Job Title/ Position

Consultant - District Coordination

“Strengthen Institutional Capacity of Government Stakeholders for Adolescent Empowerment and Ending Child Marriages towards Creating a Protective Environment for Children in Odisha.” supported by UNICEF.

Job Location

District: Deogarh

Type and Duration of Engagement

Consultancy, co-terminus with the project duration which is till 12^th January 2024

Nature of Job

The assignment will include liaisoning with district and block administration, facilitating, monitoring & evaluation, preparation, and implementation of District Strategic Action plan for preventing child marriages, policies and schemes related to adolescent empowerment and ending child marriage, child abuse and violence against children in the specified districts with support from the existing service delivery structures and key functionaries. 

About ActionAid Association (India)

ActionAid Association (India) is a national organisation, working in India since 1972 committed to fighting poverty and injustice. We currently operate out of 12 Programme Implementation, Research & Training Hubs spread across 25 States and 1 Union Territory. We work in solidarity with the most marginalized and excluded communities to further social and ecological justice for all. We believe in equality and justice and support the leadership and empowerment of the marginalised communities in their progressive struggle for a life of dignity as equal citizens of India. We draw inspiration and guidance from the Constitution of India and International Covenants that envision a just and equal world.

For more details, please refer to our website – https://www.actionaidindia.org/   

About the Project

UNICEF in partnership with ActionAid Association (India) (and other CSOs) proposes to work with the district governments in 25 districts of Odisha to provide technical support to strengthen institutional capacity of key district government stakeholders for supporting program including parenting to prevent child marriage, abuse, and violence against children.

The implementing partners, jointly with UNICEF will support in the following areas: -

ActionAid Association (India) with the support of UNICEF will work with district administration of 25 districts of Odishato institutionalise planning, implementation, review and monitoring of programmes relating to adolescent empowerment and ending child marriage, child abuse and violence against children. This will be done by integrating plans, activities, review, and monitoring mechanism in the existing District Work Plan on Child protection. ActionAid Association will work with district administrations and provide necessary support to District Task Force in developing the costed action plan in convergence with different departments that focus on child protection priorities and implement the strategic plan for children and adolescents. This engagement will result in action by district administration to prevent child marriage and any violence against children and develop mechanism that ensures participation of adolescent girls and boys in civic engagement initiatives and their empowerment through leadership building effort and linkages with existing social protection schemes.

Duties and Responsibilities of District Coordinators

1. Provide technical support to the district administration to implement the Strategic Plan for Children and Adolescents focusing on child protection priorities. Support to the administration in keeping in place of a functional Task Force that supports programme including parenting to prevent child marriage, abuse & violence against children.
2. Provide technical support to institutionalize planning, implementation, review and monitoring of programmes relating to adolescent empowerment and ending child marriage, child abuse and violence against children.
3. Support the district administration to integrate plans, activities, review, and monitoring mechanism in the existing District Work Plan on Child protection and provide necessary support to District Task Force in developing the costed action plan in convergence with different departments that focus on child protection priorities and implement the strategic plan for children and adolescents.
4. Facilitate and support district administration to prevent child marriage and any violence against children and develop mechanism that ensures participation of adolescent girls and boys in civic engagement initiatives and their empowerment through leadership building effort and linkages with existing social protection schemes.
5. Provide required support in undertaking regular review meetings of District Task Force and strengthening monitoring mechanism and the district level MIS for tracking of the progress against the plan, identifying gaps and taking up further action.
6. Support district administration to plan and undertake capacity development for frontline workers and community structures that focus on child protection priorities. Extend support for training of frontline workers and community structures on Advika resource package (Tarunya, Adolescent &Youth Engagement toolkit) on child protection and adolescent priorities including ending child marriage and ending violence against children and putting monitoring mechanism in place.
7. Coordinate with district administration including member departments of District Task Force to ensure participation or leadership of adolescent girls and boys in civic engagement initiatives through UNICEF-supported programme. Support district administration to engage adolescents through volunteer, civic engagement, and life skill programs. Extend support for developing capacity development package for frontline workers and community structures that focus on child protection priorities and adolescent engagement.
8. Support District task Force to integrate parenting to prevent child marriage, abuse, and violence against children through capacity building of functionaries and implementation of parenting package.
9. Provide support in developing mechanism in place to ensure participation of community members in activities that address child protection priority including child marriage, violence, abuse, and exploitation against children.
10. Support district administration to develop mechanism that ensure adolescent girls benefiting from social protection schemes and programmes like vocational training, career guidance, life skills, financial literacy, Behavioural Change Communication.
11. Assist in monitoring, review, and evaluate the progress and impact of project and facilitate external and district authority visits in the programme districts.
12. Undertake other responsibilities not outlined above which are commensurate with a role of this nature and based on organizational or role requirements.

Reporting to

Associate Director

Travel

Travel within, outside of the district and state

Skills and Competencies

Skills and Competencies for District Coordinator:

1. The ideal candidate will be a Postgraduate in Social Sciences/Social Work or any other connected/relevant discipline.
2. Prior knowledge about and relations with the district administration.
3. have at least 5-8 years’ experience in coordination and liasing with district level officials and other key stake holders, project monitoring and evaluation, coordination/ networking around project related issues.
4. have sound knowledge of macro/micro political economy and developmental issues relating to India.
5. Should have experience in networking with state, national level civil society organisations and government agencies.
6. Strong communication skills (both verbal and written) in Hindi & English.
7. Gender sensitive and strong conviction and skills for the empowerment of the poor and disadvantaged groups.
8. Should have good documentation skills and be proficient in basic computer applications like Word, Excel and Power Point.
9. Willingness to undertake travel as per the project requirements.

Consultancy Fee

Approximately INR 57,750/- per month, including TDS.

To apply

Please send your application, only on our ‘Standard Application Form’ available in the ‘Jobs’ section of our website: https://www.actionaidindia.org/through   e-mail at recruitment.india@actionaid.org .

Please mention in the subject line of your e-mail “District Coordinator - Deogarh”.  

Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable ActionAid Association to store your profile in a permanent database. Please visit ActionAid Association's e-Recruitment website at: www.actionaidindiajobs.org

The system provides instructions for online application procedures.

All applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the timeline stated in the vacancy announcement. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Last Date for Receiving Application

27^th March 2023