and Plan International reserves the right to select a candidate prior to the deadline. Plan International Nepal invites all the applications including female candidates with priority from minority and youth groups for this position.

In recognition of the various needs of People with Disability (PWD), please reach out to People 2 People for direct application submission process. 

To Apply Visit: p2p.com.np