Ministry of Gender and Child Development (MGCD) To improve the planning, coordination, and documentation of gender and child development programmes

Transcription

1 VSOJD Job pack: Project Manager Country Zambia Employer Ministry of Gender and Child Development (MGCD) Duration 18 Months Job purpose To improve the planning, coordination, and documentation of gender and child development programmes Contents: 1. Job Description Personal considerations Background and contextual information... 5 Page 1

2 1. Job Description Job title Planning and Operations Advisor Job purpose To improve the planning, coordination, and documentation of gender and child development programmes Responsibilities Key Performance Indicators Competencies Skills and Knowledge Facilitate the translation of plans to action: a) Supporting the planning and coordination of the documentation and communications function of the ministry b) Develop and implement a strategy for and training in resource/fund mobilisation and organisation development c) Support the development of a programme of research for MGCD Due to the nature of the placements, it is possible that the responsibilities of this role may differ in reality and therefore the advisor will need to be prepared to be flexible and adapt to their environment as necessary. Responsible to: Action plan and timetable developed for the improving implementation capacity at the ministry Plan for documentation and communication developed and implemented Training and learning plan developed and implemented Programme of priority research areas developed and implemented The objectives will be confirmed in a three way discussion between the advisor, MGCD and VSO Zambia in the first three months of the placement. Direct counterpart: Chief Planner Line manager: Director, Information and Planning Building and Sustaining working relationships The social skills to build and actively maintain working relationships that foster teamwork and collaboration with others for the benefit of a common goal. Open Minded and Respectful A non-judgemental approach that values other people and culture. Seeking and Sharing Knowledge Recognition that learning is a two-way and continuous process. Facilitating Positive Change The ability to analyse problems and develop lasting solutions in line with VSO approaches. Adaptability A flexible approach and the ability to adapt behaviour to different situations. Resilience The self-confidence to work with a variety of situations, locations, diverse people and ambiguity. Essential First degree or Masters in Economics, Business Management, Strategic or Organisational Planning, or a related field Track record in strategic and organisational planning Experience of carrying out organisational development activities within government structures Familiarity with government planning, M&E and reporting systems Ability to mentor/ train colleagues in strategic and operational planning A self-starter with ability to work independently, to take initiative and create opportunities Ability to clearly articulate and communicate key messages about strategic and organisational planning, financial management, and M&E at the highest levels Proven skills in effective networking with government line ministries Desirable Experience of gender responsive planning and budgeting Experience of working in a country in Sub-Saharan Africa. Page 2

3 2. Personal considerations In addition to the job description, the following information should be used when considering whether a placement is suitable for you. Personal health considerations If you have a significant current or past medical condition and/or you have general concerns about staying healthy as a volunteer, please use this information to assess whether this placement will be suitable for you. All volunteers require medical clearance from a VSO medical adviser before they are able to take up a placement with VSO. Occasionally, VSO may consider that this placement is too great a risk for you in terms of your personal health and you would be advised to consider a different placement. For further guidance about medical assessment and volunteering with a medical condition please see the frequently asked questions on VSO website. Access to medical care and support The standard and quality of local medical care and support available at this placement will depend on its location within the country. Health facilities are likely to be more poorly resourced in rural areas in terms of medical expertise, equipment, infrastructure and regular supplies of medication. However, this may not be the case in the capital city or in a larger town, where in some countries there may be a reasonable standard of medical care. VSO uses a very good quality medical centre in Lusaka. Particularly serious cases, where perhaps appropriate treatment is not available in country, are usually referred to South Africa or the UK. There are also some good dental practices in the city, but you should be aware that standards of hygiene are lower than in Europe, thus there is a greater risk of contracting infections. VSO stresses the need for a thorough dental check-up and any necessary treatment to be completed prior to your departure. Malaria is prevalent all year throughout Zambia. Volunteers also encounter malaria-carrying mosquitoes when travelling in the region on their holidays. All volunteers are expected to take precautions against contracting malaria, which includes adhering to an anti-malaria regimen. Volunteers are advised to start anti malarials before travelling and if taking Malarone or Larium to come with enough supplies. However the Country Office always keeps stocks of anti malarials. Anti malarials are also available in local chemists. If you wish to discuss your personal circumstances or health concerns in confidence with VSO s medical team before you apply for this placement please contact medical@vsoint.org. Accompanying partner or family: If you have a partner or children who are planning to accompany you to your placement, please use this section to assess whether this placement will be suitable for you. The placement is suitable for a single volunteer, or a volunteer with an accompanying partner. Motorcycle requirements Not needed Security information Personal security is not a significant problem in Zambia. Zambia is generally a safe and relaxed place to live but sensible precautions should be taken, especially if females are moving around at night or in insecure areas. Page 3

4 However, there is a risk of house burglary whilst absent. We therefore strongly recommend that volunteers take out insurance to cover their personal possessions. This may be done in Zambia at a cheaper rate than similar policies offered in Europe. Accommodation Volunteers in Zambia share accommodation with other volunteers. All houses have electricity (though occasional power failures may occur) and running water (with intermittent gaps in supply). Location information Lusaka The culture of Lusaka is one of moderation and tolerance; all major religions and many small credos are accepted and catered for. Dress codes are modest and generally smart; shorts for instance will rarely be worn by Zambian women. Politics and other sensitive subjects are openly discussed and there are no restrictions to enjoying a happy relaxed lifestyle. There are expectations for a high code of conduct and professionalism in both appearance and attitude at work. The climate is temperate being hottest in September and October with a rainy, more humid season from November to March. The coldest season extends from May to August when it is generally pleasantly warm during the day but can become very cold at night. Average daytime temperatures range from degrees, dropping to 5-10 degrees at night in the cool season. A more detailed historical grounding on Zambia and the relatively young capital city can be found in any of the reputable guide books and researched through the internet. Fruit and vegetables are ample but seasonal and a vegetarian diet is easy to cater for. A strict vegan would find more difficulty. The range of vegetables include sweet potato, European potato, onions, local greens, cabbage, cauliflower, red and green peppers, courgette, aubergine, tomato, cucumber, pumpkin, marrow, mushrooms, broccoli, fresh peas and beans, lettuce, celery, chillies and dries pulses. Fruits are equally varied including pawpaw, grapes, passion fruit, apples, bananas, pears, oranges, grapefruit, lemon and lime, kiwis, mangoes, melon, water melon and even strawberries. Supermarket fare is similar to that in Europe with less variety and in some cases a significantly higher cost. Good fresh bread is available including speciality and brown bread, a selection of breakfast cereals, fresh and cured meats, fresh and frozen fish, eggs, bacon, sausages, yoghurt, cheese, fresh, UHT and powdered milk plus a wide range of tinned produce. Spices, some herbs and dried grains and pulses are also easy to find. It is not difficult, even for a vegetarian to enjoy a healthy balanced diet. Meat eaters will have the advantage of finding meat that is considerably cheaper than Europe. Electricity and water supplies are generally good, although supplies can be interrupted particularly during extremes of wet or dry weather. The electricity supply is 220/240v and 3 pin square plugs are used. Drinking water should be boiled and filtered; the filters being provided by VSO on arrival in Zambia. A network of privately owned minibuses operates routes that cover most parts of the country. Lusaka is well connected for travel to the rest of the country and neighbouring countries by air, rail and road. Buses are the cheapest and most popular means of transport. By local standards flights within the region are expensive. Page 4

5 On occasion volunteers have purchased their own vehicles but they are expensive with a fairly run down car costing upwards of 2,000. The poor condition of roads creates high maintenance overheads for any vehicle. There has been an improvement in telephone communication especially with the coming of mobile phones, and international links are generally good. International calls are however quite expensive Internet is now readily available through mobile phone and other providers. Letters from Europe take about 10 days to arrive, occasionally parcels go astray but the service is generally reliable. 3. Background and contextual information Placement Profile The Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) recognises that when women and children do not enjoy their full rights, their participation in political, social and economic life is impeded thereby constraining the country s ability to reduce poverty, achieve economic growth and ensure sustainable development. In view of the gender imbalances that exist at various levels of development, GRZ elevated the then Gender in Development Division (GIDD) to a fully-fledged ministry Ministry of Gender and Child Development (MGCD) in The Ministry previously implemented two major programmes: Gender mainstreaming and women s economic empowerment. Achieving results under these programmes has proven difficult for a number of reasons: Gender was focused on delivering numbers in order to create gender parity, without gender analysis; The high turnover within the public sector impacts on the sustainability of gender training and on the capacity of the Ministry to monitor implementation of the National Gender Policy in SNDP; Previously the gender structure within government did not allow for coherence and coordination as there were two different structures for coordination on gender issues; Responsibility for gender activities work was assigned to officers as an additional role to serve as Gender Focal Point (GFP) persons and in many cases the GFPs did not receive any training, were not skilled in gender analysis, and held lower positions within the government ministries. This impacted on their ability to provide technical gender expertise to other Ministries; and Weak M&E systems within the Ministry. Along similar lines, the DFID and Irish Aid supported 2011 Gender Sector Analysis report highlighted four main challenges, which hinder the Ministry to effectively perform its mandate: Absence of robust gender analysis to inform policy making and policy implementation; Limited skills to translate analysis into policies and programmes; Limited resources and capacity within government and CSOs; and the Absence of a cadre of gender experts to provide technical support to development sectors. Page 5

6 VSO is proposing that the capacity of the Ministry and its staff be strengthened initially at national level with support covering the provision of technical expertise, training, research, mentoring, and other capacity-building initiatives, as well as systems development. Support will be provided through the deployment of three volunteer advisors in the areas of: 1. Results Based Management Systems (RBMS) 2. Management information systems (MIS) 3. Planning. These advisors will be based at the Ministry to enable institutional and staff strengthening. Rationale for Placement Given these acknowledged skills and capacity gaps within the Ministry, it is imperative for the Ministry to invest in the development of appropriate: Planning and operations capacity The core function of the Department of Information and Planning is to organise and coordinate the operationalization of the Ministry. This Department is key to the Ministry s overall coordination role of gender issues and activities in Government. However, gaps currently exist in terms of: the work planning, budgeting, and coordination of programmes; analytical work on policy and guidelines formulation; and human resources to carry out these functions. This can result in the inadequate implementation of programmes and the failure to meet targets. Hence, strengthening the organisational planning and management of staff linked strategic gender issues should be a priority for the Ministry if it wants to be able to plan, monitor and evaluate effectively the implementation of gender and child development programmes. General Objective To improve the planning, coordination, and documentation of gender and child development programmes Specific Placement Objectives To complete a needs assessment of the Department of Information and Planning To develop an action plan and timetable for improving operational systems, processes and policies To support the development of budgets for specified periods of operation To produce a training and learning plan covering aspects including financial management, strategic and organisational planning To carry out training sessions and build capacity of MGCD staff in financial management, strategic and organisational planning To develop a programme of priority research areas. Supporting documentation / links The full proposal submitted to the UK Department for International Development (DFID) to fund this placement Page 6