Project officer for Community Based Child Protection Strategy Project - Plan International Timor Leste

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Project officer for Community Based Child Protection Strategy Project.

Background of Project
Almost half (46%) of Timor-Leste’s population is under the age of 18. Where data is available, levels of physical, sexual, and emotional violence against boys and girls are extremely high. Girls and boys face different risks to different forms of violence. In Timor-Leste, boys are more likely to experience physical violence in the form of gang fighting and bullying, including peer-to-peer fighting through “Martial Arts” Gangs. Girls are more likely to experience sexual violence and harassment, almost 10% of girls and 7% of boys report having experienced sexual violence in school settings. Data on current levels of violence against children is limited at the national level, but a 2019 survey by Asia Foundation reports that 72% of adult women and 87% of men in Dili have experienced childhood physical or sexual violence. This highlights that violence in Timor-Leste is widespread.

The Government Timor-Leste (GoTL), whilst a relatively young country, acknowledges its child rights obligations, evidenced through their endorsements of child rights conventions and establishment of legal frameworks and policies dedicated to fulfilling these obligations. This includes the significant steps taken to establish a National Child Protection (CP) system to adequately prevent and respond to violence against children.

The compressive mapping and assessment of the existing CP System in 2010, resulted in the legislation of the 2016 Child and Family Welfare Policy. Yet despite this dedicated policy, significant challenges remain in ensuring the care and protection of girls and boys through a systems-based approach.

Currently, the child and family welfare system (hereon referred to as the ‘formal’ CP system) sits parallel to the community-based child protection mechanisms (CBCPM) commonly accessed by children, families, and communities. Consequently, child protection services are inconsistent, inequitable, and not always aligned with rights-based standards and approaches.

Through this program, Plan International Timor-Leste (PITL), in consultation with key national, municipal, and community stakeholders, will coordinate the development of a community-based child protection strategy (CBCPS) that will empower local communities with knowledge, tools, and support to better protect children.

ROLE PURPOSE
The position shall be responsible for coordinating key national, municipality and community stakeholders at the municipality level in CBCPS project implementation Plan for and support technical team and project planning, implementation and monitoring.

The purpose of this position is to lead Community based child protection strategy and mechanism in Dili, Liquisa, Ainaro, Baucau Municipalities, and other Plan’s respective areas, under supervision of the Project Manager and. This need to have a strong coordinating with key national, Municipality and community stakeholder.

Dimensions of the Role

• Provide technical assistant to the key national, Municipality, and community stakeholders for establishing the CBCPS and CBCPM in 4 Municipalities as target project implementation
• Coordinate the meeting, take notes and facilitate the consultation of CBCPS and CBCPM for the project with key national, Municipality, and community stakeholders in the target location
• Assist the coordination with community stakeholders for piloting the CBCPS and CBCPM in the target municipality
• Support the established Panel advisory committee (PAC), lead and conduct the regular meeting to discuss the progress with PAC and community stakeholder in the National and Municipality.
• Drive change in practice and policy at local, national, and global levels through our reach, experience, and knowledge of the realities children face.
• Support the Child protection network at the Municipality level, enable and coordinate key national, Municipality, and community stakeholder works.
• Effectively report on communication monitoring and contribute to the monthly and quarterly report with CBCPS project manager and donor.
• Assist in strengthening CP network in Municipality level, enable the community stakeholder and advocate additional support the networking
• Work with children, youth, adolescents, and communities stakeholder to prepare for and respond to crises and to overcome adversity.
• Work closely with the M&E team for data collection

The purpose of this position is to lead Community based child protection strategy and mechanism in Dili, Liquisa, Ainaro, Baucau Municipalities, and other Plan’s respective areas, under supervision of the Project Manager and. This need to have a strong coordinating with key national, Municipality and community stakeholder.

Accountabilities

Prepare and manage the project activity to consistent quality and achieve the objectives set out in regard annual plan, through the implementation of projects or, in the case of an emergency, the Emergency Response Plan.

· Project planning and budgeting

Ø Identify potential monthly and weekly plan activity,
Ø In consultation with project manager and Country program 3 managers to develop yearly implementation strategies and operational plans of the project. Lead in the rollout and guide the implementation of the plan;
Ø Assure the gender equality, inclusion, and LGBTIQ part of the planning stage.
Ø Manage and supervise day-to-day staff teamwork.

· Program implementation, monitoring, review, evaluation, and learning

Ø Assure all the implementation of the project base on the time frame
Ø Approach and engage with relevant stakeholders at the municipal level and national level
Ø Regular conduct field visits to monitor program implementation and ensure quality delivery of project
Ø Lead and conduct the monthly meeting of the status of the project implementation plan and facilitate monthly re-planning
Ø Provide technical support to team
Ø Lead focus group discussion in the target location
Ø Lead the regular meeting and take notes with Panel advisory committee (PAC), Key national, municipality, and community stakeholders in the target area project implementation.
Ø Assure the integration of gender equality, inclusion, and LGTIQ in the implementation project, monitoring, and evaluation stages.
Ø Communicate with other relevant Local NGOs and INGO has existed at the National Level and in the Municipality, Suku, and aldeia.
Ø Communicate with CBCPM has existed in 4 municipalities as a target project implementation area

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CPP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded following 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 following the appropriate procedures.

Key relationships

Internal:

• Project Manager
• Country Program 3 Managers
• PITL Safeguarding focal point and PITL Child protection advisory
• Gender, inclusion, and influencing team
• MERL Coordinators
• Municipalities Managers (Ainaro)
• Relevant Plan’s National Offices

External:

• All project relevant government agencies/institutions
• Strong link all networks in Timor-Leste

Technical expertise, skills, and knowledge

Essential

• Facilitation and active listening skills
• Computer literate
• Good presentation skills
• Skill to link with different kinds of partners and partnership development
• Demonstrated English language command

Desirable

• At least a diploma graduates on community development;
• Has at least two-year experience in Child based community child protection strategy and mechanism or relevant experience;
• Experience as a trainer or facilitator;
• Experience in working with child-focused development organizations will be an advantage
• Experience in planning, coordinate, and reporting.

Behaviors:

• Ability to maintain strategic vision and link with everyday work
• Clear and effective communication that builds relationships to influence others
• Proactively demonstrate a record of creativity and entrepreneurship
• Accountability and responsibility for own performance
• Promotes teamwork and cooperation
• Demonstrate a high degree of professionalism and integrity
• Confident in taking initiative and exploring new opportunities

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 organization for all children, girls & young people

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

Physical Environment

This post is based in Dili in a typical office environment. The role holder will be required to travel within the Municipalities up to 50% of the time, requiring rough road travel, hiking, and a willingness to stay in remote villages overnight. There is also regularly travel to the Dili CO.

Level of contact with children

Mid contact: Occasional interaction with children

To Apply

Plan International welcomes applications from qualified applicants and hopes that the successful candidate can start by Aug 03, 2021. All interested candidates should submit a cover letter in English or Tetum describing their suitability based on the above-required qualifications and experiences. The candidate should include a recent CV, principles, and approach that will be used to achieve the quality of the project officer, 2 referees and if possible, examples of summaries of similar past work. Applications must be submitted electronically to plantl.jobs@plan-international.org and copy lola.mok@plan-international.org by Tuesday, July 27, 2021