Gender, Equality And Social Inclusion Advisor

Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Position Status Full-time, Regular

Salary Level: 6

About Mercy Corps

Since 1979, we have helped people grappling with the toughest hardships survive – and then thrive. That’s the heart of our approach: We help communities turn crisis into opportunity. Throughout our history, Mercy Corps has demonstrated innovation, timeliness and the ability to adapt quickly to changing realities.

Programme Summary

Funded by the UK Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF), the anticipated Building Resilience against Violent Extremism programme in the Tanzania-Mozambique borderlands, will work with communities, national and sub-national government representatives and international partners to counter violence extremism. The Programme will:

• Strengthen understanding of drivers and dynamics of violent extremism in the region;
• Strengthen community resilience against violent extremist influence and narratives;
• Promote dialogue within communities and between public authorities and citizens in order to increase trust and reduce tensions;
• Work with security and justice actors on community-centred and human rights compliant approaches; and
• Support mechanisms for conflict management and improved coordination with international partners.

This Programme will most likely begin in early 2023 and will be implemented for up to three years.

General Position Summary

The Gender, Equality and Social Inclusion Advisor will provide technical support and direction in programme design, implementation, quality assurance and strategy development. The Advisor will support the programme to integrate gender and inclusion outcomes, best practices and gender-sensitive approaches across a variety of interventions. The Advisor will design and implement a strategy to ensure the programme appropriately addresses the varied needs of women, men, girls, and boys, and that programme staff are sensitive to gender, age, religion, ability, and other social markers. The Advisor will ensure that the programme improves the meaningful inclusion of marginalised groups into formal and informal mechanisms to be more resilient to preventing violent extremism and that GESI evidence informs policy and planning. S/he/they will work closely with the Team Lead, Deputy Team Lead, MEL, Research & Learning team members to fulfil the gender, youth and social inclusion goals of the programme.

Essential Job Responsibilities

GENDER, EQUALITY & INCLUSION TECHNICAL SUPPORT, STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT AND IMPACT

• Support the technical design for a gender and social inclusion analysis, manage data collection, lead participatory data analysis and co-create recommendations with the programme team based on findings. Work closely with the programme team to integrate the findings from the gender and social inclusion analysis into the project’s workplan and milestones.
• Lead participatory processes to develop Gender, Equality and Social Inclusion programme strategy to guide gender, equality and social inclusion integration and priorities across the life of the programme, based on the formative research.
• Support the programme team, including partners, on gender, equality and social inclusion integration including conducting capacity building and training.
• Conduct regular community consultations to ensure programming remains gender, age, and socially sensitive and on track.
• Represent the programme’s gender and social inclusion strategy, analysis, and research with external stakeholders including at workshops, conferences and annual learning events.
• Work with programme teams to ensure a do no harm approach to gender-focused and inclusive programming is implemented and that appropriate protections are in place for participants.
• Coach new and ongoing programme staff on gender and social inclusion engagement best practices
• Conduct frequent supervisory visits to the programme locations to monitor project implementation and ensure project quality and support staff to reflect and iterate based on ongoing feedback.

GENDER, AND SOCIAL INCLUSION PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT & QUALITY ASSURANCE

• Coach program staff to better design, implement and monitor programs in a manner that meets each sector’s best practices and industry standards in GESI.
• Ensure the effective design and integration of gender-sensitive monitoring and evaluation systems (including SADD) and protection monitoring methodologies into all stages of the project; that output and impact data are captured, and data is used to optimize program quality.
• Assist teams in using vulnerability frameworks and targeting that enable inclusiveness and help teams to identify individuals and households with specific needs.

REPRESENTATION AND COORDINATION

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders working in GESI in the Kenya country team to enhance cooperation and coordination.
• Attend relevant GESI coordination meetings and/or represent Mercy Corps in other relevant forums and ensure that information is shared internally and with other sectors, as appropriate; contribute to thought leadership in this area of expertise.
• Identify and nurture strategic GESI partnerships with other organisations/institutions in the country.
• Liaise with MC’s Regional GESI Advisor on agency wide gender policies and cross-learning.

OTHER

• Support management to ensure that the Mercy Corps Gender Minimum Standards are implemented.
• Ensure the team complies with CSSF GESI Requirements.
• Ensure activities promote gender equality, conflict sensitivity, and environmental awareness by applying Do No Harm and Mercy Corps’ Gender Equality policy.
• Participate in internal office coordination and planning meetings and workshops.
• Participate in relevant coordination meetings and working groups.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardise its humanitarian mission.
• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
• Other assigned tasks, as necessary.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility

N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Deputy Team Lead

Knowledge and Experience

• A university degree in International Development, Gender Studies, Social Works, Business Management or other related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Previous GESI experience related to conflict or peacebuilding.
• Five years of experience in international development work, with a minimum of three years directly in GESI.
• Substantial background in GESI and development work including experience conducting training, doing analysis and program integration and engaging in advocacy.
• Experience in girl programming, gender-transformative interventions.
• Comprehensive knowledge of GESI norms and standards as well as holistic and practical methods towards implementing protection mainstreaming and integrated protection outcomes.
• Fluent in English, fluency in Swahili and Portuguese preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate (verbally and written) and negotiate clearly and effectively. Tact, diplomacy and cultural awareness are essential.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Excel and Word

Success Factors

The individual must have strong writing skills and the ability to multitask, set priorities, pay attention to detail, and work under tight deadlines within complex team environments. The position holder must take an active role in building and maintaining external relationships as well as demonstrating the drive and initiative to contribute to internal team efforts. The individual must learn quickly how to provide technical data and support in the most efficient and effective form possible for each unique field team and environment. This position requires strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, and a level of emotional intelligence proficiency that quickly builds and maintains productive relationships across teams. Being aware and sensitive to international development issues and diverse cultures is critical.

All Interested candidates who meet the  required qualifications and experience should submit a cover letter, detailed curriculum vitae (CV) listing three professional referees (including a recent supervisor) to [email protected]   on or before Monday the 23^rd January,2023 by 6.00pm.

 The email subject line must clearly show the job title. Please do not attach any certificates.

(Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We will only get in touch with shortlisted candidates)

NB: Mercy Corps does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process