Lead Humanitarian Programs Focused on Children and Young People Vacancy-Job Ref: WJMWPLAN/2307/2025826

Lead Humanitarian Programs Focused on Children and Young People Vacancy-Job Ref: WJMWPLAN/2307/2025826

Lilongwe (Malawi)

Job Description

Overview

Plan International is an independent child rights and humanitarian organisation committed to children living a life free of poverty, violence and injustice. We actively unite children, communities and other people who share our mission to make positive lasting changes in children’s and young people’s lives. We support children to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to claim their rights to a fulfilling life, today and in the future. We place a specific focus on girls and women, who are most often left behind. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 75 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Role Purpose

This role exists to provide overall leadership and management of interventions for girls, boys, and young people in humanitarian crisis. The role ensures holistic humanitarian-development-peace (HDP) nexus programming and influencing using principled and locally led humanitarian action. It covers responsibilities spanning child and youth-centered disaster risk identification, mitigation, assessments, response, and monitoring. The role also covers planning and coordination of recovery interventions at the country and Program Area levels in line with Plan’s Country Strategy, policies, procedures and practices.

Dimensions of the Role

The Technical Lead: Humanitarian Effectiveness reports to the Director of Programme Strategy, and has no direct reports in line with the current structure. Depending on the grant funded portfolio of humanitarian projects, they may supervise technical specialist staff under Education/ Child Protection/ Sexual reproductive health and Rights/ Gender in Emergencies etc. They may also have matrix relationships with project staff on resilience, disaster risk reduction, and climate change projects.

The incumbent works closely with Programme Area Managers (PAM), Director of Programme Implementation, Technical Programme Leads, and Humanitarian Project Managers or Coordinators to implement the programme at Area level and within projects. Interaction occurs regularly and monthly. They may have financial authority delegated to them by the Country Director to manage specific emergencies as the case may be.

Accountabilities

Strategic Design
Translate the Global Strategy and Country Strategy for humanitarian programming and influencing in Malawi into simple strategic manuals to increase staff understanding and facilitate its implementation
Develop a long-term vision and strategic planning to scale up the quality, pace, size and reach of our humanitarian action
Develop quality project concept papers and proposals, and leverage flexible income to respond early and quickly in a new emergency while engaging donors.

Work with the Director of Programme Strategy to manage the formulation, organisation and delivery of high-level influencing
Plan and manage people, logistic and financial resources in consultation and cooperation with relevant functional support teams
Ensure compliance with relevant policies, guidelines and agreements of Government, multilateral and bilateral agencies and donors.

Programming & Influencing
Oversee the collection of evidence and best practices to support advocacy and influencing efforts
Influence the strengthening or development of national level policies, procedures, and governance frameworks with particular focus on girls’ rights
Work with the Malawi government on preparedness initiatives that influence their social protection framework (such as safety nets) to benefit girls and young women, who are often the most at risk in crises.

Design emergency response and recovery plans for Malawi area of operations and update regularly
Deploy as Emergency Response Manager for rapid onset emergencies and lead Emergency Response Teams as needed for initial stage of assessment and response
Monitor risk maps in-country and update/inform the country leadership team (CLT) of new trends.
Advise CLT on phase-in in new areas, where child rights are violated and girls are increasingly vulnerable.

Support leadership to develop Ready to Respond plans, and mainstream disaster risk management (DRM) into various procedures
Guide integration of relevant aspects of disaster prevention, preparedness, response and recovery in thematic country programmes to promote coherence
Build relations with all departments, ensure coordination with national DRM systems, and participate actively in inter-agency coordination spaces
Conduct rapid needs & gender assessments and provide technical information on emergencies.

Networking and Resource Development
Document disaster preparedness, response and outcomes
Represent Plan International at international platforms, and with national and district representatives, highlighting key issues of concern impacting on children, youth, and in particular on girls
Engage with relevant humanitarian fora and clusters, ensuring appropriate information is provided on a timely basis.

Maintain and develop in-country relations with institutional donors
Identify opportunities to establish strategic partnerships with other humanitarian agencies
Establish and maintain emergency/ disasters technical support contacts and networks including communications
Establish and implement standards of accountability and learning
Ensure high standards of effectiveness and efficiency are established and monitored
Ensure that budgets are spent according to approved plans.

Ensure quality and transparent accountability towards affected populations, and support implementation and scaling up of Plan’s child-friendly feedback and complaints mechanism
Manage humanitarian intervention compliance with government, donors, and to Plan International Inc
Promote knowledge management activities
Ensure quarterly analysis of PMERL dashboards for the humanitarian portfolio to support leadership with timely decision making
Implement Data Quality Verification for the reports under the project portfolio
Support learning and research agenda under the humanitarian portfolio
Ensure that evaluations of projects are done regularly to improve programme planning.

Coordinate capacity building
Conduct capacity building needs assessments for staff, partners, and volunteers
Facilitate capacity building interventions at programme area and community levels (e.g. gathering rapid gender assessment information, development and managing information systems)
Raise awareness of children’s rights/ protection within Plan and amongst partners and community members
Ensure that Plan staff and associates understand Plan’ Global and Country Strategy, policies and procedures in emergency in the context of Malawi.

Ensure that Plan staff and associates understand the place and role of disaster risk reduction (DRR) in our programme work in assisting vulnerable children especially girls
Ensure effective plans to build the capacity of youths, CBO, CSOs, and government partners on DRR
Safeguarding Children & Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion
Ensure that Plan International’s global policies for safeguarding children and young people, and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policies 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
Promote Plan’s safeguarding & gender equality and inclusion policies and procedures in humanitarian work among partners, communities, and associates with whom Plan works
Identify key risks within your area of operation and put in appropriate control measures to manage them
Assist in mainstreaming and implementing gender equality activities in project/proposal design and in all programmes at all levels.

Cross-cutting responsibilities
Partnership – Establish humanitarian actor partnerships in line with Plan’s Building Better Partnerships procedures and guidelines, and ensure implementation partner monitoring and capacity building
Security Management – strengthen own, team and partner security during crisis through:effective situation and risk analysis and standard operating procedures
effective and appropriate security acceptance/ mitigation measures for field missions.

Assess and develop team security management capacity for programming and in areas of limited access
Draw contingency plans for operational areas with risks, triggers and scenarios and monitor plans monthly; in collaboration with Security Focal Person & PAMs.
Minimum Standards – Ensure the rights of children, especially girls, and those most vulnerable are upheld during humanitarian interventions, and that international commitments and agreed principles, standards and codes are understood, promoted and complied with
Key relationships

Dealing with Problems:

The position involves a high degree of complexity in resolving a wide range of challenges which typically occur in humanitarian programmes. The post holder will demonstrate the ability to problem solve, thinking strategically while introducing innovations as needed to meet the demands of a dynamic and sometimes unpredictable operating environment.

Communications and Working Relationships:

To maximize overall program impact through the optimized contributions of others, the post holder will be required to initiate, develop and maintain a range of working relationships, including with government officials, donors, implementing partners and other humanitarian organisations.

Effective working relationships within Plan are also essential, including with National Offices, Global Hub, Regional Hub, other Country Offices, and with Program Area Managers, CLT members, and other staff in Plan International Malawi. The incumbent will interact with external stakeholders to ensure networking and creation of strategic alliances with government agencies and other organisations.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Educational Qualification and Experience

Advanced University degree humanitarian action, disaster risk reduction, management or other social sciences related areas
Over 6 years proven record of achievement in the humanitarian sector
Increasing responsibility in planning and managing programmes in disaster reduction, emergency response and post-disaster recovery.

Extensive field experience in disaster environments and an in-depth knowledge of issues
Application of theoretical knowledge in the design, management and evaluation of complex, multi-disciplinary capacity building programmes involving national governments, civil society and international organisations
Demonstrated abilities and contributions to policy and guideline formulation, resource mobilisation, team building, and team leadership and management
Experience in establishing inter-organisational networks and partnerships at the operational level
Skills Specific to the Post

Develops, motivates, coaches and manages teams
Promotes high performance by all staff
Promotes innovation and learning
Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary and multicultural environment
Strong analytical skills.

Strong negotiation, facilitating and influencing skills
Excellent networking and partnership skills
Strong strategic independent thinker
Financial management and budgeting skills
Ability to work effectively both independently and as a part of a team
Computer proficiency (MS Word, Excel)
Strong planning and organisational skills
Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

1. Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.

2. Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.

3. Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.

4. Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.

5. Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

1. Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.

2. Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.

3. Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or

crises.

4. Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

1. Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.

2. Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.

3. Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.

4. Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all

children.

We are inclusive and empowering

1. We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential.

2. We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace.

3. We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and change their own lives.

Physical Environment

Typically office environment with field visit demands

Level of contact with children

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