Madagascar: Project Officer ACTE Project

MG: Project Officer ACTE Project

Duty Station: Fort-Dauphin

Contract Type: Full time (40 hours per week)

Contract Duration: 12 months with the possibility of extension based on budget availability and mutual interest

Starting Date: As soon as possible

Permits required: Candidates are required to have the right work and residence permits in the country where the role is advertised.

Compensation: Basic of MGA 3,000,000-3,750,000 per month

Terre des Hommes NL: 

Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdH NL) aims to protect children by preventing and stopping child exploitation and by empowering children to make their voices count. TdH NL focuses on sexual exploitation of children, forms of child labour, child trafficking and migration, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and on child protection in humanitarian crises. For each of these forms of child exploitation, TdH NL is developing and implementing projects and programmes through local partners, mainly in Asia and Africa. In Africa, TdH NL works in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Tanzania.

The values of TdH Netherlands are: Responsible, Bold, Human-Centred and Playful.

Since October 2021 TdH NL is officially registered in Madagascar, after having received a grant from the Dutch Enterprise Agency (RVO) to eradicate child labor in mica-producing communities in the south of Madagascar. In addition, TdH NL has received a grant from the Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA) to implement a 6-month humanitarian project (December 2022 - June 2022) to deal with the consequences of the severe drought in Madagascar.

In 2023, TdH NL in Madagascar started to implement FAMAHA 2 in Betroka and ACTE in Ranopiso that will last until 2025. Those two projects aimed to fight against child labour in the mica mine within some villages of those two districts and fields activity will be implemented by local partners.

For more information on the work of Terre des Hommes Netherlands, please visit: https://www.terredeshommes.nl/en/.

Joining Forces for Africa: Agir Contre le Travail des Enfants (ACTE) Project: 

Together with the Joining Forces Alliance, composed of the six largest child-focussed international NGOs, TdH NL recently developed the ACTE project with the aim contribute to the reduction of child labor, with specific attention for the worst forms of child labour in mica mining in Madagascar. With funding from the EU, the three year project will start in January 2023 in close collaboration with Save the Children and local partners. The project will empower children in mica mining villages in Amboasary Atsimo District through the establishment of child rights clubs. We will furthermore provide mica mining families with alternative income generation opportunities and provide training to teachers in child protection and in child rights and life skills education. At national level we will work in close collaboration with a large network of NGOs as well as the media on raising awareness and advocating for action to address the worst forms of child labour.

For more information on the work of Terre des Hommes Netherlands, please visit: https://www.terredeshommes.nl/en/ .

Objective of the Position: 

This position offers an exciting job opportunity, contributing to the elimination of the worst forms of child labour in Madagascar. The Project Officer is expected to support the Project Manager in the management and monitoring of the ACTE project, lead the community empowerment component of the project, support and monitor local implementing partners and ensure good collaboration and coordination with our consortium partner Save the Children and other relevant actors in Madagascar.

Position in the Organisation: 

The Project Officer will join the Madagascar Country Team, and receive leadership and supervision from the Project Manager to whom he/she will report. Within the country team he/she will work in close collaboration with the Country Programme Manager, MEAL Officer, Project Assistant, Finance Admin Officer and Finance Assistant. In addition, he/she will collaborate with staff from the TdH NL Regional Office in Nairobi and TdH NL Headquarters in the Netherlands.

Responsibilities: 

Project and partner management (55%): 

• Support, guide and monitor project implementing partners and consultants in the implementation of project activities through regular communication and field visits, and ensure that project and finance commitments as per partner contracts are being fulfilled
• Review project proposals from project implementing partners and ensure contracting of implementing partners, in collaboration with the MEAL and Finance Officers and the Project Assistant
• Support implementing partner in the preparation of quarterly narrative, financial and M&E progress reports in line with TdH NL reporting guidelines, including providing support in working with TdH NL´s online project management system (PRIMAS)
• Review and provide feedback on partners monthly reports: activity work plan, financial expenditures and M&E progress
• In collaboration with project team members, ensure quarterly internal project reviews on the progress of the project in terms of time, budget and quality and address any conflicts/bottlenecks/delays
• Ensure updating of partner capacity strengthening plans and coordinate the implementation of the plans in collaboration with other project team members
• Work in close collaboration with the Finance Admin Officer on monitoring expenditure of the project´s community empowerment activities, assist with the review of project budgets and the preparation of financial reports in line with donor requirements
• Work in close collaboration with the MEAL Officer on the development and implementation of the project's MEAL system and the organisation of the project's baseline and endline evaluation
• Support the Project Manager in the design, implementation and monitoring of the projects national level advocacy and public awareness raising activities
• Support the Project Manager in the preparation of the ACTE project´s country-level project's narrative, financial and M&E reports for the donor, in collaboration with the Finance Admin Officer and MEAL Officer as well as staff from the TdH NL Regional Office & Head Office.
• Supports the Senior Communication Advisor at the Regional Office with information and materials for marketing and communication, e.g. news items, case stories, videos and photos
• Ensures adherence to TdH NL safeguarding policy and its Code of Conduct by TdH staff and its partners in the implementation of the project

Community empowerment activities (30%): 

Lead the project´s community empowerment activities and ensure effective and efficient implementation, on time, on scope and on budget, including:

• Co-organise the project launch workshop in Amboasary
• Guide a Consultant in the contextualisation of training manuals and materials in child rights, life skills and advocacy skills for training of members of children's clubs
• Organise training for children's clubs facilitators; support and monitor a local partner in the creation of children's clubs and in the organisation of training of members of the clubs
• Support a local partner in supporting children's clubs in developing and implementing an action plan to address child rights in their communities
• Support a Consultant in organising the provision of theatre and music workshops t for members of children's clubs as well as recording and broadcasting of the theatre and songs performed by children's clubs
• Organise training of teachers in child protection and in providing child rights and life skills education
• Support and monitor a local partner in the organisation of income generation activities for parents and older children
• In collaboration with local implementing partners identify solutions to challenges, areas for improvement and opportunities with regards to the project´s community empowerment activities

Coordination, collaboration and networking (15%): 

• Ensure good collaboration, alignment, complementary and synergy with Save the Children, in particular at community level, amongst others through regular communication and participating in regular coordination meetings
• Participate in bi-annual project review meetings with TdH NL staff, Save the Children and implementing partners and ensure the identification of lessons learnt, possible improvements, solutions to challenges, opportunities and new thinking to inform the implementation of the project
• Participate in activities organised by the global Joining Forces Alliance
• Build and maintain relations with key duty bearers and stakeholders such as governmental organisations, UN agencies, other (I)NGOs as well as the private sector
• Ensure alignment with initiatives of other actors, from the civil society, government or private sector, working on the elimination of child labour, in particular in mica mining, and identify and pursue opportunities for collaboration
• Present the project at meetings, events and conferences
• Contribute to the development of high quality funding proposals, when opportunities arise
• Follow and identify relevant (social) developments and issues and translates these into opportunities for the project

Perform any other duties as relevant for the country programme as assigned and as can reasonably be expected from the position.

Required Qualifications, Experience, and Skills: 

• A masters degree in a relevant field, such as economy, sociology, development studies, programme/project management or child rights
• Minimum of four years experience in projects management, with at least two years of experience in a similar position
• Experience in PME and financial management of projects funded by large donors
• Experience with working in alliances of CSOs
• Knowledge of child rights and protection, in particular of child labour is a strong advantage
• Knowledge of and experience with child participation, child empowerment, child safeguarding, improving quality of education and the organisation of income generation activities is a strong advantage
• Experience in capacity strengthening of civil society organisations
• Strong interpersonal and presentation skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Malagasy, French and English.
• Strong in coordinating, planning and organising
• High degree of taking initiative and working independently
• Work experience in the south of Madagascar and understanding of the context
• Familiar with google apps and social media
• Able to travel to Antananarivo and Amboasary Atsimo regularly

Competence Profile: 

• Coordination
• Coaching
• Planning & organising
• Problem-solving ability
• Communication
• Flexible and able to work in complex situations

Our Commitment to Diversity, Integrity and Child Safeguarding: 

We are not looking for just one type of person - we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas and challenge our thinking. We are especially interested in people whose lived experiences help us to see things we might otherwise miss, and enable us to do better work with and for children. Whether or not you meet 100% of the criteria, we want to hear from you, because we know that different voices, ideas, perspectives and knowledge, working together will enable us to better the lives of children around the world.

TdH NL is particularly committed to keeping children and vulnerable individuals safe, and has zero tolerance on (child) abuse. Every TdH NL employee is bound by the TdH NL Code of Conduct that describes the expected behaviour by staff, in particular with regards to Safeguarding children and (young) adults in our programmes. Child safeguarding measures are part of our selection and recruitment process. By submitting your application you accept that TdH NL will conduct such pre-employment screening for successful candidates. TdH NL participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.

How to Apply: 

Qualified candidates should apply here by C.O.B 5th July 2024. Application (CV and Cover letter) should be in English language only. Applications will be reviewed on a roll in basis. Qualified applicants are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible to assure consideration.