Position Title: Project Officer (PO)
Grade: O2
No of Vacancy: 1
Person Assigned: To be selected
Project: Girls Standing Strong (GSS) Project in Sindhuli District.
Education and Experience: Bachelor's Degree in sociology, rural development, development studies, education, gender studies, environmental science, or other relevant field with 3 years of working experience in development sector i.e. NGO.
Duty Station: As allocated RM/M or field office of HANDS Nepal
Contract type: Annual with possibility of extension
Working Area: One of the RM/M of Sindhuli district (i.e. Kamalamai and Dudhauli municipality, and Sunkoshi and Marin RM
Responsible to: Directly to Senior Project Coordinator HANDS Nepal Sindhuli.

Human & National Development Society Nepal (HANDS Nepal) is a non-profitable, non-political and non-religious NGO based in Sindhuli. It has been working with different partners with envisions prosperous and equitable society to make healthy and happy society in different location. Now, HANDS Nepal, Sindhuli is working with Plan International Nepal in Sindhuli as an implementing partner of Girls Standing Strong (GSS) project for three years.

The situation of girls and young women in Nepal has seen significant improvements over the years, yet challenges persist. Nepal has made commendable progress in addressing gender inequality and promoting girls' education, health, and empowerment. However, deep-rooted social norms, poverty, discrimination, and limited access to resources continue to affect the lives of many girls and young women in the country. Despite legal reforms raising the minimum age of marriage to 20 for both women and men, the practice continues, primarily in rural and marginalized communities. Child marriage not only robs girls of their childhood but also perpetuates a cycle of poverty and limited opportunities, as they are often forced to drop out of school and become mothers at a young age. It causes and manifestations to perpetuate child early and forced marriages are multifaceted. Education has been a major focus in Nepal's efforts to empower girls. Efforts have also been made to eradicate gender-based discrimination in schools and provide scholarships and incentives for girls to pursue education. Nonetheless, factors like child marriage, early pregnancy, and household responsibilities often disrupt girls' education, particularly in rural areas. In conjunction with these cause/manifestations are the principles/norms/practices that are embedded on the patriarchal values that bars education for children especially girls. Child marriage not only robs girls of their childhood but also perpetuates a cycle of poverty and limited opportunities including forced to drop out of school and become mothers at a young age. However, healthcare access and Sexual and reproductive rights are other areas of concern for girls and young women in Nepal. However, challenges like inadequate healthcare facilities, and limited access to contraception and sexual education persist, leading to issues such as teenage pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and reproductive health complications. Violence against women, including domestic violence, sexual harassment, and human trafficking, remains a pressing issue in Nepal. Cultural and societal norms still hinder progress. Awareness campaigns and legal reforms have contributed to raising awareness and supporting survivors. However, a comprehensive and sustained approach is necessary to address this issue effectively. In terms of economic empowerment, girls and young women face barriers to accessing decent employment and economic opportunities. Gender disparities in terms of wages, job prospects, and decision-making positions persist.

In this context, The Girls standing Strong (GSS) project aims to empower girls to stand strongly working through strategic pathways of changing harmful social norms, establishment of safety nets and resources and working with government for effective policies and programs. Using the gender Transformative approach, the project is based on the integrated model of addressing CEFM through promotion of nurturing environment and protection, access to quality education and life choices (skill) and promoting one’s bodily autonomy. DRR/CC and WASH will remain key cross- cutting initiative to make the communities prepared and resilient. With this vision, Girls Standing Strong (GSS) project will address the humanitarian needs within the targeted communities, wards, palikas and districts.

The purpose of GSS is to facilitate in harnessing the aspirations of Children, Adolescent and Young People (CAY) especially girls and young women whereby they live and lead their life with dignity. The project will directly serve to end child early and forced marriage. Embedded on gender transformative approaches (GTA) to end CEFM “Time to Act”, the project will adopt multi-disciplinary yet integrated approaches s to end CEFM.

In terms of economic empowerment, girls and young women face barriers to accessing decent employment and economic opportunities. Gender disparities in terms of wages, job prospects, and decision-making positions persist. Discrimination and traditional gender roles often limit their participation in the labor market, and women continue to be underrepresented in sectors such as politics, business, and leadership roles.

In this context, The Girls standing Strong (GSS) project aims to empower girls to stand strongly working through strategic pathways of Changing harmful social norms, establishment of safety nets and resources and working with government for effective policies and programs. Using the gender Transformative approach, the project is based on the integrated model of addressing CEFM through promotion of nurturing environment and protection, access to quality education and life choices (skill) and promoting one’s bodily autonomy. DRR/CC and WASH will remain key cross- cutting initiative to make the communities prepared and resilient. With this vision, Girls Standing Strong (GSS) project will address the humanitarian needs within the targeted communities, wards, palikas and districts.

The purpose of this project is to facilitate in harnessing the aspirations of Children, Adolescent and Young People (CAY) especially girls and young women whereby they live and lead their life with dignity. In doing so, the project will directly serve to end child early and forced marriage. Embedded on gender transformative approaches (GTA) to end CEFM “Time to Act”, the project will adopt multi-disciplinary yet integrated approaches s to end CEFM. The GTA will be based on 6 elements namely:

1. Addressing gender norms throughout the life course;
2. Strengthening girls’ and young women’s agency
3. Advancing both the condition and position of girls, young women and women.
4. Working with boys, young men and men so that they embrace gender equality and exercise positive and diverse masculinities.
5. Responding to the needs and interest of girls and boys in all their diversity
6. Fostering an enabling environment for gender equality and girl’s rights.

General Responsibilities:

The main responsible of Project Officer (PO) is to work as project focal person for the allocated local government/s of GSS project. S/he should assist Senior Project Coordinator (SPC) for the project cycle management of GSS project in Sindhuli including planning and budgeting, implementation, monitoring and supervision, and reporting. S/he should support field supervisor for day to day project planning and implementation. S/he should coordinate key stakeholders including local governments, schools, health institutions, security agencies, child/girls/youth clubs/network and so on. S/he should support GESI, Monitoring and Documentation Officer to prepare knowledge management products, project learning, challenges.

Other Duties,

Implementation and Stakeholder coordination:

• Assist to SPC to coordinate local government authorities (Rural/Municipality), communities and all local stakeholders to run the program smoothly
• Support field supervisors for the project implementation and mobilization of community volunteers, FCHVs, children/youth clubs/networks.
• Ensuring continuous communication and sharing project information with right holders and communities’ representatives regarding the implementation of works and in order to ensure a flawless progress of activities
• Liaise with all project staffs to ensure that project interventions in timely with concrete project plan and budget as per finalized project documents
• Ensure project development strategies are implanted in the organization and at project level
• Support GESI and MD Officer for knowledge management product preparation and documentation of learning, challenges, best practices and opportunities of the project.

Capacity Development:

• Develop capacity of project team, right holders and stakeholders by conducting or using resource person on different types of activities based on project theme.
• To actively engage in the implementation of the project activities, beneficiary selection process under the guidance of SPC.

Planning, Supervision and Monitoring of field activities:

• Conduct effective monitoring of each activity regularly which ensure to meet the goal and outcome of the project
• Manage the project budget and ensure project expenditures are in-line with agreed project plan and budget
• Ensure the timely implementation of field works as per the predefined schedule.
• Prepare case studies both positive and negative with special focus on lesson learning
• Monitor the conformity of the field works (trainings, field visits, meeting, etc) with the standards of organization, and as per the agreed activity planned and contracts.
• Prepare monitoring/evaluation tools and indicators to measure the output/outcome of the project
• To check the quality of project intervention.

Data collection and reporting 

• Support GESI and MD Officer for project data management in time through direct involvement and mobilization of field supervisor.
• Ensure effective communication between the organization or project teams through line manager on any new developments, possible problem or conflict during the activities and important decisions and directives
• Prepare monthly/quarterly/annual progress reports of project.
• Ensure effective communication between the organization, project teams and report immediately on any new developments, changes, financial aspects and important decisions and directives
• To conduct frequent field visits, focus group discussions and key informant interviews

Accountability

• Make sure that field activities are undertaken timely as mentioned in the project document in the assigned project sites.
• Make sure that records are correctly maintained and reporting is done in time.
• Make sure that efficient coordination with all concerned agencies is maintained in the project sites.
• Maintain performance appraisal of field supervisor as per HR policy of HANDSNepal.
• As per HANDS Nepal’s board decision

Requirement: Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Education: Bachelor's Degree in sociology, rural development, development studies, education, gender studies, environmental science or other relevant field

Experience: S/he has an experience of similar position in development project cycle management of ECD or education or protection or girls / women empowerment including SRHR. S/he should have 3 years working experience in development section i.e. NGO. Preference will be given for the candidate working in integrated and complex nature project.

Competence:

• Sound management knowledge and skills of project staff mobilization, project planning implementation and monitoring.
• Language: Ability to write clearly and concisely in English and Nepali
• Communication: Sound communication skills, managing work relationships (internal/external), coordination and networking.
• Proven IT skills: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and skill of computer applications/
• Two wheelers driving license required.
• The strongly recommended to apply to female candidate