External Relations Specialist

External Relations Specialist

Functional Area: Influencing, Campaigns and Communications

Reports to: Director of Influencing, Campaigns and Communication

Location: Country Office

Travel required: Intermittently

Grade: D-1

Type: Open to all applicants, Fixed term employment until September 2026; based in Country Office

ABOUT PLAN INTERNATIONAL

Plan International is a development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We strive for a just world, working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners in over 75 countries. Our programs are underpinned by a core of defined values, including transparency and accountability, team collaboration, inclusion and integration, as well as the overall ambition to empower girls and young women as legacy.

Plan International has been working in Nepal since 1978 and developed a strong reputation as a respected development and humanitarian actor helping marginalized children, their families and communities to access their rights to health, education, economic security and protection. Through the support of local partners, Plan International has worked in 42 districts in Nepal since 1978.

Plan International strives for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Our ambition from now to 2027 is to see All Girls Standing Strong Creating Global Change.

Plan international Nepal seeks candidates who practice feminist leadership, promote diversity, actively seek innovative solutions for problems, courageously and respectfully share their opinions and ideas, break down barriers and engender cross-department collaboration, practice active listening, maintain confidentiality, build trust and are passionate about children’s rights and equality for girls.

ROLE PURPOSE

The overall responsibility of this position is to ensure that all activities that Plan International Nepal implements meet the requirements of the Government of Nepal, at all levels. S/He will be be responsible for good maintaining good working relationship primarily, with Social Welfare Council (SWC), relevant government ministries/departments and organisations/networks that share common agenda for change in the lives of children and adolescence girls in Nepal.

The position will also support Program and Operation teams to ensure that the functioning of the organization in compliance with SWC and other government requirements.

Description
DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE

Direct Line Manager: Director for Influencing, Campaigns and Communications

Dotted Line Manager: None

Budget Accountability: None

Number of direct reports: None

External relationships and representation: Yes

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Government Liaison and Compliance

Serve as the primary liaison between Plan International Nepal and Social Welfare Council, ensuring all activities follow its regulations.
Ensure General Agreement and Project Agreements with government regulatory body and their amendments are made in time as necessary.
Monitor changes in government policies, regulations, and legal frameworks that impact Plan International Nepal’s operations.
Build and maintain good working relationship with various government ministries and agencies that Plan International’s work is aligned with.
Organize regular learning/sharing/exposure events/visits for government officials to visit our program intervention at district and provincial level.
Ensure effective and timely preparation, delivery and presentation of CPAC, DPAC and other project related government meetings.

Regulatory Reporting

Act as the representative of Plan International Nepal in government meetings, consultations, and forums, ensuring alignment with both organizational objectives and government expectations.
Ensure timely submission of reports, documentation, and compliance requirements to relevant government bodies.
Provide regular updates to Country Management on government-related compliance issues and any changes in the regulatory environment.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all government interactions, submissions, and compliance activities.
Track and report on the status of the organisation’s General/Project Agreement with government entities.

Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management

Participate in multi-stakeholder forums, representing Plan International Nepal’s interests and advocating for child rights and development.
Engage in sector-specific working groups and alliances, contributing expertise and aligning Plan International Nepal’s efforts with broader industry standards.
Represent the organization in donor and partner meetings, fostering relationships and securing support for ongoing and future initiatives.
Attend policy dialogues and roundtable discussions, articulating Plan International Nepal’s positions on key issues to influence policy-making processes.
Collaborate with civil society networks, ensuring that Plan International Nepal’s programs and strategies are well-represented and integrated into collective actions.

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

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Program Participants and Gender Equality and Inclusion (DEI) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Education Qualification and Experience

• Master’s Degree in Political Science, Law or relevant studies with 3 years of experience in relevant area Or a Bachelor’s degree in the aforesaid studies with 5 years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated experience in advocacy, lobbying, engagement, coordination and networking, especially with government.
• Nuanced understanding and knowledge of development issues, trend, challenges, opportunities and implications to community development.
• Experience and knowledge of child rights programming, gender transformative and inclusive strategies and development programming.

Knowledge

• In-depth understanding of regulations, policies, and legal frameworks that regulate I/NGOs.
• Understanding the working and expectation of various agencies of the Government.
• Knowledge of internal audit, audit and policy implementation.
• Awareness of the social, economic, and political landscape in Nepal especially in relation to children’s rights and development issues.

Skills

• Flexibility and ability to multi-tasking under pressure.
• Strong ability to communicate and negotiate at different levels and effective interpersonal skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including presentation in Nepali and English, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and
• persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Ability to analyse government policies, identify potential impacts on the organization, and develop appropriate responses.
• Ability to respond swiftly and effectively to public relations challenges and compliance issues.

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 in Country Office, Kathmandu, with some travel to field as necessary

LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN

Low Level: Low interaction with children

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

Source: Kantipur Dainik, 22 August, 2024