Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child. 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. In Zimbabwe, we have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 31 years. Plan International operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity.

Project Coordinator - Promoting Education, Skills and an Enabling Environment for Ending Child Marriages (PROSE-ECM) Grant Funded Project

Location: Kwekwe Program Area

Job Description

Reporting to the Program Area Manager, The Project Coordinator is responsible for the overall implementation of the Promoting Education, Skills and an Enabling Environment for Ending Child Marriages Project and that this is implemented with the highest standards and quality for impact on the lives of children as defined in the Plan International Zimbabwe (PIZ) Country Strategy and project documents. The incumbent will be accountable for delivery of the project on time, scope and budget as per project management standards.

Accountabilities

Project Planning and Initiation

Participates in the design, planning and initiation of new projects in the designated Program Area:

• Participate in the situational analysis and baseline studies to obtain a full understanding of the project scope, targets and intended impact
• Working closely with the Programme Area Manager, set and evaluate Project milestones to be realised in the Programme Area for particular periods
• Lead planning meetings and come up with ways of addressing any gaps that are identified including supporting partners, district stakeholders during supervision and monitoring of Project activities.
• Monitor and ensure timely implementation of project activities as per detailed implementation schedule
• Contribute towards the implementation of the project by ensuring desired results are achieved on time and to the standard

  Partnership Management

  Coordinate partner on-boarding for effective implementation of the project by ensuring that ongoing relationships with partners are maintained:

  • Support partners to cascade project plans and milestones for clarity of linkages and contributions to the main project
  • Review reports on partner due diligence and capacity assessments ensuring that the project is on the right track and feedback shared with the partners for any corrective action
  • Develop programme for induction, coaching and training for partners to equip them with the necessary skills, knowledge and tools to effectively implement the project
  • Support, organize and conduct Project reflection and review meetings at team and district levels that bring on board different stakeholders
  • Ensure tracking, monitoring, evaluation, documentation and reporting of project outputs, outcomes, impact or results and changes.

    Influencing

    Support the development and implementation of an innovative influencing and communication plan for the project:

    • Actively participate in meetings within the Program Area that raise PIZ's profile and advocacy agenda
    • Support strategic partnerships, alliances, networks, and coalitions to spearhead and promote project objectives and outcomes
    • Work with other team members to implement internal PIZ principles of communication
    • Contribute to the development and implementation of a communication strategy
    • Organise regular community awareness meetings about Plan programs and approaches, in particular ensuring that sponsored families and communities are updated on Plan’s interventions and the graduation process
    • Provide technical information and analysis from Project results that help in influencing and raising PIZ profile

      Ensuring Impactful Implementation

      Work collaboratively with the Project team and other colleagues in the program area to develop and implement a cost-effective and impactful community engagement strategy, ensure an accurate representation of project benefits is communicated, and carefully manage expectations:

      • Support district and sub district stakeholders in the implementation of the Project interventions supported by Plan International Zimbabwe; working with the respective district technical working Committees for smooth coordination of all Project activities.
      • Executing the project according to the project plan, with all activities carried out on time, scope and budget; provide timely justification for any changes or modifications required
      • Support project stakeholders conduct quarterly project monitoring and support supervision visits and meetings.
      • Review data, analysis and reports from MERL teams to assess whether implementation progress is being realised as per project milestones and other parameters
      • Support all the transition activities to ensure proper closure of the project (lessons learned, financial and contractual closure activities, etc.)

        Risk, Compliance and Accountability

        Effectively identify and manage risks, in particular those associated with procurement, finances, safeguarding, and staff health, safety and security:

        • Implement all relevant policies, procedures and guidelines (e.g. finance, procurement, security, IT, gender equality & inclusion, harassment, bullying and non-discrimination policy as well as the Global Policy on Safeguarding etc.) at all levels