Level 3 – the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people

The Senior Comic Relief Programme Coordinator will provide oversight of the daily activities in Mbozi under the direction of the CR Programme Manager based in Dar es Salaam. He/she will represent and advocate for Save the Children’s work and organizational priorities with a range of external parties including local government representatives and the communities of Mbozi District and Songwe Region. The Senior Comic Relief Programme Coordinator will form part of the Mbozi programme team and be a member of the Save the Children in Tanzania Programme Team.

Save the Children has been operational in Tanzania since 1986 providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered in support of Government of Tanzania priorities and policies both directly and through local partners.  Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, nutrition, HIV/TB and emergency response. In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined programmes of SCUK, SCUS, SC Sweden to create a single operation in Tanzania.  We currently have an operational presence in Dodoma, Shinyanga, Zanzibar, Songwe and Kigoma and we work through partners in other parts of the country. We employ nearly 100 staff and have an annual operating budget of approximately $10 million.[WE1]

Reports to: the Comic Relief Programme Manager.

Dimensions: Works closely with other Coordinators in Mbozi office to ensure smooth running of the field office, as well as MEAL Coordinator and other Technical Specialists (TS) through the line manager.

Key External Relationships:

Local Government Authorities, Development Partners in the Region, and close ties with ADP Mbozi, the partner for Tuwekeze Pamoja in Mbozi.

Staff directly reporting to this post: Comic ReliefProgramme Officers (2), as well as direct oversight of the Finance Assistant, Logistics Assistant, and Comic Relief Driver.

The programme is researching the impact that a series of low cost interventions to support children from conception to the end of Standard 2 will have on their learning outcomes. This includes:

–          The impact of parenting support on children’s development and school readiness at each of four key measurement points: age three and on to entry to pre-primary (in Phase 1) and on to entry to primary school and at the end of Standard 2 (Phase 2).

–          The impact of school and teacher focused interventions on children’s learning at 2 key measurement points: end of pre-primary and end of Standard 2.

–          In addition there will be community based interventions promoting improved nutrition and child health and cognitive development of the child.

–          Systems level interventions that include changing the discourse around caregivers’ roles and creating enabling environments for children’s development and reduction of violence in homes, communities and schools.

–          Engaging Local Government Authorities in programme design and oversight and using research and learning to influence decision making and planning.

The two outcomes from the programme are:

–          Children have improved learning outcomes in literacy and numeracy at end of Standard 2.

–          Government and development partners support effective allocation of resources, and adopt strategies in early childhood and basic education that improve the learning outcomes of all children.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

1. 1.    Programmatic/partnership responsibilities:

–          Ensure that the programme approaches, objectives and goals are well understood and implemented accordingly by the partner and that project information is accurately and promptly communicated to partners.

–          Provide technical support to the partner organisation in developing budgets and action plans to effectively implement proposed project activities.

–          Coordinate and conduct trainings with partners, others stakeholders and children on various aspects of the programme under direction of the Programme Manager and as may be desired to implement the programme in the most effective way.

–          Support the partner organisation to gather and analyse data for project monitoring and evaluation as stipulated in the project MEAL plan.

–          Facilitate regular joint field visits as part of backstopping to partners to assist in implementing agreed work plans.

–          Strengthen communication and collaboration with Local Government Agencies (LGA) at all levels to ensure ownership and sustainability of the programme.

–          Advocate for a comprehensive and sustainable child protection system at all levels to communities and LGAs.

1. 2.    Programme management responsibilities

–          Under the direction of the Comic Relief Programme Manager provide management oversight of the implementation of the Comic Relief programme in Mbozi.

–          Liaise closely with the CR PM for contextual Mbozi level input to the overall management of the programme and with the various TS for technical guidance.

–          Contribute to the development of detailed implementation plans, procurement plans and phased financial forecasts in collaboration with the CR PM and CR Programme Officers.

–          Ensure that all planned activities in Mbozi and related expenditures are on track with recorded DIP in strict compliance with the agreed budget lines and Save the Children’s financial regulations and reviewed on a monthly basis during Award Review Meetings. Raise up any concerns to the CR PM as they arise.

–          Ensure that quality monthly, quarterly and other reports are developed from Mbozi level and submitted in accordance with agreed donors/members schedules for compilation at Dar es Salaam and CR PM level.

1. 3.     Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning / Research

–          In collaboration with the line manager and the MEAL Coordinator, ensure implementation of a strong MEAL system for the Comic Relief programme in location (MEAL plans, indicators, performance tracking tables, monitoring tools, benchmarks etc.)

–          Participate in the development of process, output and outcome level Quality Benchmarks and regularly review progress on indicators/achievement of targets (LFA).

–          Discuss monitoring findings for the Comic Relief programme in location during programme coordination/review meetings and advise CR PM and colleagues accordingly to highlight key project strengths and areas of improvement, and recommend learning from monitoring reports for project planning and implementation.

–          Provide programmatic inputs for the development of the ToRs of evaluations/baseline and end line studies as required and with location specific information.

–          Review accountability to beneficiaries’ data and reports and provide comments and recommendations upwards to Line Manager and Mbozi level colleagues for programme development, planning, improvement and implementation.

1. 4.    Save the Children representation

–          Regularly coordinate and collaborate with other SC sector teams in Mbozi to strengthen programming and impact for children.

–          Engage the regional and district government officials at all required levels as required to ensure Save the Children is considered a preferred and active partner in Mbozi.

–          Act as a SCI Mbozi representative to both government and development partners in the region.

COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same.
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters.
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength.
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity.

• Degree in Education, Social Sciences, International development or business administration.

• 3 – 5 years of relevant area work experience or equivalent.
• Expertise in the thematic area of Education/ECCD and/or Child Protection will be considered a strong asset as well as practical knowledge of child participation methodologies.

• Experience in building relationships, fostering interagency and partner coordination and experience of representing an organisation to external parties.
• Strong demonstrable skills and experience in programme coordination, monitoring, evaluation, learning and accountability.
• Experience of tracking a delegated budget holding, providing feedback on financial phasing, and raising financial issues in a timely manner.
• Problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Proven leadership skills – previous experience of line managing staff.
• High level report writing skills in English.