Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To create a better world, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long-term impact.
Mercy Corps began work in Niger in 2005 in response to the severe food crisis at that time.
Our programming has since expanded to include a focus on early recovery, food security, resilient
livelihoods, peace and good governance, financial inclusion, and youth economic opportunity, along with continued humanitarian response. Drawing on a skilled team of more than 135 colleagues, Mercy Corps has assisted more than one million vulnerable Nigeriens as well as Malian and Nigerian refugees over the years. We currently work in the regions of Niamey, Tahoua, Tillaberi, and Maradi, and implement cross-border programming with Mali and Burkina Faso.
Mercy Corps is seeking a qualified Gender, Youth, and Social Inclusion (GYSI) Lead for an anticipated, five-year USAID Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) in Niger. The Activity will contribute to food and nutrition security for households and communities in vulnerable areas of Niger.
The GYSI Lead will ensure that the social dimensions of Food, Nutrition, and Economic Security (FNES) are effectively addressed across all Activity components and at all levels throughout award implementation. The GYSI Lead must have an in-depth understanding of gender, age, and other locally significant, socio-cultural, and inclusion factors in the context of FNES programming, and a demonstrated capacity to lead the collection, analysis, and utilization of information from a broad range of sources. The GYSI Lead must have experience with FNES programming; participatory learning and action; and facilitating collaborative problem-solving. The GYSI Lead must also have the ability to foster commitment and build capacity among Activity staff and in-country actors to ensure gender and youth integration, empowerment, and social inclusion. During the first year of the program, in alignment with Mercy Corps’ best practices and USAID requirements, the GYSI Lead will conduct a gender analysis to inform and guide implementation and ensure that women, men, girls, and boys have equitable opportunities to engage in and benefit from program activities. S/he will work to ensure vulnerable and marginalized populations are considered in targeting approaches, and will promote innovative initiatives for inclusion in accordance with donor and Mercy Corps’ policies.
● Organize and conduct the donor-required gender analysis during the first year of the Activity and serve as the lead for any program-related GYSI-related assessments.
● Work closely with Activity management and technical staff to integrate the findings from the gender analysis into the work plan and milestones.
● Ensure a gender-based violence risk analysis is completed and incorporate findings into implementation plans.
● Develop a GYSI strategy for the overall Activity, and oversee the implementation of the strategy, leading adaptations and improvements, as required.
● Coordinate closely, work with, and support Activity leadership and partners to promote GYSI integration across all technical areas of the program.
● Work closely with the relevant team members to develop strategies for encouraging youth participation and leadership in program activities and community decision making.
● Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team to integrate GYSI considerations in data collection and analysis tools. Also with the MEL team, provide technical backstopping in the collection and use of sex-disaggregated statistical data and other research findings to support GYSI analysis and integration in program design.
● Contribute to any other program-related research to ensure that relevant GYSI aspects are incorporated.
● Work closely with the Human Resources team to ensure GYSI accountability is incorporated into the position descriptions of Activity team members.
● Develop targeted GYSI capacity building interventions for Activity staff.
● Support staff in the delivery of training and capacity building on key gender and social inclusion topics to Activity participants.
● Conduct periodic monitoring of field activities; ensure quality delivery of GYSI interventions; and provide coaching/mentoring to staff.
● Document processes and achievements to ensure impact and best practices are captured and disseminated. This will include the continual re-evaluation of program activities and information, with resulting adjustments based on new insight and learning.
INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION
● Develop relationships and linkages with organizations implementing other donor-funded programs focused on GYSI in Niger.
● Conduct regular community consultations to ensure programming remains GYSI sensitive.
● Collect and share learnings and best practices from the Activity both internally and externally.
● Identify, build, and manage collaborative partnerships with key stakeholders including consortium partners, donor representatives, and local government officials.
● Communicate effectively to ensure overall Activity targets and donor requirements are met.
● Work closely with the Country Team security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.
● Ensure that activities are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.
Supervisory Responsibility
Expected to supervise GYSI Officers. The number of direct and indirect reports will be determined at a later stage.
Reports Directly To: Chief of Party
Works Directly With: