Programme Manager-Child Sensitive social protection and Child Protection (CSSP/CP)

JOB TITLE: Programme Manager-Child Sensitive social protection and Child Protection (CSSP/CP)

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Programme Operations

LOCATION: Lusaka

GRADE: 3

POST TYPE: National

Safeguarding:

Save the Children does not tolerate any form of exploitation, abuse, or harassment against any person. It is the responsibility of all employees and representatives to protect all people who come in contact with our organization. Save the Children commits to applying the same standards to all its employees and subject them to the same processes regardless of their position, influence, or reputation within or outside of the organization.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Save the Children International’s Diversity Policy, aims to promote equal opportunity in employment and to ban any kind of discrimination based on sex, age, social class, disability, HIV status, religion, race and ethnicity.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The overall goal of the Child Sensitive Social Protection (CSSP) project is to make Social Protection programmes child sensitive by working with communities to make the programmes transparent, accountable and linked to social services. It is to build the knowledge and awareness on child sensitivity in the communities and among service providers and to influence the Zambian Government through advocacy and programming to make Social Protection child sensitive and reach the most deprived and marginalised children and their families, resulting in positive impact on the wellbeing of children.

The Project Manager – is responsible for the implementation and oversight of the child sensitive social protection strategies and programmes in Lufwanyama, Chongwe and Rufunsa districts and supervises all operations of the project. He/she will be responsible for planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting on project activities as well as conduct periodic project reviews with partners and identify necessary action for adjustments. The post holder provides technical assistance on CSSP to relevant stakeholders which include the District Welfare Committees (DWACs), Community Welfare Assistance Committees (CWACs), Community Health Volunteers (CHV), but also the local government and local civil society organisations. Lastly, the manager is responsible to linking the project activities and results to district and national level advocacy and provide technical leadership in the topic of CSSP.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Head of Programs and Operations

Direct: One Facilitator, one Project Officer, One Child Protection Coordinator and one MEAL Officer CP.

Budget Responsibilities: yes

Role Dimensions:

• Partners; JESUIT CENTRE FOR THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION (JCTR) and Young Women Christian Association (YWCA)
• External stake holders Governments Line Ministries at District level and various cooperating partners in the Social Protection technical working group
• SCI Country office.
• Member organizations- SC Finland

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Program management

The Project Manager position will lead a strong institutional response to managing Save the Children’s programmes within the new Country Strategic Plan 2025-2027. A commitment to professional and systematic Project Cycle Management (PCM) underpins all of our programmes and therefore is a primary role in the project/ Programme Manager. Specifically, the Project Manager will;

Operational Implementation:

• Monitor the Child resilience sessions delivered through the journey of Life series among in-school children in Lufwanyama district. The caregiver/parenting sessions are designed to complement the SCT program by building psychosocial well-being, life skills and protection mechanisms among children and adolescents in SCT households.
• Lead in the development and implementation of CSSP, consistent with the Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) and donor and Save the Children requirements
• Maintain a positive working relationship with relevant stakeholders that include DWAC, DHMTs, DACOs, and departments critical to promoting child sensitive social protection
• Ensure that the CSSP community, district level advocacy activities and response are linked to national level and vice visa.
• Ensure and support the CSSP team to maintain excellent relationships with community leaders, DWACs, Neighbourhood Health Committees, health workers, and community-based providers (SMAGs, CHWs), Block Extension Officers and Camp Extension Officers.
• Supervises the CSSP programme staff, reviews performance objectives and evaluates performance of direct subordinates per Save the Children policies and procedures.
• Supervise the selection processes of vulnerable groups identified by sector stakeholders as eligible for public welfare and social protection programs and check its compliance with established rules, regulations and guidelines
• Organize and supervise advocacy campaigns meant to improve the condition of vulnerable groups across the programmes

Technical Support and Capacity Building

• Liaise and support the Programme Development and Quality (PDQ) team to develop plans for technical support, M&E, documentation of best practices and advocacy – as well as concept papers and project proposals for programme development.
• Develop partnerships with the private sector, multilateral and bilateral Agencies on issues relevant to social protection.
• Contribute to developing new projects and programs as well as managing existing projects in child sensitive social protection.
• Lead program baseline, mid-line and endline evaluation research on the Child Sensitive Social Protection (CSSP) and Child Protection (CP) projects implemented on the Copperbelt and Lusaka Province.
• Develop Bi-annual and Annual project reports for donor submission to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland.
• Support the provision of technical and programmatic leadership to the CSSP team at the local and district level
• Contribute to Country Strategic Papers by providing socio-economic analysis recommendations to strengthen SCI response to child and social protection and other key social issues in the country;
• Engage in policy dialogue and provide advisory services to CO leadership on identified social protection issues
• Elaborate a local strategy on inclusive social protection and monitor its implementation at the district level and produce consolidated reports thereof.

• Organize and conduct capacity strengthening events directed at local level government staff and other partners on planning, delivery and monitoring of child and nutrition-sensitive activities under the SCT (DWACs, CWACs, NHC, and CDAW).

Budget management

• Hold the responsibility of ensuring timely expenditure for planned activities for activities including those carried out by partners in program implementation;
• Facilitates and monitors budget expenditures and compliance with partners
• Monitor budget utilisation in accordance with donor and SCI guidelines;

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Prepare high-quality and timely monthly/quarterly/annual documentation and reports, as required by Save the Children and donors;

• Liaise with SC country office and member offices to inform national level activities and advocacy;
• Contribute to research on reach of social protection to households with children who are vulnerable to stunting;
• Participate in member-initiated calls and facilitate TA visits

Additional job responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• University degree in social science, development studies or a comparable area with minimum 5-7 years’ experience in similar position and experience;
• Experience in the delivery of social protection programmes using community-based approaches;
• Project Cycle management skill to be able to analyse, develop and follow up on project and action plans;
• Fluency in written and spoken English with good report and proposal writing skills;
• Understanding of and experience in working with Government departments an civil society partners
• Strong communication, interpersonal and representational skills;
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Good analytical and writing skills as well as strong organizational skills and the ability to work independently;
• Strong networking and advocacy skills;
• Willingness to be based in Kalulushi Field office for the duration of the project.
• Willingness to travel within project area of Lufwanyama district and to Lusaka as required.
• Willing to work under pressure and work extra hours, when required.
• Knowledge of local language(s).