Gender, Inclusion and Influencing Specialist

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

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.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Job Description                                                                                                     

• Dimensions of Role: The post holder will actively champion and contribute to Plan International’s gender transformative programming and inclusion policies through capacity building of staff and partners at all levels;
• Postholder lead aspects of Plan International Ghana’s country strategy development and implementation; research, advocacy, and influencing work, and to provide technical support to effectively integrate gender equality and inclusion into Plan International Ghana’s programmes and projects.

Typical Responsibilities:

Gender Transformative and Inclusion Analyses and Programming:

• Lead the delivery of robust gender equality assessments to refine and validate all Plan International Ghana’s Country strategies, programmes, annual plans, and projects to deliver gender transformative and inclusive programming and results. Strong analytical skill, especially in the application of ‘Gender Transformative Marker’ and understanding of project cycle management empowerment are essential to provide relevant technical guidance.

• Support and coordinate Plan International Ghana’s gender equality advocacy and influencing agenda which combines high quality programmes and bold, credible influencing to catalyse large-scale transformative change for children, especially girls and young women.

• Lead and Coordinate the implementation Plan International’s Girls Get Equal Campaigns at relevant levels, including sub-regional, national and local levels.
• Lead the periodic Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI&I) Self-Assessment at Country level; and support country management team (CMT) to implement and monitor same;

• Roll out Plan International’s Planting Gender Equality 2.0 (or its updated version) at the country, field and partner levels;
• Ensure Plan International staff and key partners have the tools, skills and capacities to fulfil core gender equality and transformative standards relevant to the needs of the beneficiaries and operating context. This includes providing training, mentorship and ongoing capacity development for staff and partners.
• Contribute to regular project narrative reports and communication materials in a timely manner, ensuring that implementation of gender transformative programming is clearly articulated and supported with high quality data, results and lessons.
• Work with program staff and technical advisors to identify the technical support needs of the project and ensure this support is provided.
• Performs any other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

Partnerships, Communication, Coordination and Influencing Policy:

• Foster and maintain productive and professional relationships with and between all stakeholders (children, girls, young women, government, private sector and non-profit etc) to embed gender equality. Leverage partnerships and evidence produced under the through programs and projects to inform policy, advocacy and influencing efforts.

• Lead the analysis of political environments and stakeholders in order to identify the most strategic targets who can bring about the change, including the private sector, government, civil society, and local/religious leaders.
• Coordinate and provide technical support to project managers of Plan International Ghana to effectively embed gender equality and transformation int all projects;
• Support the identification of strategic communications channels and outlets that can best influence targets and bring wider attention to chosen issues.
• Work with Plan International program/project teams to use Plan International’s expert voice, evidence-based positions, and illustrations of successful programme interventions to inform and engage policy makers via key media and social media outlets.
• Ensure best practices and lessons learned especially related to gender equality and inclusion are documented, shared, and integrated into programming and used to inform policy and advocacy efforts.
• Be active participant and contributor in the regional gender network as well as in pertinent national gender networks/platforms/coalitions that are pertinent;

Support performance on Gender Equality

• Plan International Ghana Gender training/induction plan;
• All staff and key partners of Plan International are trained on Gender Transformative Programming;
• All project staff and partners know and utilize Plan’s gender analysis tools, including the Gender Marker
• Plan International Ghana identifies and shares experiences on gender transformative programming;
• Staff are able to define SMART gender transformative performance objectives for the purpose of gender sensitivity assessment.

Dealing with problems:

• Strategic thinking, listening and negotiation,
• Informs, motivates and advises staff on gender issues,
• Be a champion for gender equality practice and effective programming among staff

Communication and Working relationships:

Internal

• The Gender, Inclusion and Influencing Specialist reports directly to the Programme Development Manager
• S/He works closely with:
  • Other Technical Specialists in Programme department,
  • Project Managers and Programme Unit Managers
  • Communications Unit
  • Human Resource department
  • Other departments’ managers
     

• S/He will represent the CO in all Plan Gender related network

External

• Partners at national level: Gender Specialists/ points persons within other INGOs/networks/coalitions;
• Governmental structures mainly Ministry of Gender and Social protection to share best practices and to identify /implement opportunities for collaboration e.g. advocacy, research , etc
• National technical networks.
   

Knowledge, Skills, Behaviors and Experience Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:

Qualification and Experience

• A Master’s degree in Gender Studies, Development Studies/Planning, Sociology
• Ideally minimum of 5 years solid experience in gender issues in the NGO / voluntary sector
• Experience of developing and implementing Gender strategies
• Experience in advocacy and Influencing
• Understanding of the Convention of the Rights of the child (CRC), Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and other human rights instruments

Knowledge

• Good knowledge of women rights issues at country level and globally, and instruments
• Good knowledge of children rights, the CRC and other relating right instruments ,
• Knowledge and Understanding of the links between gender equality and children rights
• Knowledge of Gender analysis programme frameworks and their applications to child rights programming

Skills

• Good training and presentation skills
• Technical and research skills in gender equality with a focus on girls human rights
• Good gender analysis skills
• Ability to provide guidance to research  and policy development
• Good English, written and verbal skills
• Ability to build internal and external networks
• Good organizational and project management skills
• Promotes innovation and learning
• Communicates effectively and enthusiastically
• Behaves consistently in his/her approach to work and decision-making
   
  Physical Environment and Demands:
  Travel requirements
  This position entails a minimum of 60% travel both within and outside the country
   
  Level of Contact with Children, especially girls and young women
  High level contact: the job responsibilities of this position require frequent contact with children and it is expected that children shall be protected at all times.
   

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 organization 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

• 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.

Location: Accra

Type of Role:  Gender Programming

Reports to: Interim Program Development Manager

Grade: D1

Closing Date: 17th August 2020

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk. 

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for. Our organisation is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We will provide equality of opportunity and will not tolerate discrimination on any grounds. We foster an organisational culture that embraces and exemplifies our commitment to gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion while supporting staff to adopt good practice, positive attitudes and principles of gender equality and inclusion.