Urban Programme Lead (Re-Advertisement)

THE ORGANISATION
Founded in 1937, Plan International, Inc. (“PII”) is a globally recognized non-profit dedicated to advancing children’s rights and gender equality in both humanitarian and development contexts. With over 80 years of experience, Plan International addresses the root causes of challenges faced by girls and vulnerable children, working in 70+ countries. The organization collaborates with children, young people, supporters, and partners to create a just world, acknowledging that the potential of every child is often hindered by poverty, violence, exclusion, disasters, and discrimination.

ABOUT PLAN INTERNATIONAL KENYA
Plan International Kenya (PIK), operational since 1982, focuses on long-term development. Collaborating closely with local communities and governments, with a work force of 250 staffs and annual budget of $ 16 million, PIK implements programs to enhance the well-being of children, girls and young people in geographic focus of Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Tharaka-Nithi, Siaya, Kwale, Kilifi, Homa Bay, Kisumu, Tana River, Turkana, and Marsabit.

Under the current Country Strategy (July 2021 – June 2026), PIK aims to end teenage pregnancies and gender-based violence against girls. This goal will be achieved through the following thematic pillars. strategic objectives:
1. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR): Improve access to SRHR services and information to reduce teenage pregnancies and harmful practices in Kenya.
2. Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence: Ensure functional child and girls’ rights protection mechanisms to prevent and respond to all forms of violence and abuse.
3. Protecting Girls and Young Women in Crisis and Climate Change Adaptation: Minimize the impact of disasters on girls, young women, families, and communities.
4. Youth-led and Innovative Partnerships for Job Creation: Build a stronger ecosystem for youth employment and entrepreneurship, particularly for vulnerable young women, fostering job seekers and creators.

ABOUT PLAN INTERNATIONAL URBAN HUB
The Plan International Urban Hub acts as a global facilitator for the Plan federation, uniting our combined urban expertise in an alliance that strives for responsible, gender transformative and sustainable urbanisation and urban development for all children and young people. The Urban Hub is Plan International’s global platform for coordinating the sharing and expansion of knowledge and good practice, across programming and influencing activities in urban contexts.
The Urban Programme Lead role will be hosted in the Kenya Country Office and with above country office mandate of regional assignment by providing urban programming excellence in other Country offices within the Middle East Eastern and Southern Africa (MEESA) region. The role will lead in harnessing PII’s urban programming practices experiences with a primary focus on growing PIIs urban development and climate action programming portfolio, driving excellence and scaling up of urban development programming, while utilizing Plan’s Urban Toolkit, and introducing other tried and tested urban development programming models

ABOUT THE ROLE
The primary objective of the role of the Urban Programme Development Lead, is to:
• Provide leadership and technical support in the development of innovative sustainable urban programmes, with a particular focus on climate action programmes, youth and livelihoods etc. that have a lasting impact in the lives of children and youth.
• Work directly with country office partners to realise urban program priorities in the MEESA Region.
• To lead and support urban-focused external representation in the MEESA region- building collaborative external partnerships which can drive deeper impact and complementary expertise in urban contexts.
• To support urban business development opportunities in partnership with PII offices in MEESA region where urban expertise and contributions of the Urban Hub are of value.
• To work with Plan International Denmark and their country office partners who directly implement urban programs to provide any necessary technical or program management support.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN WORK RESPONSIBILITIES

1. External Representation and Partnership Building in the MEESA region (50%)
• In coordination with the Global Urban lead, represent Plan International in building strong partnerships with relevant organisations and build the profile of Plan International. This includes taking leadership on realisation of the priorities of the Plan – UN Habitat MoU and developing relations with the Africa Development Bank.
• Actively explore and seek new partnerships which can complement Plan’s programs and expertise.
• Support and contribute to business development in the area of urban programming, and assist in the formation of coalitions and consortiums in bids, particularly in the area of urban climate adaptation and resilience, youth leadership and economic empowerment.

2. Strategic Urban Leadership in the MEESA Region (20%)
• Facilitate and build knowledge, support and collaborate in the MEESA region in the area of urban programming in thematic areas that include climate action, job creation for youth, youth engagement/ advocacy and urban development.
• Provide direct support and technical advisory services to Country Office partners in the MEESA region in relation to key areas of urban expertise.
• Work to assist and support the development of new urban tools and resources. Deliver training, mentoring and support to country office partners in the region.
• Collaborate with other regions of Plan International, as needed to support urban programming and learning.

3. Program development and Technical Support of Plan Denmark – funded Urban youth-led climate adaptation programs (20%)
• In coordination with Plan Denmark and relevant country offices take part in developing, managing and offering technical support on new youth-led urban climate adaptation programmes.
• Contribute to and provide technical feedback on project reports, research pieces and evaluations of urban projects.
• Provide technical review of bids where urban climate adaptation, resilience or other aspects of urban programming represents an integrated component of the bid, and / or review proposals from other technical teams, as relevant, to provide input and advice.
• Collaborate with DNO’s Program Development Manager, on program development and business development where there is a need to do so.

4. Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) (5%)
Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion 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.

5. Other duties (5%)
Any other duties as assigned by the line manager

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES
• Courageous, taking a lead, challenging self and others to achieve purpose, safeguard others and role model values, inside and outside work. Responsible for my work and learning, striving to improve. Self-aware, resilient and constructive in embracing change. Striving to achieve significant and lasting impact on the lives of children and young people, and to secure equality for girls. Challenging myself to be bold, courageous, responsive, focused and innovative;
• Creating a climate of trust inside and outside the organisation by being open, honest and transparent. Holding myself and others to account for decisions and impact on others. Doing what I say I will do. Working effectively with others, inside and outside the organisation, including sponsors and donors. Actively supporting colleagues, helping them to achieve their goals. Coming together with others to create and implement solutions in teams, across Plan International, with children, girls, young people, communities and our partners;
• Respecting all people, appreciating differences and challenging inequality in programmes and the workplace. Supporting children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives. Empowering other staff to give their best and develop their potential;
• Understanding Plan International’s purpose, priorities, values and approaches in our work context. Adhering to relevant policies, processes, practices and standards, and being pro-active in continuing technical and professional development.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES
• Understands relevant sectoral context including how the sector operates in terms of funding and governance and awareness of Plan’s purpose, values, and global strategy
• Manages legal and reputational risk including risk assessment, communication, risk management and reporting in full compliance with risk-related standards, including in areas such as Child and Youth Safeguarding and Protection, Gender equality and inclusion, Counter Fraud, Safety and Security
• Managing activities and resources including skills in strategic thinking, planning and organising, financial planning and monitoring, negotiation and programme and project management
• Managing people and information including skills in assessment and coaching, evidence-based management, communication skills, both speaking and writing, and digital working, including personal digital skills

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential Knowledge & Skills
• Bachelor’s degree in program development or equivalent with at least 5 years working in the international development sector, with an explicit focus on the area of resilience, job creation, youth, green jobs, climate change or urban programming
• At least 10 Years’ demonstrable and relevant work experience
• At least 5 Years in leadership/managerial role
• Experience in capacity building, mentoring and delivering training.
• Well-developed organisational and time management skills including the ability to manage workflows, balance competing priorities and to deliver quality results within deadlines.
• Demonstrated communication and negotiation skills, as well as the ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with external and internal stakeholders (cross functional teams across all levels of the organisation).
• Demonstrated understanding of gender equality and women’s empowerment and a commitment to Plan International approach and values including diversity and inclusion.
• Demonstrated experience engaging in external partnerships, and understanding of good partnership practice and principles.

Languages required
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Qualifications/ experience desirable:
• Experience in donor engagement for purposes of resource mobilization
• A Master’s Degree in Development Studies, Rural and Urban Studies/Planning, Population/ Demographic Studies, Environmental Management or other relevant qualifications.
• Ability to influence/ engage in advocacy
• Experience in addressing development issues in the region (Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and the Middle East)

Click on the below link to access the full Job Description

JD – Urban Programme Lead Final 22nd Feb.pdf

Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Reports to: Director Program Design and Business Development
Closing Date: 8th April 2024

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International 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 foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

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 their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Disclaimer: Plan International is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate applicants on any basis. We also do not charge Job seekers any fees at any point of the recruitment process.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply for this position.