Head of Inclusive Quality Education

BACKGROUND

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan has 85 years of experience and works in more than 75 countries across the world. We strive for a just world, working together with children, young people, our supporters, partners and host government.

Our work supports marginalised children and youth, especially adolescent girls, to grow up physically and mentally healthy and ready to shape their future. We create an enabling environment and empower girls to be active drivers of change in realising their rights. We have committed ourselves to the ambitious target of reaching 100 million girls over 5 years, to ensure they can learn, lead, decide and thrive.

Plan International has been working in Tanzania since 1991. Currently Plan International Tanzania (PIT) operates in eight geographical regions; Geita, Mwanza, Mara, Morogoro, Pwani, Rukwa, Katavi, and Kigoma on different projects funded by different donors including sponsorship. We aim to support creating an enabling environment where girls, adolescent girls, and young women are safe, valued, equally cared for, and have equal opportunities. PIT will contribute to the global strategy by aiming to reach directly 2 million Adolescent Girls and Young Women over the period of the Strategic Plan - 2022-2026 and to reach an addition of 5 million beneficiaries through different interventions.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Head of Education is an innovative and visionary leader responsible for resourcefully planning and directing Plan International Tanzania’s programming on Education. (S)he has the technical supervisory responsibility for Project Managers and Programme Coordinators and manages a portfolio of Education sponsorship and grants. The Head of Education is responsible for developing sustainable, integrated programming and is accountable to beneficiaries and donors, placing a high value on innovative design of new proposals/ grants, creative partnerships and national level networking and advocacy.

This role is based at the Country Office and reports to the Team Leader of Program Quality.

Dimensions of the Role

• This position has direct reports related to Education sponsorship and grants and will manage a modest department budget.
• This position has a dotted line of reporting from all PU Education projects related posts and is responsible for overall programme design, implementation & monitoring.
• The position reports to the Team Leader Program Quality (TLPQ).

  ACCOUNTABILITIES

  Typical Responsibilities - Key End Results of Position:

  Programme strategy development:

  • Lead in further design of the Education programme for Plan International Tanzania as prioritized in the Country Strategic Plan;
  • Develop all components of the Education programme to be aligned with government and donor priorities, as well as the priorities of the children and communities where Plan works;
  • Identify key implementing and strategic partners working in the field of education with whom Plan can work to leverage meeting its CSP objectives;
  • Design evidence-based education projects which are in line with Plan’s CCCD approach (the rights-based approach) and CSP, for both sponsorship and grants;
  • Seek out innovations that can be used in the education space, including the use of ICT4D;
  • Work closely with the Head of MERL to ensure that all project plans are complete with outcome level monitoring and evaluation plans;
  • Continuously learn from implementation to feed into further strategy development, documenting learnings for both internal and external use;
  • Develop programme strategies through participatory processes, including in liaison with other Heads of Programs so that integrated programming can be achieved.
  • Promote/support application of Plan’s global programme quality policy and framework, global M&E standards and Plan International Tanzania’s M&E vision in its Country Strategic Plan 2022-2026.
  • Ensure programme integration both within and between different Programmes to arrive at a holistic, coordinated approach at the community level.

    Implementation and management

    • Oversee programme management for all Education related projects;
    • Coordinate and direct program planning processes to ensure integration of programs, proper understanding of program goals and objectives, and engagement and buy-in of key stakeholders;
    • Develop and oversee programme implementation strategies, including partnership frameworks, protocols and agreements, and capacity building of partners as potentially identified;
    • Ensure that programme implementation is responsive to communities, authorities and partners and consistent with Plan’s programme guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan;
    • Integrate sustainability, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate
    • In coordination with the MERL department, ensure that Project Managers have access to and are appropriately using routine monitoring and periodic assessment / survey data;
    • Ensure programme implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to achieve the desired impact;
      • Draft and/or review scopes of work to hire and manage technical consultants, including review for technical capacities and contract budgets;
        • Support and maintain systems to ensure effective and transparent use of financial resources and timely, accurate and informative reporting in compliance with donor regulations;
        • Support all Project Managers/ PUMs in effective budget management, including accurate spending forecasts, expense monitoring, etc.;
        • Review and approve activity plans or monthly spending projections, according to project budgets and annual spending projections;
        • Support and where possible, improve operational systems and structures to ensure effective administrative and logistics support for programs;
        • Lead the programme team in implementation of all Education projects.

          Resource Mobilisation

          • High quality concept notes and proposals are developed and submitted to donors
          • Effective linkage and relationship established and maintained with National Offices, internal and externals donors and development partners through fast and speedy communication as well as seeking of new opportunities in liaison with the Business Development Unit
          • Good relationship established with new/ existing proposed partners for upcoming resource mobilisation opportunities.

            National Advocacy & representation

            • Effective linkage with government’s relevant departments and ministries and strategic networks are established and maintained to ensure influence at national and regional level;
            • Represent Plan International Tanzania in various forums (meetings, conferences, etc.) and during partner and donor representative in-country visits related to education;