Gender Specialist at AMO Farm Sieberer Hatchery Limited

Job Purpose

• The Gender Specialist is responsible for integrating gender equality, social inclusion, and women's economic empowerment into all Pastoralist Market Development (PMD) programmes. The role ensures that pastoralist women, men, youth, and vulnerable groups have equitable access to the department's livestock development initiatives, extension services, training, markets, financial opportunities, and decision-making processes.
• The Gender Specialist will design and implement gender-responsive strategies, build the capacity of PMD staff and community stakeholders, identify and address gender-related barriers affecting pastoralist communities, and monitor the impact of programmes on gender equality and social inclusion.
• The role supports the organisation's commitment to sustainable livestock development by ensuring interventions are inclusive, culturally appropriate, and responsive to the diverse needs of pastoralist households.

Key Roles and Responsibilities
Gender Strategy Development:

• Develop and implement the department's Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Strategy.
• Integrate gender considerations into PMD policies, programmes, and operational plans.
• Develop gender-sensitive guidelines, tools, and standard operating procedures.
• Ensure all PMD interventions align with national gender policies and international best practices.
• •Review programme designs to ensure gender responsiveness.

Gender Mainstreaming:

• Ensure gender perspectives are incorporated into all PMD activities.
• Work with technical teams to integrate gender into livestock production, forage development, veterinary outreach, farmer training, and community engagement programmes.
• Promote equitable participation of women, youth, and marginalised groups.
• Ensure project budgets include gender-responsive activities where applicable.

Women's Economic Empowerment:

• Develop programmes that enhance women's participation in livestock value chains.
• Promote women's access to productive resources such as livestock, forage, finance, extension services, and markets.
• Support the formation and strengthening of women's livestock groups and cooperatives.
• Facilitate initiatives that improve women's income-generating opportunities within pastoralist communities.
• Promote women's leadership in community-based livestock enterprises.

Community Engagement and Behaviour Change:

• Conduct community sensitisation programmes on gender equality, shared household decision-making, and inclusive participation.
• Engage traditional rulers, religious leaders, Ardos, women's leaders, youth groups, and community influencers to promote positive gender norms.
• Address harmful social and cultural practices that limit women's participation in livestock production and economic activities.
• Promote male engagement initiatives that encourage shared responsibility and support for women's empowerment.

Capacity Building:

• Design and facilitate gender awareness training for PMD staff and field teams.
• Train extension officers and community facilitators on gender-responsive programming.
• Build the capacity of pastoralist communities on gender equality and social inclusion.
• Develop training manuals, toolkits, and educational materials on gender issues relevant to pastoralist livelihoods.

Programme Planning and Technical Support:

• Provide technical advice to programme teams on gender-responsive programme design and implementation.
• Participate in annual planning, budgeting, and programme review processes.
• Review project proposals and work plans from a gender perspective.
• Recommend practical interventions to improve programme inclusiveness and effectiveness.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Develop gender-sensitive indicators for PMD programmes.
• Collect, analyse, and interpret gender-disaggregated data.
• Monitor programme outcomes relating to gender equality and inclusion.
• Conduct gender analyses, assessments, and baseline studies.
• Prepare periodic gender performance reports and recommendations.
• Document lessons learned and best practices.

Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships:

• Develop and maintain relationships with:
  • Federal Ministry of Women Affairs
  • Federal Ministry of Livestock Development
  • Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security
  • State Ministries of Women Affairs
  • State Ministries of Agriculture
  • Development partners
  • Women's associations
  • Livestock cooperatives
  • Community-based organizations
• Financial institutions supporting women entrepreneurs
• Represent the organisation at gender and social inclusion forums, conferences, and stakeholder meetings.

Policy and Compliance:

• Ensure compliance with national gender policies and donor gender requirements where applicable.
• Promote safeguarding, prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (PSEAH), and protection principles within PMD programmes.
• Support implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
• Advise management on emerging gender and social inclusion issues affecting pastoralist communities.

Research and Knowledge Management:

• Conduct research on gender dynamics within pastoralist communities.
• Analyse barriers to women's participation in livestock production and agricultural markets.
• Document success stories and case studies.
• Maintain a repository of gender-related programme data and learning resources.
• Recommend evidence-based improvements to programme design.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Gender Studies, Sociology, Social Work, Rural Development, Agricultural Extension, Development Studies, Community Development, Anthropology, Political Science, Agriculture, or a related social science discipline.
• A Master's Degree in Gender Studies, International Development, Rural Development, Social Policy, Development Practice, Public Administration, or a related field is an added advantage.
• Professional certification in Gender Equality, Gender Mainstreaming, Safeguarding, Social Inclusion, or Project Management is an added advantage.

Experience:

• 5–7 years' relevant experience in gender mainstreaming, women's empowerment, community development, social inclusion, or rural development programmes.
• Experience integrating gender into agricultural, livestock, pastoralist, rural development, or food security programmes.
• Experience working with pastoralist, farming, or rural communities in Nigeria.
• Proven experience designing and delivering gender-sensitive training and community engagement programmes.
• Experience conducting gender analyses, needs assessments, and social research.
• Experience developing gender-sensitive monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
• Experience working with government institutions, NGOs, donor-funded projects, or international development agencies.
• Excellent report writing, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and digital data collection tools.
• Willingness to travel extensively across Nigeria.

Technical Competencies:

• Gender analysis and mainstreaming
• Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI)
• Women's economic empowerment
• Community mobilisation and participatory approaches
• Adult learning and facilitation
• Behaviour change communication
• Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)
• Research and data analysis
• Policy analysis and advocacy
• Stakeholder engagement and partnership development
• Safeguarding and Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH)
• Project planning and implementation
• Report writing and presentation.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills
• Cultural sensitivity and respect for diverse communities
• High emotional intelligence
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills
• Strategic thinking and analytical ability
• Integrity and professionalism
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Problem-solving and conflict resolution
• Adaptability and resilience
• Planning and organisational skills
• Results orientation
• Empathy and respect for confidentiality.