National Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist

Organizational Setting

FAO, in cooperation with the Government of Malawi and other relevant partners are incepting the project on Ecosystem-based Adaptation for Resilient Watersheds and Communities in Malawi (EbAM). The project aims at building climate resilience in vulnerable watersheds and communities through increasing climate resilience of watershed ecosystems, stabilizing productivity and farmers’ incomes and enhancing enabling environment. Total cost of the project is estimated at USD 53.2 million, which will be co-financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), FAO and the Government of Malawi. The project will be implemented in 11 targeted districts in different regions in Malawi over a period of 6 years. Around 575,000 vulnerable people in rural communities will benefit from project interventions and more than 83,000 heIPOres of land will be restored through application of Ecosystem-based Adaptation approach.

Reporting Lines

The National Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist (NGSIS) will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Malawi, Direct supervision of the EbAM Technical Adviser (TA), and will work closely with the EbAM National Project Manager (NPM) and other project team members.

Technical Focus

The NGSIS will support the EbAM Central Project Implementation Unit (CPIU) in Lilongwe and Regional Project Implementation Units (RPIUs) in Blantyre and Mzuzu in formulating and implementing the Gender Action Plan (GAP), Social Inclusion Management Plan (SIMP), and Youth and Indigenous People Plan (IPP) in the targeted EbAM project areas.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide technical support and services for the formulation, updating and implementation of the GAP, SIMP and IPP of the EbAM project and related detailed work plans, with guidance from FAO HQ Technical Officer on Gender.
• Cooperate with the EbAM M&E team to support identification and inclusion of gender, social and indigenous people related indicators, targets and approaches in EbAM Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) systems/plans, and to facilitate their implementation through development of relevant tools, organization of trainings for EbAM team members and other implementing partners.
• Support monitoring of implementation of GAP, SIMP, IPP and related work plans to contribute to the reporting and verification processes of the EbAM Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework (ESMF), and the regulatory framework that regulates the rights of indigenous peoples and nations and the gender perspective in the country.
• Lead the design and implementation of methodologies that guarantee the equal participation of women, youth and indigenous peoples in the process of technical and financial assistance to small farmers and families in indigenous communities to strengthen their food production systems.
• Provide technical support to the project team on the process of updating and implementing Gender and Social Inclusion Information System and the project's FAO and GCF-related safeguards with guidance from FAO Sub-Regional, Regional and HQ Offices.
• Accompany the design of intercultural tools and instruments to incorporate the aspects of differential approaches to gender and indigenous peoples and integrate social aspects in the different lines of work of the Project in relation to the technical elements.
• Contribute to preparation of project reports, technical reports, presentations and any other document to partners, donors, counterparts, FAO and GCF related to gender, youth and indigenous peoples, especially reports on the results of the execution of the planned activities.
• Prepare, monitor, generate alerts and periodic report of the execution of activities established in the Logical Framework Matrix (MML) and the Annual Operational Plans (AOP) with their respective to Gender and Social Inclusion. Document and leave traceability of complaints, claims and resolution of conflicts addressed and proposed solutions.
• Facilitate the documentation and systematization of FAO's strategic experiences. Support exchange of knowledge and experiences developed in indigenous and farmers’ territories in accordance with the contextual conditions in the areas or project’s intervention. Disseminate and promote practices that contribute to closing the inequality gaps for women, in compliance with FAO's gender policy.
• Carry out any other relevant work assigned by the Technical Advisor.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced degree in gender, social or other relevant fields.
• At least five years of relevant experience in genders, social, indigenous people, with a special focus to environmental, rural development, natural resource management, agriculture thematic areas
• Working knowledge (level C) of English and Chichewa.
• Nationality of Malawi.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Knowledge and skills in specific approaches and tools on gender equality, social inclusion and indigenous people.
• Relevance of experience on Gender research, Gender Audit, and/or monitoring especially on Grievance Redress Mechanism.
• Relevance of experience in working with UN agencies, international organizations on gender or social related projects.
• Knowledge and strength in community engagement and social orientation.
• Ability to work with a multidisciplinary team and establish effective partnerships.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION