Job Description
Project Officer
Date: 16-Feb-2022
Location: Kibondo & Nyarugusu,
Tanzania
Company: Plan International
role PURPOSE
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 75 years, and are now active in more than 75 countries.
The Registration Insolvency and
Trusteeship Agency (RITA), Government of Tanzania with the support of UNICEF
developed a decentralized birth registration system focusing on under-five
children called the Under-five Birth Registration Initiative (U5BRI) in 2013.
The new system was first piloted in Temeke District of Dar es salaam in 2012.
As of January 2018, the U5BRI has been rolled out to 9
regions in Tanzania and by end of 2018 targets to ensure that 13 of the total
26 regions are covered. Among the six key goals of the U5BRI is to make
registration of births accessible and affordable, a more decentralized system,
waiver of fee for first certificate and making the registration process ‘one
step, one visit’ rather than the present ‘three steps, multiple visits’ so that
the registration and certification take place concurrently.
Birth registration exercise has been led by different
partners previously until December 2021,
Plan International, UNHCR and key stakeholders such as MoHA
and RITA plan to collaborate with the hosting districts to establish
sustainable framework to enable refugee access national civil registration
services provided by RITA including birth certificates on an ongoing/continuous
basis.
This role will be responsible for to ensure new born child
children within the camps are automatically issued with birth certificates through
the national civil registration services provided by RITA.
She/he will be responsible for coordinating closely with
UNHCR and other stakeholders working in the camp to ensure the new born
children in the camps are registered and issued with b1 birth notification
forms by RITA, and later on supported with birth certificates.
The role will also provide support to case management team
on supervisory level, working together with case management officers to
supervise various activities in the camps which will depend on the nature of
birth registration activities deflation. This role will have interface with the
children, caregivers as well as partner agencies. In addition, the project
officer(s) will ensure that refugee children receive timely and appropriate
services. The role has overall supervision of case management technical
assistants.
Dimensions of the Role
The Project Officer(s) will provide leadership oversight to
the technical assistant in Nduta/Nyarugusu camps support both Burundian and
Congolese new born children, to attain birth certificates upon birth. The
project officer(s) will work in collaboration with other likeminded agencies
such as IRC, Save the Children, TRCs/ICRC, DRC, UNICEF, NRC, World Vision,
MOHA, UNCHR, Community based structures among others. Key focus areas include
implementation of Best Interests Procedures safeguarding during birth
registration, supervision, coaching and mentorship of technical assistants,
supporting case management activities and information sharing and data
protection protocol, coordination and linkage of referrals to other
stakeholders in the camp, contributing to quality report development,
representation of Plan International, case conferences for complex cases,
participation in birth registration related meetings among other key
responsibilities. The role reports to CPiE Coordinator - Case Management and
has no delegated authority.
Accountabilities
Implement Birth Registration exercise according to the
SOPs and guidelines:
- To
ensure that BR technical assistant(s) and Incentive workers are following
appropriate procedures for supporting refugee mothers with birth
certificates to their new born children.
- Preparation
and conducting of community awareness meetings with refugee and religious
leaders in the camps.
- Collaborate
with medical partner in making sure that relevant birth documents with
correct information including names of the new born babies are provided on
time
- Liaise
and collaborate with District RITA Officer on collection of B1 forms,
processing of birth certificates and making sure that they are dispatched
to the camp for distribution, in a timely manner
- Making
sure all queries related to birth registration and issuance of birth
certificates are addressed in a timely and appropriate manner.
- Prepare
and submit BR monthly report to the CPiE Coordinator CM
Supervise one/two technical assistant(s) and 6 Incentive
workers:
- Ensure
that the technical assistants and IWs are equipped with working tools,
equipment, and materials for effective support to the birth registration
exercise.
- Conduct
weekly meetings with minutes on file.
- Engage
in capacity building including on job coaching to technical staff and
incentive workers; making sure that they grasp the procedures for issuance
of birth registration
- Ensure
that technical assistants transport birth certificates from RITA to the
camps in a timely, confidential, and appropriate manner.
- Process
legal fees for birth certificate in time and make timely liquidation with
finance department per request.
- Ensuring
that distribution of certificate is supervised in case any damage of
certificate is identified upon distribution and make sure the identified
birth certificates are processed and returned to RITA for correction by
support of the technical assistant
- Leading
organization of community awareness activities to be conducted by
Incentive workers in collaboration with technical assistant, for ensuring
mobilization of communities on birth registration awareness.
- Ensure
submission of weekly /reports to the CP Coordinator
- Appraise
supervisees performance on time according to HR guidelines
Data management:
- Ensure
that all birth certificates are scanned and uploaded and kept
confidentially in soft copy
- Ensure
that all birth certificates are photocopied by the technical assistant,
properly filed, and kept in a lockable cabinet for record.
- Create
a data base, seize and update weekly, all children who are provided with
birth certificates, updates to be shared with CP Coordinator on monthly
basis.
Coordination:
- Participate
in coordination meetings in the camps, and in bilateral meetings with key
partners: Present (report on BR development) where need be, clarify and
respond to issues related to birth registration
- In
the first three months of birth certificate issuance, convene BR key
actors’ meetings on monthly basis; participants to include medical partner
(MSF), RITA, MoHA, UNHCR and Plan International. Coordination meetings to
convene quarterly after the first three months.
Supporting case management activities:
Upon deflation of birth registration activities, and
therefore in absence of birth registration of responsibilities due to low birth
rate period, the Project officer will support case management officers in
supervising case management activities as follows;
Documentation and M&E:
- Support
report writing and donor compliance
- Participate
in designing and conducting regular assessments and analyses to inform
programme design and modifications in collaboration with the MEAL team
- Support
in monitor the quality of project activities and support evaluation of the
same in collaboration with the MEAL team
Support
in coordinating information sharing and dissemination of articles, case
studies, change/success stories and presentations highlighting work in
CPiE among your staff teams
Representation and advocacy:
- Ensure
adherence to local policies and regulations
- Work
in close relationship with the government representative another
stakeholder at camp level
- Participate
in birth registration, SGBV another camp-based meeting and forums to raise
issues affecting children, emerging trends and support required to address
the issues
- Maintain
regular interaction with other NGOs and UN bodies such as IRC, HelpAge,
MSF, TRCS, Save the Children, UNHCR and UNICEF to effectively respond to
child related issues affecting children in the camps
- Ensures
that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and
Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) 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.
Key relationships
The Child Protection in Emergencies project Officer will
have significant contact with CPiE Specialist, CPIE manager, CP Coordinator,
Compliance and Reporting Coordinators and PSS officer etc.
Technical expertise, skills and knowledge
Dealing with Problems:
The position involves resolving a wide range of challenges
which occur in managing different people with different background and culture.
The position holder will be required to demonstrate attributes such as honest
and trustworthy, respectful, possess cultural awareness and sensitivity, be
flexible and demonstrate sound work ethics. S/he will demonstrate the ability
to solve problems, be creative while providing support.
Skills specific to the post
- Experience
in birth registration activities.
- Participatory
planning and monitoring, Understanding of emergencies with basic technical
knowledge of child protection, WASH and EiE
- Proficient
in team building and community work
- Use a
rights-based approach in child protection
- Good
written and oral communication skills in English and Swahili.
Knowledge of French and Kirundi is desirable
- Community
mobilization, problem solving skills and interpersonal skills
- Ability
to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment
- Proficient
in computer skills and ability to work under stress and in stressful
environments
Essential
- Bachelor
degree in Sociology, social work, Social Sciences, Psychology, or its
equivalent
- At
least 1- 2 years’ experience working in birth registration activities.
- At
least 2-3 years’ experience working in child protection in
emergencies,
- Experience
with refugees will be an added advantage.
- Good
knowledge of computer applications
- Must
be familiar with the context and sensitivity of accountability
programming.
Working
experience in the field of development/humanitarian context, emergencies
and familiarity with children issues in particular.
Desirable
- Relates
to people in a friendly, open and accepting manner
- Timely
and accurate in executing his/her duty
- Pays
attention to detail
- Critical
thinking and strategic planning
- Excellent
verbal and written communication skills
Experience
of supervising teams and capacity building
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.
Physical Environment
Typical working at the field with limited stay at the
office.
Level of contact with children
High level: Frequent interaction with children
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