Gender at the Centre (GCI) Programme and Advocacy Coordinator at Plan International

Role Purpose

• Launched in July 2019, the Gender at the Centre Initiative (GCI) was developed by the G7 Ministers of Education and Development in collaboration with multilateral and civil society organizations committed to advancing gender equality in education. Under the leadership of the Government of France, the G7 leaders recognized the urgency of ensuring that all girls and boys around the world can access a quality education as a fundamental right and foundation for gender equality.
• The Declaration on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment issued at the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Biarritz, France, August 2019, gave new momentum to this global commitment and provided powerful support for the Gender at the Centre Initiative (GCI).
• The Initiative is rooted in gender-responsive education sector planning (GRESP), an approach which has been developed and implemented by the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI) in partnership with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and with support from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (UNESCO-IIEP) and civil society partners.
• The Initiative mobilizes additional technical resources to support the leadership of ministries of education and other national actors to advance gender equality in education through sector planning, implementation and monitoring, and through the adoption of cross sectoral approaches.
• An initial eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa, which include Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, were later invited to join the initiative and further develop its initial design.
• The GCI programme will be implemented by the partner countries, with support from a multi-stakeholder partnership which includes UNGEI, GPE, UNESCO-IIEP, UNESCO, UNICEF, Plan International, the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), the African Network Campaign for Education for All (ANCEFA), and the African Union - International Centre for Girls’ and Women’s Education in Africa (AU/CIEFFA). Together with the G7 donors and participating countries, this partnership of stakeholders forms the GCI Alliance.
• Plan International is looking for a highly qualified Gender at the Centre (GCI) Programme and Advocacy Coordinator to coordinate the Gender at Centre Initiative (GCI) implemented in Sierra Leone and Niger, disseminate and promote the GCI strategy, participate in different strategic discussions with UNESCO, the Global Partnership for Education and other regional education institutions.
• She /he will also lead on any other education initiative fostered by Plan International WACA and aiming at transforming systems so that girls and boys in their diversities benefit from the transformative power of quality education.
• Under the overall supervision of the Director of Influencing, Partnership and Business Development, and the direct supervision of Regional Research, policy and Advocacy specialist, the Gender at the Gender at the Centre (GCI) Programme and Advocacy Coordinator is responsible for the overall coordination of the GCI project.
• This person will work in link with the staff of the Regional Office namely:
  • Advocacy and Policy specialist,
  • Gender and Inclusion specialist,
  • Education in Emergency Specialist and
  • Education specialist from the 7 countries of the GCI,
  • Advocacy and Policy specialist around the region.
• The communication team of the Regional Office and the different countries covered will support in the design of tools and the documentation of good practices to demonstrate the competence of Plan International.
• He / She will ensure the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the GCI, delivery and accomplishment of project goals, objectives and budget.
• The Gender at the Centre (GCI) Programme and Advocacy Coordinator  will foster lessons learning and sharing of best practices between Niger and Sierra Leone. She/he will participate in the consortium discussions (Plan International-FAWE-ANCEFA), participate in the GCI Alliance annual meetings and any other relevant regional meetings in the sector of gender-responsive education.
• She/ He will work in cross-functional teams to support quality education and gender equality programming and influencing in WACAH.

Dimensions of the Role

• Multi-country gender centered education programme coordination and fund management
• Advocacy and partnership in Girls Education around the region and targeted COs
• Documentation and dissemination of best practices.
• Support the capacity building of CSOs and other stakeholders of the project on different thematic including GRESP
• Internal communications with other Technical Specialists, Operations including Finance, HROD in CO; as well as Country Level relevant programme advisor to ensure consistency of the approach and implementation aligned with country strategy and to source support project/programme management.
• Manage program consistency with Plan’s and donor’s requirements
• Represent Plan in the GCI Consortium and Alliance meetings, and other relevant education meetings within WACA.

Accountabilities

• GCI Programme implementation and fund management: 
  • Planification and implementation of Country work plan,
  • Documentation of gender transformative and influencing practices in Education sector,
  • Management and follow up of funds spent within deadline;
  • Consistent use of the Gender Transformative Markers;
  • Consolidate the reports of the (according to the calendar) and quarterly inform the decision;
• Advocacy and Policy in education strengthened:
  • Girls education Policy and situation analysis around the region with focus on Sierra Leone and Niger,
  • Advocacy initiatives with community, youth activism around the region to support the GCI ambition,
  • Reinforcement advocacy with Government and education institution to maintain girls at school,
  • Policy brief including joint advocacy initiative with JFI, GCI partners, UNESCO;
• Documentation and research to scale up the response of the GCI in Niger and Sierra Leone:
  • Document good practices and highlight the actions carried out by Plan International in the GCI and the education sector in general, especially the specific effect of the initiative on (adolescent) girls
  • Conduct data collection for advocacy, 
  • Engage with relevant gender-responsive education stakeholders ensuring appropriate information is provided in a timely basis (eg 3Ws, 4Ws, 5Ws). 
• Strategic partnership establishment at regional level and in countries with the different actors involved in the GCI:
  • Reinforcement of partnership with two CSOs (FAWE, ANCEFA) at regional and Co level;
  • Joint gender transformative and inclusion initiatives carried out with education stakeholders at regional and country level,
  • Strategic partnership at CO and regional level with Global Partnership for Education, UNESCO, IIEP-UNESCO, UNICEF,
  • Identify opportunities to establish strategic partnerships with other gender-responsive stakeholders
  • Establishment / reinforcement of partnerships, especially with local women led and youth led organizations, in countries in the education document with GCI actors, commitment of government and other decision-makers to support advocacy for girls' education,
• Support resource mobilization in Education sector around the GCI CO: Development of multi-country Gender and Education initiatives by Plan International covering the 6 out of 8 GCI countries for action oriented towards the secretariat for the mobilization of resources: multi-country program document
• Coordination mechanism:
  • Regional Girls Education workgroup launched for experience sharing and south-south cooperation between all PI CO;
  • Support the coordination mechanism between Plan International ANCEFA and FAWE at regional and CO level,
  • Participate in the meetings and activities of UNESCO, GPE, GENIE and any other relevant regional institution
• Child protection and GEI : 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:

• Focal points of the GCI in Niger and Sierra Leone, Business Development Manager, Grants & Compliance team, Head of Programme development and influencing; Head of Programme Implementation and Quality, Head of Finance, Regional Research, Policy and Advocacy Specialist, Regional Gender and Inclusion Specialist.
• National Offices, Global Hub.

External:

• Government representatives
• UNGEI, UNICEF
• Implementing Consortium (FAWE & ANCEFA) and other National & Local NGOs and CSOs (related to coordination, queries at implementation, reporting and compliances)
• Peer agencies.

Technical Expertise, Skills and Knowledge
Knowledge & Experience:

• Broad and proven knowledge of gender responsive education, work with CSO and communities to change policies and practices for girls and boys access to equitable education
• Previous experience of applying relevant frameworks and standards in Education and gender transformative programming
• Experience of working with adolescent girls and youth groups
• Proven knowledge in conducting gender responsive Education needs assessments
• Proven experience in the design, proposal writing, implementation and evaluation of gender responsive education programme
• Experience of and demonstrated ability to effectively network with a diverse range of organizations and relevant government departments at all levels
• Proven experience of incorporating gender issues in to funding submissions.
• Proven experience in establishing strategic partnerships
• Good knowledge of and experience in Minimum Standards for Education in Emergencies (INEE), Education Cluster Handbook and Gender Responsive Education Sector Planning (GRESP).
• Knowledge on tackling inequality and exclusion
• Experience in conducting gender responsive Education needs assessments.

Skills:

• Ability to coordinate and organise within a fluid working environment and has a capacity for initiative and decision making with competent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to undertake strategic and programme planning in education and gender
• Strong practice and experience in advocacy in education sector, staff capacity building and motivation skills in teamwork and networking.
• Ability to work independently and as a team player who demonstrates leadership and is able to support and train staff and also able to work with disaster affected communities in a sensitive and participatory manner. 
• Project management including planning and scheduling, process design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation
• Well-developed written and oral communication skills. Able to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders as a representative of Plan International, including proven networking skills. 
• Language skills required ( English, French)
• Good Communicator.

Behaviours:

• Committed to Plan International’s strategy and value
• Team player and relationship builder.
• Flexible, but with a responsible aptitude to work
• Have a sense of responsibility and respect for deadlines
• Able to work calmly under extreme pressure
• Focused and results-oriented
• The incumbent should be able to quickly understand and assimilate the complexity of Plan International’s corporate systems especially those that he/she will be working with on a daily basis.

Physical Environment:

• The Gender at the Centre (GCI) Programme and Advocacy Coordinator can be based in any of the countries where WACAH has its offices but will be responsible to work with Niger and Sierra Leone either remotely or in person, and on any other education program in WACAH.

Level of Contact with Children:

• Medium contact: medium frequency of interaction.