Chief of Party (CoP) – USAID Education: Equity and Inclusion Project

ROLE PROFILE

Title: Chief of Party (CoP) - USAID Education: Equity and Inclusion

Functional Area: Programs

Reports to: Director of Program, Partnerships and Impact

Location: Country Office, Kathmandu

Travel required: As per need

Grade: TBD

ABOUT PLAN INTERNATIONAL

Plan International is a development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan International works in over 75 countries with its partners, programme participants young people, supporter to advance children’s rights and equality for girls with an ambition to see All Girls Standing Strong Creating Global Change. Plan’s programmes are supported by a core of defined values, including transparency and accountability, team collaboration, inclusion and integration, as well as, the overall desire to empower girls and young women as legacy.

Plan International has been working in 50 districts in Nepal since its inception in 1978.It has played an important role in advocating for children's rights and gender equality in Nepal. Through its various initiatives, it empowers marginalized children, their families and communities to access their rights to health, education, economic security and protection. By addressing the unique challenges faced by girls and working towards their advancement, Plan International Nepal contributes to building a more equitable and inclusive society for all.

Plan international Nepal seeks candidates who practice feminist leadership, promote diversity, actively seek innovative solutions for problems, courageously and respectfully share their opinions and ideas, break down barriers and engender cross-department collaboration, practice active listening, maintain confidentiality, build trust and are passionate about children’s rights and equality for girls.

ROLE PURPOSE

Plan International is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) for the USAID-funded Education: Equity and Inclusion Activity in Nepal. USAID Education: Equity and Inclusion is a five-year, $20 million USD project that aims to strengthen partnerships between the Government of Nepal, other donors/Implementing Partners, and youth organizations, schools, and communities to plan and implement strategies that are responsive to the needs of marginalized learners in grades 6-10.  The activity will address barriers to access and retention, work to improve the quality of education for all children and ensure quality implementation of disbursement-linked indicators (DLIs) related to equity and inclusion activities under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology School Education Sector Plan. The project will have a central office in Kathmandu but will be implemented in the provinces of Karnali and Madhesh.

The COP will oversee all aspects of this project, leading strategic planning and decision making, providing technical guidance, overseeing activities of the sub-recipients, and supervising staff. Serving as the key liaison with USAID/Nepal, Ministries, implementing partners and other stakeholders, the COP will also establish and maintain an integrated vision among relevant stakeholders while ensuring adherence to all project objectives, performance requirements, and donor regulations. S/he will oversee coordination of field operations and ensure that activities are meeting USAID and Plan standards. The COP position will be based in Kathmandu, with travel to Karnali and Madhesh provinces as necessary.

DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE

• Budget accountability: Approximately USD 15 million
• Direct Reports: 5-6 direct

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Leadership and Management

• Serve as a principal liaison to USAID and the Government of Nepal, ensuring high levels of coordination, while nurturing relationships with all key stakeholders (including partner organizations at the national and subnational level) on administrative, financial, and programmatic matters related to the project.
• Provide overall leadership, management, administrative, and technical direction, and serve as the primary authority for all decision-making to ensure all activities, staff, and partners achieve targeted results and meet reporting requirements of the Activity.
• Ensure optimal use of human, financial, and physical resources to successfully meet project milestones, objectives, deliverables and targets.
• Foster a culture of leadership at all levels among project team members and partners.
• Engage fully as a member of the Plan International Nepal staff team, including participating in all-staff meetings and other Plan International Nepal events.

Team Management

• Lead project teams (e.g., technical, program, finance, and operational staff) to ensure program tasks, deliverables, and responsibilities are met;
• Ensure staff management including recruiting, supervising, and mentoring/coaching project staff.
• Create an enabling environment for project team to share issues, concerns and risks and an open learning culture.
• Ensure project staff in the implementing partners are adequately resourced, supported and required technical support is received.

Project Cycle Management

• Responsible for the overall technical direction of the Activity, including strategy and program planning and adaptation, evaluation, and learning.
• Ensure the Activity is completed within time, scope and budget.
• Provide technical direction and supervision for senior personnel and ensure quality and timeliness of all deliverables.
• Promote sustainability of project activities with effective communications, networking, linkages to other programs, capacity strengthening of project staff, and institutional strengthening.
• Ensure best practice and innovative approaches are integrated, and provide technical assistance and backstopping when required.
• Manage and supervise the work of project personnel, sub-awardees, and grantees, with a focus on core results, achievement of work plan and targets, timely implementation, and sound program.

Compliance and Reporting

• Lead development and implementation of annual work plans that reflect the priorities of USAID, the Ministry of Education Science and Technology and other relevant GoN entities, and lead co-creation workshops as necessary to solicit and integrate feedback and learnings from relevant stakeholders;
• Ensure compliance with USAID rules and regulations as well as Plan International’s requirements.
• Oversee project deliverables, including ensuring report preparation and high-quality timely submission, and ensuring cross-cutting issues are effectively integrated into project implementation.
• Ensure preparation of project activity updates, and other project-related communication and reporting materials.

Coordination, Collaboration, and Representation

• Establish and maintain highly collaborative working relationships with organizations and stakeholders in Nepal, the Government of Nepal, USAID/Nepal, other donors, and USAID implementing partners as required.
• Liaise with USAID partners and other donors, as well as implementing partners and stakeholders, to ensure coordination of and harmonization with other relevant education related activities in Nepal
• Represent the project in all technical, policy, and programmatic fora at all levels (regional, national, and international)

Safeguarding, Fraud and Risk Management

• Identify issues and risks related to implementation in a timely manner and take appropriate measures.
• Ensure that all activities are undertaken in full compliance with Plan International’s standard operating procedures, USAID policies and regulations, and national policies and laws.
• Equip all project staff, including Plan or partners’, with appropriate knowledge on Safeguarding and Fraud risks and ensure that reporting mechanism is clearly understood.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning and Development

• Ensure that the project uses and promotes the highest standards for strengthening education system and approaches based on scientific evidence, while generating innovations.
• Use data to track progress, inform decisions, share learning, and adapt project strategies.
• Help to integrate best practices in equitable and inclusive education, taking into account the diverse needs of the provinces and program participants;
• Continuously assess and evaluate activity outcomes, ensuring learning is incorporated into implementation, making course corrections as appropriate, and maintain a high standard of reporting to USAID.

Ensure Plan International’s CPP and GEI policies

• 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.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential Knowledge and Experience

• A Master’s degree international development, education, public policy, social sciences, or related field.
• Minimum 15 years of leadership experience in Nepal, directly overseeing projects of similar scope, size and complexity.
• Strong experience and knowledge of USAID funding requirements, grants and/or contracts policies, government to government programming.
• Knowledge of USAID’s Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) Framework, USAID Inclusive Development approach preferred.
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the Government of Nepal and the federalism context, and have experience successfully developing and maintaining relationships with key GoN stakeholders, donors, and other projects.
• Demonstrate a deep commitment to Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) principles and PYD (Positive Youth Development).
• Significant experience mentoring and coaching staff and working with international and national consultants, staff and sub-awardees.
• Demonstrated leadership, strategic thinking/planning, communications, knowledge management, systems strengthening, organizational development, financial and risk management, and dynamic presentation skills required.
• Substantial knowledge of issues related to equity and inclusion in education in Nepal, significant experience working in relevant technical areas, including girls’ education, improving learning outcomes for children with disabilities, parent and community engagement in education, and/or Universal Design for Learning.
• Demonstrated commitment to gender transformative programming and experience in implementing programs with gender-focused components.
• Excellent communication skills in Nepali and English (written and verbal) required.
• Preferably have work experience in Karnali and/or Madhesh.
• Ability to travel within Nepal, as necessary.

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

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

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

The position is based at Plan International Nepal, Country Office and travel as per need.

LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN

Mid contact: Occasional interaction with children

"Say Yes ! To Keeping Children and Young people safe and Protected"

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Application Deadline: Wednesday , 27th December 2023

NOTE: Applications are solely accepted through People2People online application procedures. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further selection process. Canvassing at any stage of processes shall lead to automatic disqualification.

Due to urgent priority to fill in the positions, recruitment can be held on a rolling basis and Plan International reserves the right to select a candidate prior to the deadline. Plan International Nepal invites all the applications including female candidates with priority from minority and youth groups for this position.

P2P and our client Plan is committed to promoting inclusivity and equal opportunity for all applicants. In recognition of the different needs of PLWD we offer options for application submission. Do contact us for further assistance.