Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Specialist at Food and Agriculture Organization Of the United Nations

Technical Focus 

• The Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Specialist will play a crucial role in the UK PACT project aiming to rehabilitate coastal ecosystems and enhance climate resilience in mangrove ecosystems and their dependent forest and fisheries communities.
• The specialist will be responsible for leading gender-focused aspects and ensuring the successful delivery of project objectives.
• This role involves spearheading the implementation of the gender action plan developed for the project, aligning with FAO's efforts to promote gender equality and social inclusion. 

Tasks and responsibilities

• Propose gender-sensitive awareness-raising activities to facilitate a gender-transformative approach throughout project implementation. Quantify targets for reaching various community groups and genders to address root causes of gender imbalances.
• Lead the implementation and integration of the gender action plan across all project interventions.
• Execute the project's gender strategy to prioritize women's involvement in training, sustainable ecosystem management, nutrition, income generation, and value-added activities within their communities and families.
• Conduct gender-sensitive analyses to identify and address distinct needs, roles, responsibilities, constraints, capacities, and priorities of women and men targeted by the project.
• Review and enhance gender indicators in the project to facilitate effective gender monitoring and reporting.
• Integrate gender mainstreaming into project activities and management tools, including gender-sensitive analysis of collected data and tracking gender-related outcomes.
• Utilize consultations with women's groups and community stakeholders to provide recommendations for promoting community acceptance of project initiatives and incorporating best practices into women's economic empowerment.
• Develop a training curriculum that addresses gender and age-specific aspects and provide training to community members on sustainable income-generating fishery activities and value chain development within and around mangrove ecosystems.
• Collaborate with other project experts to conduct comprehensive assessments of poverty, vulnerability, and social protection needs within identified communities.
• Assess gender and age-specific needs, challenges, capacities, and priorities through engagement with diverse stakeholders within the community, with a focus on vulnerable groups.
• Collaborate with the Ecosystem Management Expert to formulate and promote gender and youth-sensitive guidelines for mangrove-friendly aquaculture, sustainable small-scale fisheries, and the co-management of mangrove ecosystems.
• Devise a framework of interventions and activities aimed at enhancing the access of women and youth to financial opportunities. Propose an approach for scaling up income-generating interventions to other project sites.
• Deliver capacity-building interventions for youth and women, focusing on institutional strengthening to ensure the sustainability of proposed income-generating activities. Define targets and estimated costs for these interventions.
• Collaborate with the project team to conduct awareness campaigns on gender empowerment, sustainable ecosystem management, and related subjects.
• Collaborate with the project team to document project impacts, publish success stories, and communicate expected results of the project.
• Provide an analysis of the current gender equality situation in the state, including policy frameworks, household-level task distribution, access to qualified work, financial resources, and vulnerabilities. Describe the specific circumstances of women and youth in the targeted coastal area.
• Ensure continuous reflection of the gender action plan throughout project implementation.
• Perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in Agriculture or relevant socio-economic-political sciences, including socio-economic development, knowledge management, and communication.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in promoting gender equality, participatory decision-making, local development, vulnerability assessments, and value chain/socio-economic development. Specific experience in assessing and coastal/mangrove landscapes within the country, enhancing community resilience is desired.
• Working knowledge of English (C1) Nigerian nationality 

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

• Proven ability to build strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, including government institutions, NGOs, private sector, research institutions, and local communities. Fieldwork experience is essential.
• Excellent communication skills, including addressing sensitive topics and presenting positions effectively.
• Demonstrated knowledge and practical experience in gender and social inclusion related issues.
• Strong interpersonal skills, fostering effective relationships in a multicultural setting with respect for diversity.
• Previous engagement with international donors' projects is highly desirable.
• Experience in participatory decision-making and planning processes within communities is preferred.
• Prior experience working in Nigeria's coastal areas, particularly mangrove regions, is desired.
• Proficiency in computer skills (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet).