Project Officer Full-time Job

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 childrens and young peoples 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;

• Responsible for identifying, screening and conducting assessments for un accompanied separated children (UASCs) and OVC
• Ensuring close coordination and tracking of children receiving case management including regular follow up as per prioritization and vulnerability criteria
• Conduct necessary capacity building to case workers including information sharing and data protection protocol and report any identified bridge to CPIE coordinator/Manager
• Develop capacity building for children, parents and community members to strengthen prevention and protection of vulnerable children and adolescents
• Ensure all staff understand different needs of children and youth and respond appropriately
• Responsible for identifying CPIE needs to support case management team
• Support in implementation of CPIE project activities in collaboration with CPIE coordinator and manager
• Support in collaboration with case management officers, the specialist, manager and coordinator to disseminate key interagency quality standards such as revised CPMS standards related to Case management, CP, SGBV, VOLREP, CM SOPS etc
• Ensure representation of Plan International in camp cased meeting and support national volunteer and Government social welfare officers assigned to work in Plan International.
  

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

1. Ensures that Plan Internationals 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 Internationals 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 Internationals 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

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.

Physical Environment

Typical working at the field with limited stay at the office.

Level of contact with children

High level: Frequent interaction with children

Founded in 1937, Plan International is a development and humanitarian organisation that advances childrens rights and equality for girls. We strive for a just world, working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners.
OUR PURPOSE
We strive for a just world that advances childrens rights and equality for girls.
We engage people and partners to:
Empower children, young people and communities to make vital changes that tackle the root causes of discrimination against girls, exclusion and vulnerability.
Drive change in practice and policy at local, national and global levels through our reach, experience and knowledge of the realities children face.
Work with children and communities to prepare for and respond to crises and to overcome adversity.
Support the safe and successful progression of children from birth to adulthood.