The Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) in partnership with the Qatar-based Education Above All (EAA) Foundation seeks to implement a four-year project to facilitate enrolment into formal and non-formal learning programs for Out of School Children (OOSC) in Sierra Leone. This intervention will support and reinforce foundational learning for all, with special attention to OOSC and vulnerable children, such as girls, pregnant girls, children with disabilities, children from rural and underserved areas, and low-income families, who are at risk of dropping out of school and are currently out of school. 

The main objective of the project as agreed by the MBSSE and EAA is to support the enrolment, and retention of 120,000 OOSC in Sierra Leone through community engagement, teaching, and learning support for vulnerable learners.  To achieve this objective, two key complementary roles will be played by the NGO Consortium and the MBSSE. The NGO Consortium is tasked with demand creation among OOSC and their caregivers in hard-to-reach communities in 10 target districts, while MBSSE takes full responsibility for increasing demand through school structures as well as providing the supply side education service by establishing additional non-formal Learning Centers and as well as improving the primary school environment. The NGO Consortium will implement demand-creation activities in 300 communities in 10 target districts targeting 60,000, while MBSSE will also target another 60,000 OOSC in different communities across all 16 districts of Sierra Leone. There will be no overlaps in the demand-creation activities

DIMENSIONS OF ROLE:

The post holder will lead the implementation of the “Delivering Learning for Out of School Children (OOSC) in Sierra Leone Project” in Bo and Bombali Districts and will represent Plan International Sierra Leone at all Consortium Coordination meetings and other fora in furtherance of the Project. The Project Manager reports to the Head of Programme Implementation (at the level of PISL) and the Consortium Director of Save the Children International (at the NGO Consortium Level).

The Project will be jointly implemented by a Consortium of seven (7) NGOs comprising Save the Children International as the Lead, Plan International Sierra Leone (PISL), International Rescue Committee (IRC), Concern Worldwide, EducAID, Community Action to Restore Lives (CARL), and National Youth Awareness Forum (NYAF). The consortium is a collection of highly experienced implementing partners, with significant technical expertise and operational capacity to deliver quickly and effectively. They are passionate about achieving high quality, inclusive, and accessible education for all children and have the global expertise, knowledge of best practices, and, importantly, a long history of working in close collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone in each of the proposed districts of implementation, as well as at the national level.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Coordinate project resources by ensuring team management and development, program delivery, quality control, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Develop and implement strategies in line with the other NGO Consortium Partners, and donor requirements and ensure satisfactory completion of program objectives are delivered on time, within scope, and budget.
• Work closely with relevant Ministries, departments, and Agencies (MBSSE, MSW, MGCA, TSC, District/City Councils, etc.) to ensure that interventions are aligned with government policies that will ensure the protection and rights of children.
• Lead and organize routine project coordination meetings to monitor the progress of the logical framework and activity planning.
• Ensure compliance with donor rules and procedures, including procurement and distribution of resources, time management, work plans, and records, timely and accurate monitoring and submission of donor reports (financial and narrative), and donor asset register.
• Ensure Child protection and Gender are mainstreamed into all program activities in the district/chiefdom and maintain gender sensitivity towards staff and plan associates.
• Facilitate the involvement and contribution of stakeholders at all levels in the process of refining and improving project implementation within the districts on child protection and lobbying and advocacy on girls and young women’s rights issues.
• Ensure Community Governance structures (BoGs, SMCs, CWCs, WDC, CEC, WEC, Mothers Clubs, etc) are involved and their capacities built to promote the education of marginalized girls and children with disabilities.
• Create and maintain comprehensive project documentation

Financial Management for Organizational Credibility:

• Collaborate with the Finance and Grant teams to ensure contract compliance and financial accountability for the project
• Develop monthly and quarterly financial projections informed by the work plan.
• Work closely with the System Coordinator to ensure financial and budget management within the system
• With the support of the Grants and finance team, undertake regular budget reviews
• Consolidate and review activity reports from Project Officers to ensure that they follow donor requirements and meet the needs of PISL and the NGO Consortium Partners 

Capacity Building

• • Provide technical support and/or capacity building to Project Officers and community stakeholders on Child Protection, safeguarding, and relevant Government policies and the importance of education to OOSC.
  • Organize and lead training, develop training materials, and provide ongoing support throughout the project to ensure good practice and project adaptations are fully cascaded to school-level staff and government partners.

• Ensures 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. 

Project Monitoring and Reporting 

• In strong collaboration with the MERL department, develop tools to track project performance and reporting
• Undertake periodic field visits with the MERL team to validate project activities 
• In collaboration with the MERL unit track project performance indicators and reporting
• Support the project team to set targets for and monitor measurable results that align with PISL organizational objectives and KPIs
• Prepare and submit all project-related reports for review, approval, and submission to Nos and donor
• Oversee program evaluations (Baseline mid-line, and end-line) and ensure that they meet the needs of donors and other key stakeholders
• Prepare and submit monthly and quarterly work plans and progress reports detailing tasks (including monitoring plans).

Key Relationships

Internal:

• Education Programme Manager
• Head of Programme Implementation
• Head of Quality and Development 
• Programme Implementation and Influencing Area Managers
• Business Development Manager
• MERL Unit
• Gender Equality and Inclusion Advisor
• Child Protection/Safeguarding Specialist
• All Technical Specialists

External

• Engage with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary School Education, MBSSE, Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, MHTE and Teacher Service Commission, TSC.
• Engage with district and community stakeholders  
• Plan Sierra Leone National Office in Canada (CNO)
• Engage with other NGO Consortium partners (SCI, IRC, Concern Worldwide, EducAID, NYAF, CARL)
• Other relevant actors in the education sphere in Sierra Leone.

Technical Expertise, Skills And Knowledge 

Essential 

Qualification and Experience: 

• Advanced degree in education, gender and inclusion, sociology, or a relevant discipline
• Understand gender-responsive approach to education equality programming and meaningful child participation
• Experience in leading advocacy
• Experience in contributing to proposal writing 
• Experience of working with bilateral and multi-lateral donors
• At least five (5) years of experience a managerial role, preferably in a social development setting
• Strong understanding of gender 
• Knowledge of development challenges and contexts in Sierra Leone, particularly child rights, girl’s rights and child protection
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively and supportively without the need for close supervision
• Proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications.

Knowledge and skills

• Knowledge of the various donors’ strategic interests, priorities, and requirements
• Excellent English oral and written communication skills
• Proven strategic relationship management skills, including negotiation skills
• Coaching, mentoring, training, and facilitation skills
• High level of computer proficiency
• Experience working with people from different cultures to deliver complex work tasks
• Building the technical skills of relevant staff and programme beneficiaries, particularly in relation to developing high-quality education programmes

Behaviours

• Ability to maintain strategic vision and link with everyday work
• Clear and effective communication that builds relationships to influence others
• Accountability and responsibility for own performance
• Promotes teamwork and cooperation
• Confident in taking initiative and exploring new opportunities
• The numerical ability to analyze financial information, budget, and monitor costs
• Excellent people and interpersonal skills
• Team builder
• Ability to think and work proactively, creatively, and strategically under pressure or when faced with competing demands.

Physical Environment 

The role is based in either Bo or Bombali district with 10% of his/her time required to travel to Freetown for other official engagements including consortium and other programme strategic meetings. The role will be expected to visit all the targeted communities

Level Of Contact With Children 

Mid contact: Occasional interaction with children

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.

Your application should include: 
·         A cover letter
·         A comprehensive CV including details of two referees, one of whom should be your current of most recent supervisor