South Sudan: Project Manager EiE/CP - South Sudan

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.

1.Terms of reference

Job title: Project Manager EiE/CP
Code: SR-41-499
Country: South Sudan
Duty Station: Malakal – Upper Nile State, South Sudan
Starting date: 01/05/2018
Duration of contract: 12 months
Reporting to: Education Coordinator and Head of Mission
Supervision of: 20 national staff
Dependents: No

2.General context of the project

South Sudan is a country which has been affected by complex emergencies, both natural and conflict-related, for decades. The Greater Upper Nile region, including the states of Upper Nile, Jonglei and Unity have been the most highly affected ones by the ongoing crisis in which this project will be implemented. INTERSOS responds in all three States to the protection needs of vulnerable women and children by implementing GBV prevention and response as well as child protection activities. INTERSOS has been present in South Sudan since 2006 with a country office in Juba and field bases in six States of the country, namely Jonglei, Upper Nile, Unity, Eastern Equatoria, Western Equatoria and Central Equatoria. INTERSOS focuses on implementing emergency response and relief programs in different sectors: Protection, Education, NFI/Shelter and WASH with a special focus on serving the conflict-affected population, which were forced to displace from their homes by the conflict but also the hosting communities, which often are equally vulnerable.

South Sudan is anchored to the bottom of the world league table for education and child protection. Access to education is still a significant issue due to ongoing conflict and lack of human and physical resources. More than half of its primary school age children – over 1 million in total – are out of school. South Sudan has a larger proportion of its children out of school than almost any other country in the world, along with the deepest gender inequalities.

Literacy and numeracy outcomes in South Sudan are very poor, with significant disparities across states and counties. The negative impact of the conflict on education has resulted in schools being occupied by armed actors and IDPs. Due to these reasons many schools are closed or damaged and many children and adolescents are forced to drop out of school. It is fundamental to implement programmes as EiE in this context especially to avoid the recruitment of these children and adolescents into armed groups. The impact of conflict on teachers has been devastating. The key challenges that the education system is facing are: the shortage and quality of teachers, school inspectors and school supervisors; the lack (and quality) of stationery, learning materials and textbooks; the high levels of overcrowding in classrooms; widespread teacher absenteeism; teacher lacking or having very low English language skills especially as children are supposed to be taught in English from P4 onwards. Another challenge is that women are underrepresented in the teaching profession. INTERSOS as implementer of EIE programme acknowledges that out-of-school children and adolescents are more vulnerable to violence, abuse, forced recruitment and engagement in life-threatening, and often criminal activities. The conflict in South Sudan has permeated all levels of society leaving children and adolescents at particular risk of adopting violent behaviours as they have become normalised. In emergency contexts, education saves lives through providing children with safe and protective learning environments and integrating lifesaving messages into daily lessons.

The Project Manager for EiE and CP in Upper Nile State will report to the Education Coordinator and the HoM (as Head of Field Base).

3.General purpose of the position

This position is aimed at ensuring the prompt and effective delivery of the EiE and CP response in Upper Nile State. By the end of the assignment, the post holder is expected to have:

• Contributed to ensuring the children targeted by the project are accessing quality education services through the implementation of the project
• Managed the EiE team to ensure the achievement of all activities enumerated in the project document – team management includes overseeing recruitment processes, prompt payment of salaries, team work planning, staff capacity development and performance evaluation
• Ensured that the child protection forecasted response is smoothly integrated within the EiE response
• Ensured the technical quality of the project paying particular attention to the learning outcomes of children supported
• Managed all project logistics to ensure the achievement of the project activities
• Managed all financial resources available to the project – ensuring sound documentation is in place for all procurements and internal and donor procedures are applied as applicable
• Ensured data is collected to respond to all project indicators in a timely fashion for bi-weekly, interim and final reporting
• Ensured timely submission of all reports due at state level and contributed to country-level reporting (5Ws, interim and final reports)

4.Tasks and responsibilities

Project Management

• Supervise implementation of project activities in a timely manner
• Develop and manage the implementation of/adherence to work plans and M&E plans
• Manage all financial resources allocated to the project, including budget holding responsibility for Upper Nile State, production of financial plans and cash forecasts and verification of budget vs. actual on a weekly and monthly basis
• Manage all logistical procedures for the project – ensuring INTERSOS and donor requirements are met and proper documentation is collected and maintained for all procurements
• Ensure bi-weekly reports are submitted to UNICEF at state level as per the agreed reporting schedule
• Ensure data is collected regularly to respond to agreed indicators
• Develop budgets and project proposals for the EiE/CP program in Upper Nile State, in close coordination with the (Education) Program Coordinator
• Carry out rapid assessments to investigate further programming opportunities inside Upper Nile State

Programme Quality

• Build capacity of INTERSOS Education and CP team, to meet minimum standards for Education in Emergency and CP in Emergency, including training and mentoring of the staffs

• Technical support for EIE/CP activities throughout the programme providing insights to national and international staff on EiE/CP standards including tools and methodologies (pedagogy, early grade literacy, classroom management, lesson planning, positive behavior management, psychosocial support etc.)

• Build capacity of teachers, PTA members, UNICEF partners and community members through training on the aforementioned technical areas

Coordination:

• Ensure 5W matrices are submitted to the National Clusters IMO as per the agreed reporting schedule

• Coordinate CP sub-cluster in Upper Nile State, by regularly maintaining contact with other protection actors in the state

• Represent the Education program with national authorities, non-state actors, UN agencies, NGOs, donors, etc. in Jonglei State

Human Resources:

• Recruit and train national education/CP team members in Malakal as required to achieve the project objectives

• Work with the administration department to ensure all administrative procedures are followed for staff – updated personal details on file, accurate ToR for each staff member, payrolls etc.

5.Required profile/experience

Education

Advanced University Degree in Education or significant professional experience in the education and CP sectors in lieu of formal credentials

Professional experience

• 3 years' work experience in EiE/CP sector
• Knowledge of the EiE sector standards and education methodologies
• Experience in teacher professional development through training, coaching and mentoring
• Experience working in primary education required – knowledge of early childhood development and working with out-of-school adolescents desirable
• Experience in integrating child protection in schools – particular emphasis on positive behavior management, establishment and maintenance of referral pathways, ensuring school grounds are safe and protective etc.
• Experience developing proposals and reports in the English language
• ·Management experience is difficult contexts – including staff management, budget holding responsibility and management of logistical procedures
• Familiarity with MHPSS guidelines, Minimum standards for child protection in humanitarian action, Sphere standards etc.

Professional requirements

• Strong management and leadership skills in humanitarian response
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills with analytic approach
• Ability to integrate and work well within multiethnic and multicultural teams
• Ability to achieve results effectively, considering the need for speed scale and quality

Languages

Proficient working knowledge of English

Personal requirements

• Willingness to live in the field in hard-to reach areas living in temporary bases and to accept basic living standards, and movement’s restrictions
• Willingness to live, adapt and productively work in insecure, unstable and/or harsh environments
• Strong team spirit, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment

For further information and to apply, follow the link below:

https://www.intersos.org/en/work-with-us/#intersosorg-vacancies/vacancy-details/5acbdaca79aade2aada17587/

In case you encounter difficulties applying through INTERSOS' platform, you can also apply by sending your CV, motivation letter and 2 references via email to recruitment@intersos.org , with subject line: "**SR-**".

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the first interview.