Gender Specialist

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background, and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented member nations, and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct and to uphold our values. FAO has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and FAO, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates, therefore, will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization

Organizational Setting

The multiple crisis the country is passing through since 2019, has resulted in plunging all socio-economic indicators and threatening food security and livelihoods of most of the Lebanese people. It has seriously affected the productive capacity of the agricultural sector as most agricultural inputs are imported by increasing input costs resulting from the rapid devaluation of the Lebanese Pound in the parallel/real market and the disruption in imports.

This project aims to foster the development of more sustainable small-scale and integrated homestead farming systems with stronger linkages to local agricultural input and animal feed supply chains
The expected outcome of the Project will be achieved through generation of the following three outputs:
1. The livelihood and productive capacity of 2,800 vulnerable smallholder farmers, including at least 800 women, is restored through the distribution of vouchers for the purchase of key agricultural inputs and livestock feed.

2. The access to and control over livelihoods and food security of smallholder farmers are enhanced through the provision of productive assets for integrated homestead farming and related agri-food processing enterprises to 1,800 vulnerable smallholder farmers, including at least 1,520 women.

3. The supply chains of selected domestically produced agricultural inputs are strengthened to improve access by smallholder male and female farmers

The project implementation will be coordinated with other FAO ongoing projects for the voucher component.

Reporting Lines

The gender expert reports to the Project Manager

Technical Focus

• Strong technical capacity in developing gender equality strategies.
• Ability to report, coordinate and follow up on implementing gender equality with beneficiaries and partners.
• Gender equality and women empowerment

Tasks and responsibilities:

- Act as the principal resource person on gender issues, practices and policies relevant to the project context and activities
- Prepare the project gender strategy
- Analyse the gender related data collected through the application process and identify beneficiaries needs in terms of awareness and coaching
- Conduct a gender equality awareness campaign to the men and women beneficiaries of the Project using the awareness tools developed in the frame of the GCP/LEB/030/CAN
- Provide guidance to the project stakeholders to ensure gender is mainstreamed in the project interventions
- Provide guidance to the Project inputs suppliers and to the selected NGOs on the gender equality and women empowerment concepts and practices.
- Provide inputs to project reports when needed

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University Degree in Social or Natural Sciences studies or other relevant discipline, preferably with a specialization in gender and women empowerment
• Minimum five years of practical experience in gender equality, gender mainstreaming and women empowerment.
• Nationality of Lebanon or resident in the country with a regular work permit.
• Very good reporting capabilities in English and Arabic language.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work.
• Extent and relevance of experience in gender studies and women empowerment.
• Extent and relevance of experience with farmers beneficiaries.
• Good knowledge with MS office applications including excel, word and power point.
• Excellent written and oral presentation skills.
• Highly accurate and organized.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Awareness on the importance of gender equality and women empowerment among farmers and beneficiaries.
• Familiarity with gender strategies and gender analysis tools
• Strong organizational and communication skills

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.