Gender Coordinator at Sahel Group

Reports to: National Team Leader
Travel: Limited travel across project States in Nigeria

About the Program
Sahel, in collaboration with other partners, seeks to catalyze the local dairy sector in Nigeria in an inclusive way through a program that will improve the livelihoods, productivity, nutrition, and empowerment of smallholder female dairy farmers and the communities in which they live. The program will span 5 years and will:

• Advocate for an enabling environment for local sourcing through engagements with the government and relevant private sector stakeholders.
• Increase demand for locally sourced milk through partnerships with dairy processors currently or interested in sourcing locally.
• Improve smallholder dairy farmers’ productivity by increasing their access to technical support services and appropriate inputs.
• Empower women dairy farmers and enable them to improve their livelihoods and that of their households.
• Improve nutrition outcomes among smallholder dairy households through innovations in food systems.

Role Summary

• The role of the Gender Coordinator will be responsible for leading the planning and implementation of the gender analysis of the dairy development component of the ALDDN, including understanding of cultural and social norms influencing gender relations in Northern and Southern Nigeria
• He/she will work alongside other critical stakeholders in the project and other project team members to plan and develop gender integration strategies for the project
• The GNC will also manage and lead the execution of a holistic gender study that will assess barriers that women face in dairy producing communities in Northern and Southern Nigeria and propose specific interventions that will address these barriers
• He/she will be required to manage sub-grantees recruited to support the gender study which will comprise of a baseline assessment.
• The gender coordinator will also work closely with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure services are provided to smallholder dairy farmers while working with stakeholders at the federal and state ministries of agriculture as well as development agencies involved in the program to design and implement gender sensitive approaches for enhancing the livelihood of smallholder dairy farmers.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities
Sub-Grantee Management: Gender Study:

• In coordination with the ALDDN’s Project Management Office (PMO), partner dairy processors and the sub-grantee for the gender study, the Gender Specialist will plan, design and lead the execution of the gender study in smallholder farming communities in Northern and Southern Nigeria.
• Together with the sub grantee for the Gender Study, define key hypotheses for the focus of the analysis, including issues around employment of women in the dairy sector, control of productive assets, women participation in household decision making, access to basic education and health services for women and girls.
• Oversee the development of harmonized methodologies, approaches and instruments for conducting the Gender Study.
• Together with the sub grantee for the Gender Study, propose interventions and structures to address barriers that women face in dairy producing communities and to ensure that they continue to maintain a significant control over the proceeds from the sale of their milk and other productive assets related to dairy production
• Investigate the applicability of proven dairy women empowerment programs such as the Africa Dairy Development Project’s Social Capital Development and Dairy Interest Group approaches for the social, cultural and economic settings in Nigeria.
• In coordination with the National Team Leader, oversee the organization of two stakeholder meetings to share the results of the gender study and obtain buy-in for proposed interventions
• Oversee the development of regular progress reports on the gender studies for the PMO and project funder use.
• Assist the National Team Leader in the selection, contracting and remuneration of sub-grantees working on the gender study in accordance with donor guidelines.
• Assist the National Team Leader in supporting the implementation of other project activities, including the women empowerment component of the program.
• Planning, developing and implementing Dairy Development Services
• Oversee development and implementation of gender integration plan in the focal cluster communities.
• Work closely with the National Team Leader and Dairy & Livestock Specialist in designing training modules targeting women farmers for improving production efficiencies and increased incomes to families, as well as in implementing project to support inclusion of women’s organizations in these communities.
• Serve as a liaison on women’s issues for high-profile delegations from Government and private sector actors within and outside the dairy industry.

Documentation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting:

• Assist the National Team Leader and Project Coordinators to develop project strategies, project plans technical capacity building interventions, activities and policies related to implementing the gender component of the ALDDN.
• Participate in regular field visits to project sites (up to 50% of the time) to ensure high quality project performance and monitor and track progress against project timelines.
• Support the National Team Leader, M&E team and other sub-grantees on the collection and reporting of program results especially with regards to the baseline studies and any gender-related interventions.
• Support the National Team Leader in monitoring progress and evaluation of project activities including financial performances.
• Assist the National Team Leader in preparation of progress reports (quarterly, annual, final) and respond to the queries related to the gender component of the project.
• Coordinate with federal, state and local governments, communities, project beneficiaries, private sector service providers and suppliers, consultants, and other stakeholders at project level for effective delivery of project activities.
• Assist the National Team Leader to maintain good relations with project beneficiaries, partner organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Oversee the preparation of the results of the gender study in compelling formats for eventual publication on selected platforms.
• Participate in public forums to share and communicate the results of the study to public, private and development sector stakeholders around the dynamics influencing the success of dairy development, gender intervention targeted at West Africa.
• Work with the National Team Leader to develop proposed gender intervention and a framework for the implementation of those interventions.

Relationship Management:

• Develop and maintain relations with a wide variety of stakeholders working on gender-related issues to ensure coordination of activities, support best practices, and build partnerships.
• Represent the Project on technical working groups focused on gender issues.
• Build relationships and partnerships with a wide range of Government officials including ministerial directors at the national level, state and local levels, and representatives from multiple ministries at the management, technical and administrative levels.
• Build relationships and partnerships with potential implementing partners as necessary, including meetings at a senior level with key NGO implementing personnel to discuss issues related to the effective implementation and support for potential interventions.

Minimum Qualification and Requirements
Candidates should have:

• Master's Degree in Development Studies or any related field, or a relative discipline with at least two years of work experience in a similar capacity in Nigeria or West Africa, or
• Bachelor's in Social Science course with at least five years of work experience in women’s development, gender issues, with skills and abilities working with women in Nigeria or West Africa.
• Deep understanding of women’s and gender equality issues in Nigeria both at national and local levels as well as a substantial understanding of gender equality with knowledge of relevant international and national gender and human rights instruments, conventions and legislation.
• Familiarity with key policies and stakeholders related to women’s and gender equality issues in Nigeria (local and international governmental and non-governmental actors).
• Knowledge of international and local stakeholders in Nigeria in the agriculture, health, food aid and nutrition sectors.
• An understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of gender mainstreaming strategies and methodologies and of gender dynamics and complexities and cultural issues/constraints in facilitating women’s participation in development.
• Expertise in strategic gender planning, gender analysis, gender budgeting, preparing/conducting gender impact assessments, and gender mainstreaming is highly desirable.
• Have an ability to develop and interpret monitoring results of gender-sensitive indicators.
• Ability to be flexible, respond professionally, and establish priorities in often fluid, changing, and challenging situations with little clear guidance is necessary.
• Ability to work calmly, tactfully, and effectively under pressure and to demonstrate extreme flexibility in managing more than one activity.
• High evaluation, data collection, analytical and report writing skills.
• Willingness and enthusiasm for working with rural and vulnerable communities living in remote areas of the country.
• Ability to interact directly and independently with senior management of technical partners and senior government officials.
• Understanding of the social and cultural contexts that underpin Fulani and smallholder farming communities in Nigeria.
• Proficiency in the English language (required) and Yoruba, Hausa and Fulfulde (preferred).