Early Childhood Development Hub Network Coordinator at Plan International

Functional Area: Programmes
Type of Role: Fixed term contract until end June 2023 with possibility of extension
Reports to: Lead of the ECD Hub, Gender transformative Policy and Practice Department, Global Hub
Grade: 3

Role Purpose
The purpose of this position, is to:

• Coordinate Plan International’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) network, supporting member mobilization and engagement.
• Maintain Plan’s ECD knowledge management platforms and design, implement and evaluate learning and development activities for ECD professional staff that are members of the network.
• Contribute to the technical work conducted at the global level by the ECD Hub practice and policy and advocacy leads, including the development of guidance and training resources; facilitating the engagement of network members in these processes and supporting the roll-out, testing and use.

Dimensions of the Role

• The Global ECD network Coordinator is responsible for facilitating and administering Plan International’s ECD network, which currently includes approximately 300 staff from Country Offices, Programme Units, and National Organizations working in both development and humanitarian settings.
• The aim of the network is to catalyse and support sharing and learning among ECD programme and influencing staff, in order to progress quality, gender-transformative ECD work aligned with the nexus approach.
• The network coordinator collaborates with the other members of the ECD Hub, and the ECD Core Group to mobilize network members’ support and inputs for advancing global ECD priorities, including the development of guidance/standards, policy and advocacy briefs/positions and external representation.
• The network coordinator supports the practical application of these resources in the countries, through the facilitation of ECD knowledge management platforms and processes; coordination of the design and implementation of an ECD network learning plan; and through facilitating connections for peer-to-peer technical support, where relevant.
• The Global ECD Network Coordinator works with staff engaged in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of ECD programming and influencing work across different Country Offices (COs) and National Organizations (NOs).
• The coordinator also works in collaboration with the coordinators of the Hubs/networks for Plan International’s other priority thematic areas, relevant Disaster Risk Management (DRM) specialists, as well as Specialists in Knowledge Management, to ensure consistent and joined up communication, knowledge management and learning approaches.

Accountabilities
Network Coordination and Administration (30%):

• Build and grow network membership, mobilizing technical specialists across all Plan International offices, and ensuring effective on- and off-boarding processes for network members.
• Maintain a strong network, using online and offline tools, ensuring regular updates, and promoting learning and fostering sharing between network members. Maintain tools and processes required to ensure smooth running of network.
• Periodically identify the priority needs of network members, and work with other members of the ECD Hub to identify how these can be served. Set up and maintain processes and tools to respond to ad hoc requests and feedback from network members, and ensure timely support and response. Periodically elicit membership feedback on the degree to which the network meets their expectations
• Provide administrative/coordination support for regular joint meetings of Hub practice/policy leads, the ECD core group, ECD regional networks.
• Maintain the ECD network/Hub calendar and support the Hub Leads to facilitate Plan’s coordinated representation/participation in external networks, coalitions/ initiatives through different network members.

Knowledge Management (KM) Processes and Platforms (40%):

• Maintain and regularly review and update knowledge assets in the thematic area of early childhood development and ensure they are easily accessible and usable across all knowledge and learning platforms within Plan International. As part of this, manage Plan’s ECD Intranet site, library and workplace platforms.
• Ensure oversight of the use and usability of knowledge offers for the ECD area; and suggest and implement changes to knowledge management tools, based on the needs of ECD staff working in organisation.
• Lead the communication and engagement processes for the socialization and adoption of “global goods” (guidance, M&E frameworks etc) developed to support Plan’s ECD work.

Learning Planning and Resources (30%):

• Work with Hub staff to develop a learning plan and lead the logistics required for the roll-out of the plan, maintaining a regular schedule of learning offers and formats (including, for example courses, webinars, newsletters etc.) for technical staff. Ensure regular monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of the different learning resources
• Oversee and develop multimedia tools (videos, podcasts, graphic visuals) for socialisation of and learning about the resources developed to advance quality, gender-transformative ECD work.
• Support the ECD Collaboration Hub practice/policy leads and relevant humanitarian specialists in analysing, assessing and collating insights and learning on ECD/ECDIE from internal and external sources, and help determine appropriate approaches and formats for sharing with technical audiences within Plan, as well as with external partners.

Key Relationships:

• Members of the ECD Hub (ECD practice lead, ECD policy and advocacy lead, Public Health Specialist).
• Members of the ECD steering group (Australia, Denmark, Uganda, Mali, Bolivia, Mali).
• Regional ECD focal points, members of the ECD network core group and project groups.
• Global Knowledge Management Specialist and Network Coordinators of the other thematic areas.
• Global Internal Communications team for support on use of different platforms.
• Global Learning and Development team for the learning plan and strategies.

Technical Expertise, Skills and Knowledge
Qualifications / Experience Requirements:

Desirable:

• Education at Degree level or Vocational Study in fields related to ECD (Education, Early Childhood Education, Social Work, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and nutrition) or International Development, Gender Studies or similar.
• Practical experience in ECD/ECDiE programming or sub-areas (education, maternal, new-born and child health and nutrition).
• Knowledge of rights-based and gender-transformative programming approaches.
• Experience working with international teams and work in cross-cultural contexts
• Ability to effectively communicate in other languages such as Spanish, Arabic or Portuguese
• Proficiency in different platforms including share-point (including page design, document/library management etc.), google analytics, Microsoft 365 suite (including Teams), skype, workplace etc.
• Understanding of project management principles and processes.

Relevant experience and/or demonstrable interests/achievements in at least three of the following areas:

• Facilitation/coordination of networks or communities of practice.
• Design and facilitation of knowledge management platforms and processes; and prior use of relevant platforms/software and tools (e.g. Sharepoint, other online libraries).
• Design and Facilitation of learning opportunities (face-to-face, virtual or hybrid) using a variety of software and tools.
• Communication – use of social media and platforms for internal development/outreach and/or graphic design (e.g. TEAMS, WorkPlace, InDesign or equivalent).
• Data – data collection/management and/or analysis (for instance using Excel, Epi-info, SPSS or other).
• Ability to take initiative and work independently.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to analyse, collate, structure and condense complex technical content into accessible, practical messages and tools.
• Excellent organizational & time management skills.
• Experience working in or with those countries in which Plan International currently runs programmes.
• High proficiency in English (spoken and written).
• High proficiency in French (spoken or written)

Plan International’s Values in Practice
We are open and accountable:

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact:

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together:

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering:

• We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential
• We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge inequality in our programs and our workplace.
• We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives

Physical Environment:

• Typical office environment

Level of Contact with Children:

• Low contact: No contact or very low frequency of interaction

Salary

• We will be happy to disclose the salary and applicable benefits to applicants as part of this process, however, please kindly note that this will vary according to the location of the appointed candidate and therefore it is not possible to include full details here. As an indication if this role was based in the Global Hub office in the UK the salary would be circa £33000 per annum