Project Officer – ECD (52308)

Career Opportunities: Project Officer – ECD (52308)

Requisition ID 52308 – Posted 17/07/2025 – Country (1) – Child Protection

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

Role PURPOSE

The Project Officer will be based at the Kigali office and will play a pivotal role in supporting the Programme Manager in the effective coordination and implementation of the national Early Childhood Development (ECD) project. Working under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager, the Project Officer will assist in ensuring smooth day-to-day collaboration with the implementing partner, follow-up on agreed action points, and contribute to maintaining strong working relationships with all key stakeholders.

S/he will be responsible for tracking progress against the project’s performance indicators and the detailed implementation timeline, flagging any risks or delays, and supporting the Programme Manager in devising timely mitigation strategies. The Project Officer will assist in managing administrative, logistical, and financial aspects of the project, including processing procurement requests, monitoring expenditures, and ensuring compliance with both donor and organizational requirements.

The officer will support the preparation of timely and high-quality narrative and financial reports, coordinating inputs from partners and internal departments, and ensuring reports are accurate, complete, and aligned with contractual timelines. S/he will also contribute to the quality assurance of project activities, ensuring that implementation aligns with agreed outcomes and organizational standards, with a focus on inclusive and equitable access to ECD services.

In addition, the Project Officer will work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team to collect, analyze, and report data; document lessons learned and best practices; and support learning and adaptation efforts. The role requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to problem-solving, with the ability to support the Programme Manager in delivering results within a results-based financing framework.

Accountabilities and MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES

1. Project Coordination and Partner Engagement

• Ensure effective day-to-day coordination and communication with the implementing partner.
• Support the partner in timely planning and implementation of project activities in alignment with approved workplans and results framework.
• Participate in regular joint reviews with the partner to assess progress, address bottlenecks, and plan corrective actions.

2. Results-Based Management and Indicator Tracking

• Closely track the achievement of project indicators and ensure evidence-based reporting in line with the results-based funding approach.
• Coordinate with the MEL team to ensure timely collection, analysis, and validation of indicator data.
• Support regular quality assurance checks of activities and outputs at the field level.

3. Budget and Administrative Oversight

• Monitor partner budget utilization against activity plans and ensure compliance with financial procedures.
• Support the finance team in reviewing partner financial reports and supporting documents for accuracy and completeness.
• Ensure timely submission of activity reports, financial reports, and documentation of deliverables in line with donor and Plan International requirements.

4. Safeguarding, Inclusion, and Quality Standards

• Ensure all project activities comply with Plan International’s Safeguarding and PSHEA policies.
• Promote inclusive practices in project implementation, especially related to children with disabilities and gender equality.
• Identify and escalate any safeguarding or child protection risks arising during implementation.

5. Documentation, Learning, and Reporting

• Prepare timely and accurate narrative reports, briefs, and success stories showcasing the project’s impact.
• Document lessons learned, best practices, and innovations from implementation to inform future programming.
• Support the preparation of donor reports and participate in internal reflection sessions and donor visits when required.

Dealing with Problems

Being a result-based financing project, this role requires critical thinking, adaptability, vigilance, and effective problem-solving. The post holder must anticipate implementation challenges, monitor performance-based funding risks, and support the partner in maintaining quality and compliance under time-sensitive conditions. The Project Officer will need to work collaboratively across teams while managing competing priorities in a dynamic environment.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Qualifications and Experience – Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, Social Work, Development Studies, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in managing or supporting ECD or child-focused development projects.
• Proven experience working with local implementing partners and community-based interventions.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Rwanda’s ECCE policies and systems.
• Solid experience in monitoring project indicators and results-based reporting.
• Budget monitoring and partner financial reporting experience.

Qualifications and Experience – Desirable:

• Knowledge and experience in inclusive education and disability inclusion.
• Familiarity with safeguarding and child protection frameworks.
• Experience in working with government structures and alignment to national systems.

Skills:

• Strong project management and coordination skills.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and report-writing abilities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team and multicultural environment.

Languages Required:

• Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda is required.
• French is an added advantage.Click here to view the Full JD: JD – Project officer EoF project-PIR.docx

Location: Country Office

Type of Role: Child Protection and ECD.

Reports to: CP, ECD & Safeguarding Program Manager

Grade: 12

Closing Date: 30th July, 2025

Application link

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.