Country Director - Mali

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 this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

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.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years, and are now active in more than 80 countries.

The Opportunity

Plan International started its work in Mali in 1976 in the district of Banamba from which it phased-out in May 2007. There are currently three active programme Implementation and Influencing Areas which are based in :

• Kita, fully covering the region of Kayes;
• Bougouni, covering Bougouni, the region of Sikasso and partially the region of Koulikoro.
• Dioila, fully covering Dioila the regions Segou and partially the region of Koulikoro.

Our work in the humanitarian response is coordinated from two programmes offices based in Timbuktu and Mopti. This geographical positioning in humanitarian context will be certainly influenced by the current crisis of covid-19.

After the merger with BORNEfonden in July 2018, Plan International Mali has undertaken a transformation which has led to restructuring at the levels of the country office and the field offices. Skilled and competent staff have been deployed in the field offices to engage the feminist leadership approach though our programming and influencing works. That is empowering the field through decentralisation of authority bringing projects and programmes closer to the communities.

Plan International Mali country strategic goal for the period of July 2019 to June 2023 is “Vulnerable and excluded Malian girls grow up healthily and equally cared for through their early years and receive the protection and support needed to make autonomous and healthy decisions on their sexuality and reproductive health as adolescents and youth.”

The following key areas of success are our priorities during that Country Strategy cycle (2019-2023):

• Early Childhood and Development
• Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and the elimination of gender based violence, particularly FGM, child marriage and child pregnancy.
• Youth employment and entrepreneurship, with a focus on young women

Do you have what it takes?

• Leadership, management and development of Mali team in full compliance with local laws and Plan International policies and standards.
• Lead the implementation of the Country Strategy, and the Annual Planning and Budgeting exercise.
• Ensuring high quality programme work is delivered with the maximum involvement of children and young people as actors following Plan International’s Program Quality Procedures (PQP)
• Accurate and timely disbursement of the agreed Country Office Budget including all donor commitments.
• Growing and managing a grant portfolio to ensure that funds are raised in a timely manner for key project responses.
• Ensuring readiness to emergencies is built into all programme planning, and lead emergency response interventions when need arises
• Representation of Plan International Mali, its work and its values to the authorities and key decision-makers
• Maintain good working relationships with Government authorities ensuring the compliance with laws and regulations whilst achieving Plan International´s strategic priority goals.
• As a member of the Regional Leadership Team, the Country Director of Mali is expected to contribute to the overall learning and strategic direction within the region.

For more information regarding the person and job specification, please click here: Country Director Mali JD December 2024.docx

Location: Bamako, Mali

Type of Role: 2-year Fixed term contract

Reports to: Regional Director - West and Central Africa

Competitive salary and package available

Closing Date: 1st Jan 2024

Anticipated 1st round interviews: 25th and 26th Jan 2024

Red Sea search is exclusively retained by Plan International to undertake this assignment. If you wish to be considered for this position, please forward a copy of your CV, along with any relevant documentation, to https://www.redseasearch.com/job/country-director-mali-plan/ on or before 21st January 2024.

All information will be treated in the strictest confidence as we pride ourselves on our professional service. We will revert to you as soon as possible when we have reviewed your application.

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.