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Missing Child Alert (MCA) Regional Coordinator

Plan is one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world. We work in 49 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas to promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty. Plan's vision is of a world in which all children realise their full potential in societies that respect people's rights and dignity, our aim is to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries. Plan is independent, with no religious, political or governmental affiliations. About the role

Missing Child Alert is a three-year programme funded by the Nationale Postocode Loterij. It aims to eradicate cross border child trafficking in South Asia by using modern IT technology to develop a sustainable and innovative cross border anti-child trafficking mechanism which links current and future national and regional efforts in the field of prevention, protection and prosecution. The programme runs in Bangladesh, India and Nepal with participation from Pakistan. The Regional Coordinator develops and manages the internal and external communication plan as well as the fundraising strategy. He or she invests in strengthening relationships with relevant stakeholders and organises research, capacity building and advocacy activities related to the Missing Child Alert programme in the region. The Regional Coordinator ensures dissemination of the programme’s progress and lessons learned within Plan as well as among the relevant public and private sector and child protection institutions and networks.

Main responsibilities

Information related to the programme is effectively and timely communicated to all stakeholders: -Act as a focal point for all communication related to the programme in the region; -Responsible for clear and consistent communication about the status and the process with regional external stakeholders; -Responsible for clear and consistent communication about the status, planning and progress with internal stakeholders through a regular newsletter and maintenance of a digital workspace on PlaNet; -Ensure implementation of the overall internal and external communication plan drafted in cooperation with Plan in the Netherlands and Plan in Bangladesh, India, Nepal with involvement of Plan in Pakistan; -Ensure that all communication activities carry the logo of the donor and keep their communication interests in mind at all times. -Facilitate the availability of photos, videos, case studies, testimonials and other material when the need for this arises and in line with the communication plan.

Ensure the programme is developed and managed in line with relevant Plan policies and support the Plan offices in establishing public-private partnerships: -Coordinate the development of the overall programme proposal and three country project proposals, including logical frameworks, activity plans, timelines, milestones and budgets, in Bangladesh, India and Nepal; -Facilitate the consultation of internal and external local and regional experts to support the programme development; -Coordinate an ICT project team which will work on the development of the programme’s main component, the actual alert network; -Ensure that the programme and three country projects are thoroughly gender sensitive and adhere to Plan’s Gender Policy; -Organise and facilitate meetings with appropriate corporate partners in the South Asia region to explore possibilities for public-private partnerships related to Missing Child Alert with a special focus on ICT for the alert network; -Ensure that the local country offices have identified and established partnership agreements with implementing partners; -Work with the country coordinators to ensure that the three country projects in Bangladesh, India and Nepal jointly achieve the expected results of the cross border programme; -Develop and establish mechanisms for linking and learning between the country offices; -Coordinate baseline studies, mid-term and final evaluations.

The programme is sustained through the establishment of relevant systems and funding: -Support and coordinate the planning process at regional and country level prior to the start of the implementation period in January 2012; -Discuss and confirm the history, roles and responsibilities with the Programme Coordinator at Plan in the Netherlands; -Document the processes and lessons learned for future reference and replication; -Facilitate Plan in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and the Netherlands in the development of a fundraising strategy for the Missing Child Alert programme;
-Support the implementation of the fundraising strategy and liaise with Plan in the Netherlands, Asia Regional Office (ARO), South Asian Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC) for the identification of funding opportunities and ensure relevant follow-up; -Support Plan in Bangladesh, India and Nepal to cooperate with the private sector through financial and in-kind support to the programme; -Realise the objective of including two additional South Asian countries in the programme from 2015 onwards.

Activities are constantly monitored to ensure adherence to the programme timeline:
-Monitor the programme at regional level and coordinate the regional programme team consisting of three country coordinators and an advisor from Plan ARO; -Ensure there is frequent and effective communication with the regional programme team and advisors from ARO and Plan Pakistan to discuss progress, risks, and opportunities; -Review the project narrative and financial progress reports from Plan Bangladesh, India and Nepal, share feedback, and send consolidated programme report to the Programme Coordinator at Plan in the Netherlands;

About you

Knowledge -Cross border programme coordination; -Human and children’s rights as defined by the UNCRC and other relevant international treaties; -Excellent communication and networking skills with a broad variation of stakeholders; -Conceptual understanding of the human and child rights framework and practical experience in its implementation i.e. programming; -Working knowledge of and affinity with child protection issues in the South Asia region; -Working knowledge of cross border child trafficking trends, key stakeholders and counter initiatives in the South Asia region; -Demonstrated knowledge of civil society in South Asia and experience in networking and advocacy; -Knowledge of current effective practices of child protection programming in South Asia and trends for the near future; -Proficient with Microsoft Office 2010 and Skype; -Proficient in English, oral and in writing; -Knowledge of one or more of the following languages: Hindi, Nepali, Bengali, Urdu is desirable.

Skills and behaviours -Planning, monitoring and evaluation; -Excellent reporting skills and management of a large budget; -Ability to identify and act on opportunities and risks, anticipate and communicate about delay and concerns about progress of the programme, develop solutions to problems and execute decisions based on sound judgment; -Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with people from diverse cultures and at different levels; -Proven experience of coordinating cross border team work; -Demonstrable ability to work for an international NGO and maintain an excellent relationship with the focal person liaising with the donor; -Demonstrable ability to work and travel in a region with varying cultural values and traditions.

Qualifications and Experience

-Master degree in Law, Social Sciences or a related field and preferably a Ph.D. in gender or child protection; -Extensive coordination or technical experience in the design, implementation and evaluation of cross border child protection and child rights programmes; -Demonstrable abilities in regional planning, coordination, monitoring and communication.

Languages

Fluency in English is essential and Hindi, Bengali or Nepali would be highly desirable.

Location and Travel

The post will be based in the Plan Bangladesh Country Office with travel throughout the region.

How to Apply

Please submit a full CV and a comprehensive cover letter setting out your reasons for applying for the post and outlining the qualifications experience knowledge and skills that you feel you can bring to the role to:-recadmin@plan-international.org The closing date for applications is Friday 21st October 2011

Please quote reference number AR024

Reference and background checks will be carried out in conformity with Plans Child Protection Policy. Plan operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all areas of the international community.