Back National Gender Specialist

Organizational Setting

FAO Bangladesh assists the Government to formulate policies, programmes and projects to address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition, develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and utilize environmental and natural resources in a sustainable way. It contributes to the development of FAO’s field programme projects in the country and implements them in the sectors of food security, agriculture and rural development.

The grade of the position is SC-9.

Reporting Lines

The Gender Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Bangladesh, direct supervision of the Deputy FAO Representative, in close collaboration with both A-FAOR (Porgramme) and A-FAOR (Admin) in different gender related aspects, project/programme coordinators, team leaders and technical consultations with the Regional Gender Officer in RAP.

Technical Focus

National Gender Specialist will lead the gender activities of FAO Bangladesh. The Gender Specialist will bring expert advice and guidance on the integration of gender into analysis, design, programming, training, facilitation, research and advocacy, and organizational systems and processes as needed. Specific duties and responsibilities include the following: 

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Facilitate the development and implementation of the Country Gender Strategy and the Gender Action Plan at the national level. Identify the gaps and opportunities for the integration of gender equality dimensions into the Country Programme Framework.
•    Provide continuous technical advice to FAOR, Deputy FAOR and Assistant FAOR (Programme), Assistant FAOR (Admin) on gender mainstreaming programming and integration of gender considerations during the design and implementation of project activities.
•    Develop methodologies and M&E tools for conducting gender assessments and contribute to needs assessments, project baseline and end line assessments
•    Guide the collection and analyses of gender-specific data and for the monitoring of gender sensitive indicators.
•    Deploy a strategic plan in assisting Programming Teams to design and initiate response on project interventions, needs and resources which appropriately address gender considerations and promote the protection and empowerment of women and girls in rural communities;
•    Respond to requests and provide advice, assistance and solutions to the management related to protection, gender equality and women’s empowerment and provide technical recommendation and advice to field projects both in development and humanitarian contexts;
•    Provide technical expertise and guidance to the office in embedding gender, protection and accountability to affected people throughout the country and project offices, with the aim of ensuring a more participatory, accountable and gender/protection-orientated response.
•    Coordinate capacity development activities involving knowledge sharing, arranging training workshops, awareness raising, seminars and meetings as well as the development of related materials and on-line tools and information kits;
•    In close collaboration of management, develop training materials, provide training and coaching on gender and protection to Implementing Partners (IPs) including other FAO staff;
•    Help and support practices and actions to promote gender equality and the protection, empowerment and voice of women and girls, such as considering gender composition of beneficiaries, supporting capacity development of women, training, and orientation;
•    Initiate and lead gender and protection analysis and assessments to generate regional-specific evidence on gender, protection and other social aspects of technical areas under the FAO mandate and subsequently identify good practices in FAO work and widely disseminate/promote these to all projects.
•    Assist FAO Bangladesh management to develop and improve gender, protection and disability inclusion mainstreaming and awareness and activities including improvement of women and youth conditions and options for smallholders to work with the project enterprises;
•    Monitor and oversee regularly the activities implemented focusing on women and men in targeted communities, making sure equal access of both men and women, prepare report, including recommendations for remedial actions as necessary and share findings with the management;
•    Deliver training for women’s groups and training-of-trainer (TOT) on agriculture and livestock packages and production, storage, processing and introduce and provide training on better technologies and tools for small and medium scale processing and value addition;
•    Provide guidance on the equipment and materials needs to improve gender participation to all FAO project offices;
•    Report to the deputy FAOR including other member of the FAO-BD management on all activities related to the gender aspects of the programme and compile / summarize a monthly report (s) based on IPs’ inputs;
•    Prepare technical and other reports, monthly or as required and develop/maintain gender-segregated data;
•    Engage with local service providers and supervise the gender, protection and inclusion related components of service contracts, service providers and beneficiaries;
•    Perform as Gender Focal point of FAO in Gender plan and Gender Stock Taking Exercise for FAO;
•    Prepare technical and other reports, monthly or as required and develop/maintain gender-segregated data;
•    Engage with local service providers and supervise the gender, protection and inclusion related components of service contracts, service providers and beneficiaries;
•    Liaise with other relevant colleagues in the HQ and Regional Office to ensure coherence and consistence in integrating FAO’s approach to Gender, Protection and AAP in close collaboration with country team. 
•    Prepare, review and update gender guidelines for strategic decisions on HR related matters
•    Closely work with A-FAOR (Admin) and contribute and support on overall PSEA related activities.
•    Perform any other duties as required related to the successful implementation of the Gender Strategy and Gender Action Plan in FAO Bangladesh.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree in Gender Studies, Social Studies, Political Science, or a related field.
•    08 years of professional experience in the area related to agriculture, rural development, value chain development with special knowledge in gender and protection mainstreaming, gender sensitive value chains as well as gender and development, human rights, social affairs, political affairs or humanitarian affairs;
•    Excellent working knowledge of English (level C) and Bangla. 
•    National of Bangladesh.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Ability to conduct gender-disaggregated data analysis using various methods.
•    Experience in the development of training materials, manuals, modular program, instructions for use.
•    Knowledge and experience on regional and international gender-sensitive programmes and implementations.
•    Excellent knowledge of gender equality and women’s empowerment concepts, relevant experience in socio-economic analysis, policy formulation and capacity building in relation to any of the following areas: rural employment, food security and nutrition, poverty reduction, social protection.
•    Strong drafting, presentation and reporting skills;
•    Strong computer skills, in particular mastery of all applications of the MS Office package and internet search;
•    Excellent communication skills including writing skills, proven ability to convey complex ideas through clear communication, and concise reports, and effective oral presentations. 
•    Ability to work independently and proceed with objectives of the assignment work under pressure and meet deadlines.
•    Self-motivation, willingness to learn and good work ethics.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION