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.
The Opportunity
Plan International Sudan is seeking an innovative individual with extensive demonstrable experience in gender or gender‑based violence (GBV) within a humanitarian organisation. The role requires strong knowledge of and practical experience in gender mainstreaming, community‑level gender‑transformative approaches, protection, and inclusion/disability, as well as experience managing programme cycles in insecure and politically sensitive environments.
About the Role
The Gender Specialist will lead technical oversight and gender mainstreaming for the consortium implementing the GPE BRIDGES programme and, subject to funding, a new phase of the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) Multi‑Year Resilience Programme (MYRP) in Sudan (2025–2026).
GPE BRIDGES is financed by the Global Partnership for Education Systems Transformation Grants and will be implemented in two priority states of Sudan, aiming to strengthen safe, inclusive and resilient learning environments for children and adolescents aged 6–14, particularly those affected by conflict and crisis. The anticipated ECW MYRP aims to ensure access to education for children, especially girls and young women.
Plan International is the Gender Lead Organisation for both consortia and is responsible for ensuring gender is mainstreamed across all activities, providing technical support to partners and engaging education stakeholders at local and national level.
As the Gender Specialist you will provide leadership in integrating gender‑responsive and gender‑transformative approaches across consortium members and implementing partners. The role will work closely with Education thematic leads to deliver a quality programme that responds to the needs of women and girls, men and boys in all their diversity, challenges discriminatory gender norms and harmful practices, prevents and responds to GBV, and promotes the empowerment of women and girls.
The role requires a high level of professionalism and integrity, strong leadership, coordination and interpersonal skills, and the ability to communicate clearly and strategically with a wide range of stakeholders. Fluency in written and spoken English and knowledge of Arabic is essential.
Key Responsibilities
Response Management and Implementation
- Provide technical oversight to Plan staff and consortium partners to implement and monitor Gender Strategies and Action Plans
- Support integration of Gender‑Transformative Approaches within the Humanitarian Response Plan
- Ensure alignment with INEE Minimum Standards, ECW/GPE Gender Policies, CPMS and the Gender in Humanitarian Action framework
- Lead quarterly gender analysis and gender‑in‑education needs assessments
- Strengthen linkages between gender‑transformative education and GBV risk‑mitigation activities
Programme Design and Resource Mobilisation
- Ensure gender, DRR and conflict sensitivity are embedded in programme design
- Contribute to concept notes, proposals, donor engagement and programme presentations
- Support resource mobilisation through lessons learned and contextual analysis
Capacity Building and Learning
- Develop and deliver capacity‑building plans on Gender‑Transformative Education and gender‑sensitive safeguarding
- Provide training and mentoring to staff, partners and stakeholders
- Promote best practice and evidence‑based learning through case studies and research
MEAL, Coordination and Representation
- Work with MEAL teams to develop and track gender‑specific indicators
- Represent Plan International Sudan in Education, CPiE and GBV coordination mechanisms
- Build and maintain relationships with UN agencies, government and NGO partners
- Provide updates and reports to donors and stakeholders
Safeguarding, HR and Compliance
- Support recruitment, onboarding and staff inductions
- Ensure compliance with Plan International safeguarding, PSHEA, gender equality and HR policies
- Apply strong judgement and risk management in dynamic and high‑pressure contexts
Technical Expertise, Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Expert knowledge of Gender‑Transformative Education, ECW Gender Policy and GPE Systems Transformation Grants
- Strong working knowledge of CPiE and GBViE Minimum Standards
- Experience working in gender‑transformative field, including experience working in humanitarian settings
- Experience conducting gender assessments and delivering training in emergency contexts
- Strong Education in Emergencies experience
- Excellent communication, coordination and representation skills
- Ability to work effectively in stressful and insecure environments
- Fluency in English and Arabic
Desirable
- Experience integrating gender transformation into education, TVET or income‑generating activities
- Previous experience with GPE or ECW‑funded programmes
- Experience working in Sudan or the wider region
Location: Sudan, with travel to programme areas within Sudan. This is a mandatory unaccompanied assignment.
This is a global recruitment search and support with relocation is available if required.
Type of Role: 12 month fixed term contract with possibility of extension
Reports to: Director of Programmes
Closing Date: 26th May 2026
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.
