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 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

ROLE PURPOSE

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian not for profit organization 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 is 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. Plan International’s global purpose is “We strive for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls” so that we take action that 100 million girls learn, lead, decide and thrive”.

Tanzania experiences natural and man-made disaster risks. Drought occurs around once in four years, mainly in north and central areas and affects around 3.6 million people. Tanzania has begun to experience climate change, which has increased the frequency and severity of drought and flooding and is likely to have increasingly negative impacts on areas affecting child rights, such as the environment, agriculture, water supply, health and livelihoods. With the warming of sea temperatures and changes in typhoon patterns in the Indian Ocean, Tanzania is increasingly at risk of Typhoon and major storm activity. Tanzania hosts thousands of refugees from neighbouring countries fleeing conflict. Plan has been operational in the Kigoma refugee camps for the past 4 years.
This role will leads disaster preparedness for Plan Tanzania, leads coordination in times of pending or actual disaster, and supports delivery of humanitarian programs in partnership with the ERM.

 

DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE

Plan International Tanzania is committed to responding in times of emergency. The DRM Specialist focuses on:
1.    Providing national level support to the Burundi Refugee Response in Kigoma Region, in partnership with the Kibondo based Emergency Response Manager.
2.    Leading the gathering, analysis and sharing of information on emerging and current disasters in Tanzania, with a focus on identification of Plan’s role and actions in the disaster.
3.    Develop and maintain Plan’s effective working relationships with the Department of Disaster Management in Tanzania, relevant Government departments and other INGOs.  
4.    Responsible to provide technical expertise in the areas of emergency preparedness, response and recovery in Tanzania, including preparation and training and coordination during a pending or the initial stages of a disaster.
5.    Coordinating the Disaster Preparedness Plan and ensuring it is updated at least once per year.
The post holder reports directly to the Director of Programs. He /she provides technical leadership in program development and design, including research, new innovations and models in DRM initiatives in line with the organisation’s Program and Influence Approach (PIA).  The incumbent is a key member of the Program Team and technical networks and communities of practice within and outside Plan. S/he is a member of various thematic networks and participates in the development of various reports including media reports at country, regional and global levels.

As a member of the Extended Country Management Team, the DRM Specialist is expected to actively contribute to the overall governance of the country office, and delivery of its strategic and annual operating plan.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Program Leadership 

• Overall accountability for DRM programme performance against the Programme Objective and relevant Results Framework in the Country Strategy, rooted in effective results-based management approach and delivering on Plan’s commitment to gender transformative programming and influencing. 
• Provide support to  Plan International’s Humanitarian Program in Kigoma Region supporting Burundi and Congolese refugees.  This includes regular Interim Emergency Response Manager (ERM) or Deputy ERM support.
• With support from the Director of Programs, design, provide implementation oversight, monitor and evaluate DRM strategies using the Program Influence and Quality Approach.
• Design and document innovative models and approaches for DRM and Resilience, and scale them up to strengthen the DRM work of Plan International Tanzania.
• Keep abreast of key developments in DRM and Emergency response sectors in Tanzania through dedication to reading relevant literature and updates, regular field visits, participation in various related processes and meetings, and commissioning of key pieces of enquiry on current data.
• Ensure Plan International DRM programming and delivery is of high technical standards, enhancing continuous technical development based on effective management of technical inputs which includes available DRM evidence and targeted consultancies.

Technical Knowledge Development 

• Develop and sustain organizational thought leadership at national level in DRM through connecting people and ideas, providing a platform for sharing insights and learning, and developing and maintaining organisational knowledge and individual and collective technical capacity. This includes engagement and participation in the regional Centre of Excellence for Girls in Crisis.
• Ensures the country office has an annually updated disaster preparedness plan (DPP) with a clearly spelt out plan of action. Action plans should be adequate enough to enable the CO to respond to Orange 2 situations with minimal out of the country support.
• In collaboration with the Regional DRM team, ensures the CO is maintaining an active Emergency Response Team (ERT). This includes delivering refresher training at least once every 24 months. 
• Act as the CO liaison with the Plan International Global Technical Networks on DRM and relevant Centres of Excellence, and have access to technical guidance and frameworks to support gender-transformative programming and influencing. 
• Draw on DRM Technical Networks to enhance Plan International Tanzania’s technical expertise as well as accessing research work, reviews and analysis of similar work and gain more insights and updates on developments in DRM. Also participate in other skills-building opportunities and obtain information best practice, models, innovations, approaches in these areas.

Fundraising 

• Work in coordination with the Business Development Unit to identify, prioritise and pursue funding opportunities and leverage on acquired technical skills and capacity to respond to requirements.  
• Lead the development of funding concept notes and proposals for DRM in collaboration with the Business Development

Unit and other relevant parts of the organisation which may include other COs, RH, GH, NOs and the Global Technical Networks.

Networking, Partnerships and Coordination 

• Lead engagement in key networks, alliances and actors in in DRM at local and national, level.
• Lead in engagement and maintenance of key relationships with the relevant line ministries for collaboration in DRM programming at national level. 
• Represent Plan International Tanzania at various technical meetings with other cooperating agencies and participate in various working groups as required, including making technical presentations on key activities and achievements.

Technical Support 

• Manage technical capacity-building support of local implementing CSO partners with specific focus on strengthening institutional & individual capacity, enhancement of management systems and governance of regulatory functions and activities.
• Ensure all staff in Plan International Tanzania have a solid understanding of in DRM issues and the work that the organisation is doing.
• Report regularly to the Director of Programs on progress/results achieved in technical work plans and barriers encountered, and resolve any challenges faced and also provide input into quarterly, annual and grants reporting.

Influencing 

• Work with Communications and MER to develop key influencing and advocacy strategies for the in DRM sectors targeting Government staff and community leaders.
• Contribute to the adequate documentation and dissemination of program results and lessons learnt.
• 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

• Internal (supervision, sharing; management of program; coaching)
• Work with Programs/Project’s hired consultants –High 
• Work with other Program Staff as well as the Director of Programs and the BDM in designing projects;–  High
• Work with Program Unit Managers in disaster preparedness and rapid response  - High
• Work with the resource mobilization staff in mobilizing diverse resources-project scale up strategies  – Medium
• Support technical capacity building of project partners and front line staff - High
• External (sharing; learning; best practices; contribution to initiative/research...)
• Liaise with external stakeholders and partners involved in DRM -High

 

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS, AND KNOWLEDGE

Skills specific to the post

• Excellent planning and coordination skills
• Good budgetary and financial skills 
• Good negotiation skills 
• Ability to work under pressure and managing multiple, competing priorities
• Excellent communication –verbal and writing skills 
• Good skills in proposal development and reporting 
• Proficient in computer skills

Behavior

• Team player with good mentoring and coaching skills,
• Highly effective networking and interpersonal skills, 
• Timely and effective delivery 
• Commitment to gender equality, inclusion of child protection, and participation

Experience

• Advanced university degree in social sciences or discipline relevant to Disaster Risk Management, or comparable experience
• At least 3 years relevant working experience in disaster preparedness and response ( experience in working in complex emergencies an added advantage)
• Working experience in a similar role and experience in working with bilateral organizations or INGOs would be an added advantage.
• Strong network with government institutions and UN agencies in DRM and Refugee Response  is an asset
• Excellent reporting skills and competencies in computer literacy (M-Excel, MS-Word, & Power Point, internet)
• Experience addressing gender equality in DRM programming 

Knowledge /Competencies 

• -    Knowledge in Emergency and Protracted Refugee response as well as on human right based approach to development  
• -    Demonstrate experience in developing strategies and designing program interventions, including monitoring and evaluation 
• -    Demonstrate ability to assess best practices, document and disseminate lessons learned 

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

Frequent travels within the country and especially to programme areas including Kigoma Region refugee camps

LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN

Frequent interaction with children especially in communities and Child care centres/schools