Youth Engagement Officer

Plan International is a leading girls and children’s rights organization. Our Ambition from now to 2027 is to see All Girls Standing Strong Creating Global Change.

Working together we will create:

• A world where all girls know and exercise their rights to living the life they choose 
• A network of supporters, communities, staff, partners, and donors, all supporting girls and young women to stand strong as they learn, lead, decide, and thrive 
• Global change through breaking down the barriers and discrimination girls and young women currently face every minute, every hour, every day 

We aim to improve the lives of 200 million girls in the next five years. When girls thrive in a more equal world, we are all stronger for it. 

Plan operates in 77 countries around the world. It brings its support to millions of children, their families and communities, mainly in Africa, Asia, Middle East, and South America. It implements projects in the Health, Water and Sanitation, Education, Child Protection, Sustainable Livelihood, and cross-cultural communication. Child sponsorship forms the basis of our work with children. Worth to mention, Plan International global ambition is to support 100 million girls learn, lead, decide and thrive!

ROLE PURPOSE

She Leads Youth Engagement Officer  lead the overall implementation, management and coordination of all programmatic aspects of the youth engagement and planned advocacy strategies, events to realize the desired results in the She Leads Project in accordance with the approved proposal, detailed implementation plan, project monitoring and evaluation plan, project performance framework, procurement and supply management plan, detailed budget, training plan. This role will coordinate and support the partner implementation and youth groups for the realization of equal rights and opportunities for girls and young women in project communities in Liberia.

The She Leads consortium brings together child rights organizations, feminist/women’s rights organizations, and GYW-led groups and aims to increase sustained influence of girls and young women (GYW) on decision-making and the transformation of gender norms in formal and informal institutions.  The programme envisages to achieve its goal by working through collective action of girls and young women in a gender-responsive civil society (civil society domain); support increased acceptance of positive social gender norms (socio-cultural domain); enabling meaningful participation of girls and young women in decision-making by political institutions (institutional domain).

DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE

The Youth Engagement Officer is a national positon that works across all target counties and implementing on establishing sustainable youth programme, capacity building efforts, organization of ‘actor of change program’, innovations and building youth resilience effort and planning and facilitating advocacy strategies, programmes and event with youth groups…the role will coordinate efforts on youth engagement at national and local level on holding stakeholders accountable to action for youth especially girls. The coordinator will maintain a platform for supporting champion of change at community level and corridor for amplifying voices of rights of young people women and children.

The YE Officer in collaboration with the She Leads consortium will advance the country strategy on rights based reflections in development and strategy for capacity strengthening for civil society organizations. He/she contributes to the capacity strengthening (e.g. through trainings) of these CSO’s and support their youth engagement platform and advocacy strategies.

Accountabilities

• Develop strategies to increase She Leads Project engagement with young people in Nimba County.
• Liaise with Youth Engagement Officer of implementing partners and Liberia Country Team to ensure safe youth participation in She Leads activities
• Provide opportunities for young people to have a voice and support them in getting involved in sustained advocacy with major stakeholders to provide safe spaces for youth participation and the implementation of SDG# 1,4,5,8,16 and 17
• Identify, recruit and retain Girls-led organization members on an annual basis.
• Identify and strengthen relationships with existing girls-led groups and youth groups at community level support agencies.
• Liaise with She Leads implementing partners and Country Team on events and activities that promote Youth Engagement.
• Ensure at all times that best practice in child protection and welfare standards are adhered to.
• Review the effectiveness of the programme and ensure that implementation is in accordance with desired outcomes.
• Participating as a member of the She Leads County Team in team meetings, project meetings and other forums.
• Carry out such other duties as may reasonably be requested by the Head of your supervisor.
• Conduct partnership management and compliance to the Building Better Partnership Guidance
• Developing initiatives and strategies that will ensure protection and right of children in Liberia.
• Work closely with NLNO to achieve a cohesive and coordinated approach to youth engagement and advocacy on the She Leads Project implementation in Liberia.
• Prepare and submit monthly and quarterly work plans and progress reports detailing tasks (including monitoring plans) on Plan and partner youth engagement implementation.
• Ensure documentation of She Leads case studies, best practices and lessons learned from youth engagement.
• Ensure Child protection and youth/child safe guarding standards are mainstreamed into all youth engagement and community development related program activities in the counties /communities to meet Plan goals;
• Participate in and support Plan’s local partner implementation of activities, in order to increase the impact of the She Leads Project
• Assist in designing training tools for partner/GYW training and arrange for refresher training for partners and staff where necessary.
• Carry out capacity gap analysis and assessments that reflect real needs for project staff (Plan and partners) and coordinate training sessions based on gaps identified to build their capacities on quality programming
• Facilitate the involvement and contribution of stakeholders at all levels in the process of refining and improving project implementation within the counties.
• Promote mutual learning and the sharing of ideas, information and experience on child protection and lobby and advocacy on girls and young women’s right issues
• Ensure Community Leaders are involved and their capacities built to promote the She Leads Project
• Perform any other duties as assigned by Supervisor(s).

1. 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. 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

Essential

• At least four (4) years of demonstrable experience in leadership and management of development work preferably in INGO sector with evidence of project management skills or trainings
• University degree preferable or equivalent practical experience in interdisciplinary areas within human rights, social science, international development and program leadership.
• At least five (2) years of experience a managerial role, preferably in a social development setting and youth organization.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to undertake strategic and programme planning, budget management with good excel skills and analytical writing skills that reflect results around organization of youth group and working with young people
• Good communication and facilitation skills.
• Strong understanding of gender equality programing and meaningful child participation.
• Knowledge of development challenges and contexts in Liberia, 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 (e.g. word processing, spreadsheet, database, internet, SAP).
• Experience in project management and Community led approaches is a must.

Desirable

• Believe in the potential of all people to succeed if given the right support and willingness to multi-task. 
• Ability to perform under stress, innovative, build relationships, coach and mentor, facilitate change, develop teams, initiate action, strategic decision making, planning and organizing. 
• Lead through vision and mission and a personal commitment to children’s development and protection.

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

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

Location:                Country Office, Monrovia

Department:           Programme Department

Reports to:             Project  Manager – She Leads

Closing Date:         17th November 2023

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early. A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Global Safeguarding policy. Plan follows an equal opportunity policy and actively encourages diversity welcoming applications from all especially women and people living with disability. As an international child centred community development organisation, Plan International is fully committed to promoting the realisation of children’s rights including their right to protection from violence and abuse. That means we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with.

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. We must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk. Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for. Our organisation 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 will provide equality of opportunity and will not tolerate discrimination on any grounds. We foster an organisational culture that embraces and exemplifies our commitment to gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion while supporting staff to adopt good practice, positive attitudes and principles of gender equality and inclusion.

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