Plan International Cameroon is a Child Centered Community Development Organization with no religious, political or governmental affiliation working in Cameroon since 1996. Plan International is a children’s organization with primary concerns on children’s rights, safety and well-being and has in its interest to create safe environments for children with more attention paid to child protection. All employees are therefore expected to comply with our Child Protection Policy. Plan International also promotes equal opportunity employment and pays special consideration to female candidates.

Background :

The South-West and North-West Regions have experienced instability since October 2016, which has intensified since October 2017. Increased tensions have led to destruction of property including schools, as well as increasing levels of violence affecting the population, from both the government forces and the non-state armed groups. In October 2018 the UN Cluster system was activated for the response. Plan International Cameroon have been responding to the Crisis with the main response office based in Bamenda, in the North West region. The response also has a presence in Kumba, in the SW, and with the rapid increase of numbers of affected people, Plan International has made a strategic decision to scale up the response to meet the needs of the affected populations.

As of October 2018, the Crisis has created an estimated 437,000 internally displaced persons, and 27,000 refugees into Nigeria. With the scale up of the Plan International response in Cameroon, we are looking for a CPiE Officer to focus on our Psycho-Social Support (PSS) programming to those affected by the Crisis.

The NW SW Crisis Response focuses on Child Protection in Emergencies with cross-cutting WASH & NFI programming. A new project will aim to include Youth Economic Empowerment through small scale income generation opportunities and training for adolescents.

The successful candidate must be willing to be based in Bamenda with travel to the SW as required. Must be willing to be at project sites where Plan International is responding.

Roles and responsibilities :

• Organize field level activities related to adolescent livelihood programming – market assessment, identification of trainers, purchase of supplies ;
• Facilitate the identification of income generation opportunities that could be included in program ;
• Ensure selection of participants for income generation is in line with best practices and vulnerability criteria ;
• Work hand in hand with other CP Officers to integrate livelihood programming into Psychosocial support and Case Management programming ;
• Follow-up provision of PSS activities in CFS as required by team ;
• Design time tables and schedules for trainers to deliver efficient programming ;
• Lead procurement process for all income generation activities ;
• Facilitate training of Community Child Protection Committees and project staff on income generation ;
• Ensures proper documentation is put in place for a income generation activities  provided to beneficiaries ;
• Prepares case stories and reports as required by the project ;
• Ensure group meetings and brainstorming sessions with beneficiaries for PSS related activities ;
• Build the capacities of Community Focal points to facilitate participatory and inclusive CPiE activities ;
• Work in close collaboration with the Response team to ensure livlihood are in line with overall projects and targets for protection activities are met ;
• Weekly and monthly reports on progress against targets ;
• Ensure that protection is mainstreamed in all PSS activities and that activities are compliant with Standard Operating Procedures (e.g. Children and Young People Safeguarding Policy) ;
• Ensure that targets for all Psychosocial Support related activities are met ;
• Attend trainings related to line of work ;
• Report of CPiE Coordinator ;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Behaviours, and Experience Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives :

• Experience of working in Child Protection or livelihood activities focused on small scale income generation for adolescents ;
• 2-3 years experience of working in development or emergency response with proven capacity in project cycle management ;
• Knowledge of project planning ;
• Knowledge & Experience of conducting livelihood or market assessments ;
• Strong knowledge and experience of livelihood activity with ability to differentiate and adapt programs based on specific needs of vulnerable populations ;
• Experience of running trainings and skills development programs at community level  and identifying areas of improvement ;
• Experience of producing weekly update reports ;
• Experience of line-managing staff, motivating & capacity building ;
• Knowledge of working and capacity building community groups such as Community Based Child Protection Mechanisms (CBCPs).

Skills :

• Ability to coordinate and organise within a fluid working environment and has a capacity for initiative and decision making with competent analytical and problem solving skills ;
• Ability to work independently and as a team ;
• Well-developed written and oral communication skills. Able to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders ;
• Strong multi-tasking and organizational skills with an ability to focus both on internal issues as well as external demands ;
• Proven people management & interpersonal skills (role model in motivating, developing and supporting others), including performance management and the ability to apply situational leadership and applying coaching methods ;
• Ability to work in stressful environments and be able to manage stress levels.

Behaviours :

• Committed to Plan International’s strategy and values ;
• Communicator ;
• Experienced with working with senior management ;
• Team player and relationship builder ;
• Able to work calmly under extreme pressure and at unpredictable (long) hours during emergency response.

Plan international operates in an equal opportunity environment and actively encourage diversity. Only applications received in French or English will be treated and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Plan International has a Child Protection and a gender equality policies that are integral part of the recruitment process.