GRADE: 8
TEAM/PROGRAMME: Child Poverty
LOCATION: Kathmandu
CONTRACT LENGTH: July 2018
CHILD SAFEGUARDING- Level 2: either the role holder will have access to personal data about children and/or young people as part of their work; or they will be working in a ‘regulated’ position (accountant, barrister, solicitor, legal executive); therefore a police check will be required (at ‘standard’ level in the UK or as applicable).
ROLE PURPOSE:
Child Poverty is a new strategic thrust in Save the Children’s next global strategy. The Director - Child Poverty is an exciting new role to establish Save the Children in Nepal/Bhutan innovative new Child Poverty Sector. Child poverty is the situation where a family or other caregiver is unable to meet a child’s basic health and education needs, and/ or a child is not protected, because of a lack of financial resources or social capital. The sector will build upon highly experienced staff and large-scale programs in the current Food Security and Livelihoods sector, Adolescent Skills Development and Child Sensitive Social Protection (CSSP). The focus of the Child Poverty sector will be on pivoting these interventions, and other related programs in the country office, towards a stronger focus on child poverty.
The main responsibilities of the Sector Director will be to help define the strategy and learning agenda and push it forward, while also overseeing various donor-funded projects and growing the child poverty portfolio. The post-holder will ensure that research and quality programming forms the basis upon which we advocate for changes in policy and practice by key duty-bearers at local, national and regional levels. They will play a leading role in designing projects, programmes and research, including approaches to partnerships and advocacy, and building country office capacity and reputation to deliver technically sound Child Poverty programming and policy work. S/he will also be responsible for representation and networking with donors and government, as well as key internal stakeholders from across SCI. S/he will contribute to the development and implementation of SC’s global policies and strategies on Child Poverty, as a member of the SC community of interest on child poverty.
The major technical components of the existing programme include support to livelihoods; social protection; adolescent skill development, micro-enterprise development projects.
The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that key organisational principles and approaches (such as child participation and accountability) are well integrated throughout the project cycle and in advocacy. S/he will also be responsible for ensuring that lessons derived through implementation of projects are well articulated, documented and disseminated both internally and externally and fed into strategic development of the overall portfolio.
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Programme Management:
- Direct line management and supervision of Program/Project Managers overseeing Child Poverty programmes, and ongoing support, guidance and leadership to managers and staff working on those programmes.
- Ensure that Save the Children complies with donor and SCI regulations on all projects.
- Ensure high quality and timely reporting to donors and SCI members.
- Ensure that there is an effective MEAL system for monitoring, data collection, analysis and evaluation and that there is a high level of staff capacity in using these tools and the data produced.
- Ensure tight financial oversight of project and thematic budgets, maintaining timely expenditure in line with agreed priorities and donor guidelines.
- Build the capacity of staff in programme management, technical competency and policy analysis and influencing related to Child Poverty
- Develop and implement strategies to ensure gender equity, child participation and beneficiary accountability in all Child Poverty programmes.
- Ensure the effective control of in-kind, cash and other resources.
- Support the Save the Children Humanitarian responses where appropriate, ensuring timely and quality responses in line with international standards and technical best practice.
Programme Development:
- To understand what child poverty means in the Nepal context, to identify the underlying causes of child poverty in Nepal, to track the incidence of child poverty in Nepal and the impact of efforts to address child poverty, and to test and roll out effective measures to roll back child poverty.
- Oversee the development and implementation of Child Poverty thematic strategy, ensuring complementarity with the Policy, Governance and Rights and Education sectors and where appropriate other sectors (e.g. humanitarian, child protection). This should be developed through close collaboration with Director of Program Development and Quality, technical staff from Save the Children International and Save the Children Members.
- Network with donors and external stakeholders to position the sector well for program development
- Work with Save the Children staff to develop funding strategies and proposals to expand the Child Poverty portfolio in line with strategic priorities and technical best practice from a range of sources including institutional donors and private funds. This will involve continuously developing concepts and innovations and packaging them for a range of donors, both for proactive and reactive fundraising efforts.
Programme Quality:
- Identify internal and external capacity building opportunities and resources for technical staff to build knowledge and technical competence to provide high quality technical assistance to Child Poverty projects. This should focus specifically on: child sensitive social protection; adolescent skill development, market-based approaches; building resilience to shocks; nutrition-sensitive livelihoods; migration and urban programming.
- Support livelihood and other relevant programs to track impact on children specifically and develop interventions that maximize positive benefits and minimize negative impacts on them
- Conduct internal workshops to disseminate learning, best practice and ensure that a high level of technical capacity is maintained.
- Integrate programme learning across the Child Poverty sector, ensuring coherence of technical approach across programmes, identifying best practice, ensuring cross-sectoral complementarity.
- Lead in the development of a planning cycle for the Child Poverty sector, including annual, quarterly and monthly planning, including the follow-up of work plans.
- Ensure that regular field based project review meetings take place and are attended by the relevant project manager. At these meetings the technical support and capacity building needs of project staff should be identified and agreed with technical staff.
Research and organizational learning:
- Ensure evidence of impact of interventions is rigorously maintained, documented and disseminated internally and externally as appropriate, to contribute to improvements in programme quality and advocacy efforts.
- Ensure that Save the Children’s regional and technical expertise is reflected in our programming.
- Share learning from our programmes across field offices, head office staff, externally and internationally through SCI members.
Policy and Advocacy:
- Coordinate closely with the Policy, Research and Governance sector on policy and advocacy work relating to Child Poverty
- Lead on policy and advocacy relating to the design of technical interventions regarding poverty reduction for children, such as social protection, concessional loans, and related development interventions. Develop policy briefs and position papers ensuring the inclusion of technical input from the relevant project managers. Lead in networking and articulating Save the Children’s position, policy and strategy in national forums and meetings. Engage in key debates related to issues covered in advocacy plans, in coordination with technical colleagues and other relevant staff.
- Identify appropriate partnerships to engage in collective advocacy initiatives on the above issues
Representation and Networking:
- Ensure that the country office has effective representation on national, regional and international networks and fora related to child poverty focus areas, and that we participate in conferences/meetings that will enhance our reputation and programming
- Build strong networks with other NGOs, CSOs, UN agencies and academic institutions working on Child Poverty to collaborate on joint learning, analysis and advocacy initiatives
- Actively participate in technical coordination meetings to ensure synergies with other agencies in our emergency responses and development work
- Maintain excellent relationships with donors and government staff.
Planning and Reporting:
- Participate actively in the Country Annual Planning and Country Annual Reporting, providing oversight and compiling the reports for the Child Poverty sector.
- Provide planning, general oversight and leadership to development of the Country Strategic Plans
- Other tasks as requested by the Deputy Country Director – Program Operations
- Ready to provide support to respond to any natural disaster or emergency situation anywhere in Nepal/Bhutan.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
ESSENTIAL
- Master of Social Sciences or relevant discipline(s) with at least 10 years (7 years for GSI group*) of experience of supporting poverty reduction, food security and livelihoods, adolescent skills development and/or social protection programmes in developing countries, and significant experience of providing technical advice to project staff. 5 years’ experience in a senior management position
Job related knowledge:
- Experience IN managing a portfolio of multiple projects, including research programs
- Sound knowledge of research methodologies and demonstrated experience using research to inform programs and policies.
- Experience with high-level representation and networking with policy makers and other stakeholders
- Experience working effectively in coalitions/networks of civil society organizations, NGOs or research groups, particularly in support of shared advocacy goals
Skills:
- Proven ability to manage a team, with good communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to motivate staff
- Demonstrated experience in monitoring and evaluation, especially remotely.
- Proven sound strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to think creatively and be innovative, set priorities, manage work plans and evaluate progress
- Proven track record in fundraising, proposal development (narrative, log frame and budgets) building good donor relations
- Strong analytical and writing skills with demonstrated ability to write briefing papers, conduct policy analysis and prepare targeted advocacy messages
- Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English
- Commitment to Save the Children’s mission, values and approach (includes child focus, equal opportunities, equity and child rights).
- Leading and inspiring others,
- Delivering results,
- Developing self and others,
- Problem solving and decision making,
- Innovating and adapting
DESIRABLE
- Experience of working in Nepal or elsewhere in South Asia, in particular the South West Coastal region
- Experience in humanitarian assistance and disaster risk reduction
- Experience of implementing nutrition programmes
- Experience working with partner agencies in consoritia
- An understanding of child rights programming
Attitude:
- To work in team
- To protect children in connection
- To be non-discriminatory and gender sensitive
