The Organisation
Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.
We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.
Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.
We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.
We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years, and are now active in more than 75 countries.
ROLE PURPOSE
The Consortium Manager is responsible for and mandated to oversee the implementation and coordination of the Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA) Joint Response in country. This is on the basis that the content of the programme should be field-led, from design through to implementation. The Consortium Manager has a facilitative and steering role, guiding and setting direction of the Joint Response (JR) and providing a supportive coordination structure and environment for JR members to implement, particularly in the implementation of the collaborative elements of the JR.
Recognising that contractual and donor obligations sit at NL level, the NL lead is responsible for overall compliance as laid out in contractual agreements with the Block grant Holder (in the Beschikking) and with JR members (in Specific Sub Award Agreements – SSAAs). The NL lead carries out administrative Lead/Support (i.e. reporting etc.), translating DRA policy into practice in cooperation with other JR leads, and providing structure and a framework to the Consortium Manager and JR members to work with.
As Consortium Manager, your key objectives will be to make sure that the consortium project activities are implemented in a coordinated, efficient, effective, timely and qualitative manner. You will be the guarantor of effective and qualitative internal and external information management according to internal consortium agreed guidelines and donor requirements. You will aim to maximize the sectoral and geographical scope of the integrated approach that partners implement separately, as well as to enhance the quality and impact of their humanitarian action by combining resources, complementary expertise and access.
Dimensions of the Role
This position is responsible for coordinating all field level actions of the DRA EDJR including, preparation, supporting partner implementation, joint budget management, reporting and communication to the NL level lead and in-country partners. Moreover, this position is responsible for the successful implementation of the Plan specific programme components of the EDJR. Act as a part of the Consortium Steering Committee (CSC) responsible to present the critical analysis and information and recommendations on strategic, operational and financial matters and support in decision making by Plan International Management and CSC. Work with and supervise the overall project implementation across all consortium members, to ensure the technical and geographical coherence of the project. More specifically this can be broken down into the following accountabilities;
Accountabilities
- Preparation of JR
- Supports and facilitates the development and implementation of action plans by JR members to ensure adherence to the DRA vision 2022 - 2026 with a focus on life-saving assistance
- engage the JR members (through in-country coordination meetings with JR members and local partners to ensure field input) and consult relevant external actors (e.g. UNOCHA, Clusters, Embassies) in the facilitation of the DRA EDJR programme implementation
2. Implementation of JR
- Regularly communicates with JR partners at country level on programme progress and challenges. Ensures strong communication and coordination with all consortium members in order to effectively achieve programme objectives. Encourages transparency among and between consortium members to promote coordination and effectiveness
- Promotes collaboration at field level to maximize impact for beneficiaries, including the promotion of harmonization and complementarity amongst members, stimulating efficient use and sharing of resources, capacity and expertise (Collaborative Impact)
- Facilitates and leads the process of programme review and revision at country level, ensuring flexible use of funds and including providing advice to NL level on budget reallocations (between members) where appropriate
- Requests and receives informal updates from JR partners at country level regarding program progress and challenges, if needed e.g. in the event of a change in security, field visit of a donor, or in case a JR member foresees a certain activity cannot be implemented, the field coordinator may request an update on impacts on the JR programming or activities
- Represents the JR towards external stakeholders at field level, e.g. visiting MFA/embassy representatives, other donors, government authorities and UNOCHA (ensuring alignment with HRP), when applicable. Representation of the JR towards UN clusters remains the responsibility of the individual members; the Consortium Manager should be informed of engagement with UN/Clusters by JR members and he/she can support JR members in doing so
- Joint Budget
- Steers and facilitates the development and implementation of actions plans by JR members on the four DRA Strategic Priorities: 1) Encouraging Collaborative Impact; 2) Strengthened accountability to beneficiaries; 3) Localization of Aid and 4) Supporting Innovation
- Organizes regular coordination and technical meetings between JR members, chaired by the Consortium Manager or JR members
- Facilitates the hosting of learning events and workshops on specific relevant topics agreed on with the members, facilitate/conduct monitoring/support visits (including facilitating Real Time Reviews) and donor visits
- Focal point for external communications for the JR at field level, e.g. liaising between members’ communications teams in relation to the JR communications activities; establishing and implementing with members a joint Ethiopia field level JR communications plan, including the development of communication tools to be used for creating visibility on the response and the situation at field level, e.g., infographics and human interest and success stories
- Contributes to the identification of relevant targets, advocacy messages and advocacy asks, including possible ‘red lines’ related to sensitivities in the context, in close consultation with the other JR members at field level and the JR lead/RTF at NL level.
- Responsible for budget expenditure and oversight of the joint activities’ lines in the Joint Response joint budget for all in-country costs.
- Steers and facilitates the (midterm) Rapid Realtime Review meeting.
- Communication with NL JR lead focal point
- Regularly updates the NL JR focal point on the progress of the JR, collaboration and joint activities carried out
- If there are any concerns or issues related to the implementation of the JR or joint activities, or any programme changes (affecting the budget or logframe) are being proposed, the Consortium Manager raises these to the NL JR focal point to discuss with the JR member at NL level (as the contract holder)
- Refers any contractual or budget questions or issues to the NL JR coordinator to address at NL level
- The NL JR focal point discusses with the Consortium Manager any planned meetings with the JR members in the NL, to ensure that all topics are covered. Notes from these meetings will be shared with the JR members at field and NL level
- Internal and external Coordination: