Project Officer

Position: Project Officer-Resilient Future: Ending child marriage in Nepal

Functional Area: Program – Thrive – Protection and Learn (SOYEE)

Reports to: Direct: Project Specialist- Resilient Future: Ending child marriage in Nepal

Location: Kanchanpur -District

Travel required: Yes

Grade: C1

Type: Open to all applicants, Project-based employment until June 2027; based in Kanchanpur District

ABOUT PLAN INTERNATIONAL NEPAL

Plan International is a development and humanitarian organization dedicated to advancing children’s rights and achieving equality for girls. With a presence in over 75 countries, we work alongside children, young people, supporters, and partners to create a just world. Our work is guided by core values such as transparency, accountability, collaboration, inclusion, and the overarching ambition to empower girls and young women as part of our legacy.

Plan International has been operating in Nepal since 1978, earning a strong reputation as a trusted development and humanitarian actor. Over the years, we have worked in 23 districts across the country, helping marginalized children, their families, and communities access their rights to health, education, economic security, and protection.

Committed to feminist leadership and a gender-transformative approach, Plan International Nepal collaborates with local partners to ensure sustainable impact and foster equality, particularly for girls and young women.

Plan International Nepal strives for an inclusive, just, and safe society that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Our mission from 2023 to 2028 is to see all girls and young women standing strong enjoying their rights, and freedom with dignity in Nepal.

Plan International Nepal is looking for candidates who embrace feminist leadership, value diversity, and are driven to find innovative solutions to challenges. Ideal candidates should respectfully and boldly share their ideas, foster cross-department collaboration, practice active listening, uphold confidentiality, build trust, and demonstrate a strong passion for advancing children’s rights and promoting equality for girls.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Project Officer (PO) (herein referred as PO) will support to implement the “Resilient Future: Ending child marriage in Nepal project. The project shall be implemented by local NGO partner in Kanchanpur district. The position is responsible to support Project Specialist in planning, executing, monitoring and control and closure of the project reporting within donor compliance. The position shall maintain close coordination with internal team, local implementing partner and other key stakeholders including the three tiers of the government.

In adherence to Plan International Nepal’s Country Strategy 2023-28, the Project Officer will play a significant role in achieving its objective through this project, as demonstrated by its high sense of accountability, mutual respect and teamwork. As the Project Officer, he/she must have an in-depth understanding of project management for smooth facilitation including people management, effective organisational and programme communication, partnership management and adherence to high quality programming and reporting while maintaining full compliance with the standards and requirements set by both the Government of Nepal and donor agencies.

Description

DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE

The Project Officer’s (PO) main responsibility is to support appropriate planning, executing, monitoring and support for High quality reporting to Project Lead for donor reporting compliances of the project, including ensuring timely and quality implementation of the project through local NGO. The position will require frequent travel to working palikas and need to coordinate with local government and provincial government and prepare quality report i.e. event report and support partner to produce quality monthly and quarterly report as required. The position will also work closely with the partners and maintain cordial relationship with the donor.

The PO is a member of Programme, Partnership, and Impact (PPI) Department and works closely with Programme Quality and Innovation Unit (PQI) including Monitoring, Evaluation Research and Learning (MERL) unit, Business Development Department (for grants compliance/donor reporting) Influencing, Campaigns and Communications (ICC) team with regards to quality program, program effectiveness and efficiency.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Support Project Specialist- Resilient Future: Ending child marriage in Nepal by assisting in planning, coordination, implementation and documentation along with maintenance of organisation systems (SAP/PMERL/PPMIS).

Planning & Budgeting and Start-up

• Support project team to develop Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP), Project Implementation Guideline and ensure the implementation and updates DIP on a regular basis.
• Support to develops project’s work plan and budget in coordination and consultation with local implementing partner and other relevant stakeholders.
• Support to conduct induction regarding the approved work plan is understood by local implementing partner for smooth implementation of the project.
• Assist the Project Specialist of the project in reviewing project budgets.
• Support to ensure correct WBS and program codes are used, and support in tracking expenditures and burn rates in close coordination with finance staff.

Partner Management and Project Delivery

• Ensure partner NGO has necessary capacity to implement the project and adept in use of Plan’s system such as PPMIS.
• Jointly with the PNGO, oversees the delivery, monitoring and evaluation of the project, by analysing information and comparing it with the objectives, and schedules to monitor progression, early detection of deviations and proposed corrections.
• In collaboration with the partner(s,) monitors and manages the risks around the project, documenting the situation and analysing the consequences.
• Ensures that system processing for the request for advance and other payments is accurate and timely Including advance payments to partners.
• Monitors the progress of project implementation and budget spending and provide timely advice and support on any major issues in over/under spending and/or delays or deviations to work plans.
• Supports partners for realignment process with CMT approval and following project tolerances.
• Implements his/her work and the work of partner(s) from the perspective of achieving gender transformative results as outlined in the policy on gender equality and inclusion.
• Ensures Safeguarding and PSHEA risk assessments are conducted and mitigation measurements for any event that involved children and young people.
• Act as a communication link between the partner NGO and Plan International Nepal.
• Assist in organizing partner assessments and help coordinate capacity building with relevant departments.
• Support the preparation and follow-up of capacity building plans.
• Support in coordination between Plan team members and partners.
• Support to organize regular review meetings across sectors to promote collaboration and avoid duplication of work.
• Share updates and maintain smooth communication within the team.

Documentation & Reporting

• Ensures partner NGO delivers high quality reports on time and with quality.
• Consolidates learnings and drafts high-quality reports, including event reports, narrative reports, event tracking sheets, and supports the development of quarterly progress reports for the Project Specialist (PS) and, ensuring alignment with donor requirements, reporting templates, and submission timelines.
• Proactively documents key project learnings, including lessons learned, best practices, success stories, and case studies, in close coordination with the Project Specialist (PS) of the Project.
• Disseminates key project learnings, achievements, and challenges in relevant platforms such as review and reflection meetings, workshops, and learning events at the local, provincial, and national levels.
• Supports the organization and documentation of field visits, review meetings, and capacity-building workshops, including minute-taking, photo documentation, and compiling feedback for program improvement.
• Disseminates key learnings and challenges of the project in various platforms through the review reflection and sharing meeting at local and provincial level.
• Provides timely support in evaluations/studies including coordination, documentation, and analysis of field observation and data.
• Maintains a strong understanding of project frameworks, child protection safeguarding (PSEA), and gender equality standards of Plan International, ensuring they are mainstreamed across all aspects of project implementation and reporting.

Representation and Networking

• Collaboration and coordination with government counterparts at local and provincial level, external development partners and donors at various levels as required.
• Supports in program areas to build strong networks with other NGOs, CSOs, bilateral and multi-lateral agencies and Government line agencies working on Protection (Especially in the trafficking) issues to promote coordination and resource sharing at the Palikas/districts/province level.
• Represent Plan International Nepal in various external meetings related to the project as required and as delegated by the Project Specialist.
• Support donor visits in the project area (if any).
• Build links with other NGOs especially who manages similar project in the district and province levels.
• Ensure Plan International Nepal’s voice is heard at relevant forums.
• Organize and attend coordination meetings to ensure project goals are achieved smoothly.

Innovation and Scale

• Identifies new ideas, best practices, problems and issues around program implementation and works toward finding solutions for improvements, documenting, disseminating and in consultation with relevant departments and themes.

Other

• Carry out other related tasks assigned by the supervisor.

Any other tasks as assigned by line manager in accordance to organizational mandate and priority.

Ensures the full integration of Plan International’s global policies on Safeguarding Children, Program Participants, and Gender Equality and Inclusion (DEI) within their area of responsibility. This includes adherence to the policy principles, relevant Implementation Standards, and Guidelines. Key responsibilities involve ensuring that staff and associates are informed of and understand their obligations under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their specific roles, and that any concerns are promptly reported and managed in line with established procedures.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential Knowledge and Experience

• A Bachelor’s Degree in development studies, development management, gender studies, social science or other relevant subjects with at least two (2) years of experience in project management, preferably Child protection project.
• Proven experience in managing and working with partner NGO, implementing the activities including quality reporting.
• Ability to communicate effectively and authoritatively on area of expertise, and influence others to reach common goals.
• Proven experience and ability to coordinate and collaborate with different organizations including the government and demonstrable working experience in development program.
• Knowledge of basic MS Office including MS Outlook, MS Word and MS Excel.
• Good written and verbal communication skills in English and Nepali.

Skills (leadership/managerial if applicable)

• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with colleagues, a variety of team members and external contacts, through good written and spoken communication skills.
• Good interpersonal skills for team working in multi-lingual and multi-cultural environment.
• Demonstrably strong verbal and written communication, presentation and persuasion skills.
• Ability to plan work and meet deadlines when working under pressure.
• Able to create linkages, networking, lobbying and advocating with relevant stakeholders.
• Good awareness and analysis of sensitivities attached with the government functionaries.
• Ability to articulate the vision of Plan’s programme to different audiences.

Behaviours

• Demonstrable professional maturity and able to work independently.
• Ability to apply good judgment and professionalism in the resolution of work-related problems.
• Honest, encourages openness and transparency.
• Efficient in meeting commitments and deadlines in achieving results.
• Ability to plan and organize work by identifying priority activities and adjusting priorities as required.
• Demonstrated approach to work that is characterized by commitment, motivation, energy and flexibility.
• Ability to relate to government authorities, UN agencies, and other development/humanitarian actors and to build a rapport effectively.
• Commitment to Plan’s values including the rights and needs of children.

PLAN INTERNATIONAL’S VALUES

We are open and accountable

We create a climate of trust inside and outside the organisation by being open, honest and transparent. We hold ourselves and others to account for the decisions we make and for our impact on others, while doing what we say we will do.

We strive for lasting impact

We strive to achieve significant and lasting impact on the lives of children and young people, and to secure equality for girls. We challenge ourselves to be bold, courageous, responsive, focused and innovative.

We work well together

We succeed by working effectively with others, inside and outside the organisation, including our sponsors and donors. We actively support our colleagues, helping them to achieve their goals. We come together to create and implement solutions in our teams, across Plan International, with children, girls, young people, communities and our partners.

We are inclusive and empowering

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

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

This position is based at Kanchanpur (Sudurpaschim Province), with frequent travel to project area.

LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN

High level: Frequent interaction with children

“Say Yes ! To Keeping Children and Young people safe and Protected”

Application Deadline: Wednesday 23rd July, 2025

Source: Kantipur Dainik, 10 July, 2025

Tagged as: Kanchanpur