GEDSI MERLA Specialist Global at ABT Associates

The Opportunity

• Abt Global Equity Capability is looking for a qualified Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Specialist to provide GEDSI expertise across its global development portfolio, support business development efforts, including building and maintaining strategic relationships, design and implement training and capacity building interventions, design/refine GEDSI tools and frameworks, and help strengthen Abt’s reputation as an equity leader.
• As a GEDSI Associate within the MERLA (Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning and Adapting) division of the Equity Capability, you will provide technical leadership in intersectional identities, gender-based violence, technical gender analysis and integration within activities, projects, and proposals across various sectors, including at the nexus of health, energy, agriculture, climate change, food security, and governance. You will implement Culturally Responsive and Equitable Approaches to Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning and Adapting and will lead your work in a manner that models and reinforces equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility and that elevates Abt’s vision, mission, values, culture, and strategic priorities.
• You will join a diverse and collegial environment where we find solutions to the most pressing challenges.

Core Responsibilities

• Serve as GEDSI MERLA subject matter expert across programs and projects in the resilient economies portfolio with a specific focus on agriculture, market systems, food security, and livelihoods, economic growth, and economic governance. This includes providing a GEDSI lens and advise to theories of change, results frameworks, logic models or other conceptual frameworks; indicators; data collection and data management tools; analytical methods, including GEDSI analyses; data quality assurance protocols; and learning agendas, inclusive of research and evaluation protocols.
• Work closely with portfolio leaders, opportunity leads, and technical staff to embed intersectionality, e.g., race, ethnicity, LGBTQIA2S+ and other identities, into all GEDSI work
• Manage large work streams or processes with limited oversight
• Lead MERLA projects, conduct GEDSI analyses, and develop GEDSI Action Plans
• Provide GEDSI expertise to various opportunities in Abt’s business development pipeline; lead or co-lead equity-focused bids
• Design and deliver GEDSI/equity trainings for various audiences, e.g., project staff, project counterparts, Abt staff
• Monitor trends in the GEDSI arena (practices, funding, monitoring, and research, etc.) and use these to support identification of opportunities and inform MERLA strategies
• Develop/refine Abt MERLA GEDSI/equity tools and frameworks
• Work closely with various projects to ensure a consistent and integrated GEDSI approach across Abt’s global development portfolio
• Support project teams to mentor GEDSI specialists, promote GEDSI/equity best practices, and facilitate learning

What We Value

• Bachelor’s Degree + 9 years of relevant experience, or Master’s Degree + 7 years of relevant experience, or PhD + 4 years of relevant experience
• Significant experience at an advisory level in intersectionality and GEDSI, with a focus on gender equality in MERLA in resilient economies portfolio
• Experience developing GEDSI MERLA strategies and operationalizing them in USAID and other donor-funded programs and projects
• Strong understanding of USAID and US Government inclusion policies, i.e. Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy, Policy on Promoting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, LGBTQI+ Inclusive Development Policy, Disability Policy, Youth in Development Policy, US Strategy to Prevent and Respond to GBV, US Strategy on Global Women’s Economic Security)
• Demonstrated ability to ensure gender mainstreaming and social inclusion integration in MERLA activities at a senior level.
• Experience with inclusive stakeholder consultation and with ensuring the input and voices of under-represented and most impacted groups are heard.
• Network of contacts relevant to GEDSI work within the global development community
• Proficiency in cross-cultural communication and engagement with diverse teams
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally periodically as needed
• Experience working overseas is an advantage
• Fluency in English is required as well as strong writing and verbal skills
• Flexible and adaptable in a fast-paced environment
• Preferred ability to work professionally in a language other than English