Project Assistant

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation 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 85 years, and are now active in more than 75 countries.

ROLE PROFILE

role PURPOSE

The purpose of this role is to provide uninterrupted support to the activities of the organisation in the areas of project management and sponsorship communication, assist funds mobilisation through participation in project writing. The incumbent will contribute to the implementation of impactful programs to promote the rights of children and equality for girls, within the communities wherein Plan International Cameroon intervenes.

Dimensions of the Role

Ensure the integration of sponsorship and program processes within the PIIA for the effective implementation of Plan International commitments.

Project Management – 50%

• Contribute to the design, planning, monitoring, evaluation, research and reporting of projects (Grants or Sponsorship) within the PIIA.
• Contribute to the drafting, review and finalization of monthly progress, quarterly and annual reports of the PIIA.
• Facilitate the activities of the Community agents, and local committees through trainings, coaching and orientation to comfortably manage Youth clubs, children forums, project implementation and Alumni in their respective communities. 
• Ensure members of Youth clubs are trained in child and young people safeguarding, Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR), good governance and Data collection.
• Establish and maintain good working and learning relationship with partner organizations and government officers within target communities.
• Ensure Plan’s child and young people safeguarding policy and related procedures are adhered to by him/her and CAs in all aspects of work.
• Support councils or LNGO and local committees’ partners to sensitize councils / partner communities on rights of the children and equality for girl’s frame work.
• Support Community agents, local committee, Councils or partner LNGOs in the creation and strengthening of children’s forums and Youth clubs in affiliated communities in his/her area of operation.
• Work closely with CAs, local committees, communities, local and government authorities and partner LNGOs to promote early and late birth registration, sensitize community members on the importance of education to all, especially the girl child, the implication of force and early child marriage and other forms of child abuse.

Sponsorship Communication – 50%

• Provide support to and supervise the work of Community Agents and local committees (CAs) assigned to them.
• Contribute to the production of all area sponsorship documents (C/GMSC, SPAR) and CD letter of Appreciation in known-partner communities in collaboration with the Area Sponsorship Coordinator.
• Ensure Cas visit all sponsored children once a year within the Sponsorship communities and provide feedback through monthly reporting. 
• Ensure CAs are actively involved in sponsorship work and clearly understand their role.
• Ensure that CAs produce at least 95% of all due items in his/her areas of intervention and ensure zero backlogs by the end of each month and end of the quarter.
• Ensure all due sponsorship communications submitted by the CAs at the end of the month at least 60% should be communications written by children.
• Ensure CAs use existing and newly created children’s and Youths platforms (Children’s forums, children governments and Youths Engagement clubs) to produce communication items.
• Put in place a cancellation plan for all the CAs to closely follow for communities in his/her zone of operation and ensure progressive cancellation by CAs, till phase out in identified area.
• Support the CAs in the preparation of Sponsor (SP) visits and accompany SPs during visits and ensure that all sponsored visits to the assigned community are prepared and conducted successfully to maintain the image of the organization. Making sure all Sponsor visits are organized in a neutral and safe place (School or convent and not in the home of a Sponsored child)
• Ensure CAs and CVs manage a successful SCU campaign for all assigned Sponsored Children in his/her zone of operation.
• Ensure the CAs conduct quality control of communication and timely submission of all NOIs response within 3 days upon receipt from the SPA for all NOIs categories.
• Ensure that CAs conduct Sponsored Child verification with respect to procedures in place. Ensure that CAs visit all SCs at least once a year and file the Home visit form/collect information on the SC situation on a monthly basis. 
• Prepares a monthly and bi-weekly plan on sponsorship activities in the PIIA for the implementation by the CAs.
• Ensure that risk across all sponsorship operations are known and actions to mitigate them are put in place in collaboration with the Area Sponsorship Coordinator.
• Ensure that all equipment allocated to him/her or the CAs, to facilitate Plan’s work is properly and efficiently managed in accordance with established procedures.
• Any other assignment assigned by the supervisor

Accountabilities

• Ensure CAs submit monthly Reports on sponsorship communication activities in their areas of operation, highlighting children’s involvement, key challenges, lessons learnt and recommendations by the 25th of each month.
• Prepare monthly and bi-weekly work plans on the 15th and 25th of each month.
• Submits bi-weekly summary reports on achievements by the 15th and 25th of each month.
• Prepares and submits the data on SPAR document on or before the 31st of May each year, GMSC/CMSCs on or before 30th June of each year and participate in the Program Unit development of the SPAR.
• Ensure that CAs visit at least 50 SCs in the month and fill home visit forms that will be validated by Sponsorship Assistant at the PIIA.
• Ensure that CAs submits all due communication items on or before the 25th of each month.
• Ensure that CAs submit a cancellation plan for sponsorship communities before July 31st and submit monthly status report on progress of cancellation in these areas.
• Ensure that CAs respond to all NOIs within 03 days upon reception from the SPA.
• Train CAs and volunteers in his/her area of operation on sponsorship processes before November of each year.
• Ensure CAs prepare cancellation due to age limit (Graduation) at the end of each month.
• Support the SCU campaign in the PIIA.
• Supervise and ensure the PIIA scores at least 95% SCU production and 100% clean slate for all routine communications and NOIs produced each quarter.
• Ensure that 60% to 80% of communications produced by CAs are written by children.
• Support the production of CD letter of Appreciation within the first quarter of a new FY.
• Ensure that CAs with caseload below 20 SCs in his/her communities of operation drop to zero within 2 years.
• Ensure that CAs manages the quality and timely Communications produced and submit the last set of communications to the SPA of the PIIA on or before the 25th of each month scoring 95% for SCU and 100% for routines and NOIs production. 
• Ensure that cancellation in communities where CAs intervene is effectively managed.
• Ensure that SC’s verification in communities where CAs managed is done at least once a year with a detailed report of all cases of relocation, dual enrolment, SC death, voluntary withdrawal and other issues identify in the communities.
• Support the training of Community agents, local committees and Community Volunteers on their role and ways to produce timely and quality communications.
• Ensure that CAs submit a monthly report on all child safeguarding issues on or before the 25th of each month.

1. 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.

Dealing with Problems/Risks

In a level headed and proactive manner, be analytical in diagnosing problems considering both sides and provide thoughtful recommendations to Project Coordinator

Key relationships

• Work closely and maintain high relationship with community volunteers, Community Agent, local committees and children in keeping them informed of changes in programs and sponsorship or policies and ensuring their adherence.
• Establish high and cordial working relationship with community leaders, community volunteers, local committee, and children, ensuring that their concerns are responded on time and that they are kept informed on Plan’s work in their communities.
• Maintain high working relationship with Community Agent and local committees, Community volunteers in the application of new sponsorship and program orientations as directed by the Project Coordinator.
• Develop networking relationship with well trained, committed and community volunteer to ensure that accurate data is collected, and quality sponsorship communication practices are shared.
• Keep the Project Coordinator, at PIIA and Communication department informed of sponsorship and program events and performance on a regular basis.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Relevant knowledge and experience;

• Education: University Degree in Economics, Project Management, Communications, Public Relations and other relevant related fields.
• Demonstrated record of excellence in sponsorship and strong knowledge of project management in particular and program activities in general
• The candidate should hold a certification in project management, CAPM or DPRO certification (mandatory)
• Two Years progressive professional experience both in sponsorship and programs.
• Strong team building and motivational skills
• Strong facilitation, training and presentation skills
• Experience in gender, advocacy, community development, including working in emergency settings (added value). 
• Ability to speak, read and write English fluently and proven ability and willingness to learn other languages
• Excellent computer skills (Microsoft office including word, excel, power point, internet etc).

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

1. Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
2. Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
3. Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
4. Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
5. Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

1. Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
2. Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
3. Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
4. Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

1. Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
2. Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
3. Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
4. Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

5. Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
6. Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
7. Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
8. Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

Physical Environment

• Based in the zone located in the PIIA with field visit in the project sites
• Ability to travel to remote areas,
• Follow the security rules in the area
• Ability to go by motorcycle

Level of contact with children

High contact: Frequent interaction with children.

Location: Batouri,  Nguélémendouka, Akonolinga,  Awae, Ngong, Pitoa, Nyambaka and Mokolo

Closing Date: 08th August 2022

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.