Back National Gender Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has reinforced its presence in Ukraine by signing an agreement with the Government to set up a Project Office that will facilitate and expand the provision of technical and humanitarian assistance to the country’s most vulnerable communities, especially in rural areas. 

Ukraine joined FAO in 2003 and since 2015 the Organization has been operating in two strategic directions: emergency humanitarian response in conflict-affected oblasts and agricultural development across the whole country. Following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, FAO has scaled up its activities in the country to support agricultural production and food systems with the aim of protecting the food security of vulnerable households and communities across Ukraine. 

This role is based full-time in Kyiv, Ukraine.  

Reporting Lines

The National Gender Specialist will work under the overall guidance of the Head of Office / Designated Responsible Officer (DRO) and under the supervision of the Head of Programme. The incumbent will closely work in consultation with the relevant Technical Units at FAO country office, and Regional Office of Eastern Europe and Central Asia (REU).

Technical Focus

The incumbent will support and contribute by (i) providing technical advice to mainstream gender dimensions in the formulation and implementation of FAO Ukraine projects and programmes, (ii) developing data, knowledge and information on gender gaps and dynamics in the agrifood systems in the regions, (iii) raising awareness and building capacities of FAO staff, government counterparts and implementing partners to address gender equality in their respective areas of work.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Provide technical backstopping and technical inputs useful for preparation of project concept notes in areas pertaining to gender mainstreaming practices, ensuring compliance with FAO, UN and donor standards.
•    Work closely with relevant stakeholders and divisions to undertake analysis of gender and social inclusion considerations in resilience policies, institutional arrangements, and programming in Ukraine.
•    Provide technical advice, recommendations and analysis to ensure inclusion of women beneficiaries are considered both at policy level and implementation phase.
•    Review stakeholder policies and make recommendations on gender and social inclusion.
•    Identify gender training needs of FAO staff, partner and government staff as well as communities, develop training materials and tools, conduct training and follow up on capacity support 
•    Support and represent FAO in gender activities, communities of practice and gender networks, such as the Gender Thematic Groups on Gender under the UN Country Teams and gender in humanitarian action.
•    Share gender-related knowledge products and relevant good practices, lessons learned and any other information relevant to the work of the country.
•    Initiate and support the development of a Country Gender Assessment with the assistance of a gender expert and under the guidance of the Regional Gender Officer. Disseminate the report among national stakeholders, promoting its use in the formulation of Country Programming Frameworks, projects and other country-level initiatives.
•    Carry out a gender stocktaking exercise within the first six months of taking up the assignment, providing it was not done within the last four years. Carry out and update every four years. Present the findings and recommendations to the Head of Office / Designated Responsible Officer and colleagues in the country.
•    Prepare an action plan, based on the stocktaking report, to address the gaps and weaknesses in mainstreaming gender.
•    Develop an annual work plan that reflects the specific activities related to gender to be carried out and include an objective in the workplan. The results from the stocktaking exercise, regional gender strategy and the Country Gender Assessment can be used as a basis, if readily available.
•    Contribute to project design, project documents and review reports with a gender lens including assigning gender markers, systematic gender analysis, gender sensitive budgeting/gender budget, inclusion of gender sensitive activities (geared towards women’s empowerment and reducing their work burden)
•    Carry out regular field visits to project locations to monitor progress and provide guidance on gender mainstreaming
•    In consultation with FAO technical officers, explore opportunities for resource mobilization for gender-related work.
•    Participate in gender/GBV working groups meetings/workshops 
•    Keep senior management and colleagues informed and updated on gender-related information, results and requirements related to the work of the country office.
•    Support project managers and work closely with M&E team to generate gender and age disaggregated data, evidence, lessons learnt and best practices on impact of project on different genders through project review and document gender sensitive good practices
•    Perform any other duty assigned by the supervisor.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements  
  
•    University degree in gender, social sciences, rural sociology, agriculture economics, anthropology, rural development or other relevant disciplines. 
•    A minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience in gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment, gender mainstreaming, and/or project implementation and monitoring.
•    Full proficiency (level C) in English is required.
•    National of Ukraine.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Experience working in gender and/or social protection in Ukraine will be considered an advantage.
•    Experience coordinating stakeholders will be considered an advantage.
•    Work experience in UN, International or national Organisation especially women led organisations.
•    Proven experience in Community Led Gender Transformative Tools and gender analysis in Ukraine will be considered an advantage.
•    Analytical judgement and ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
•    Excellent inter-personal skills and commitment to work in a participative way.
•    Strong command of Ms Office® software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Oracle).
•    Good knowledge of the UN system, procedures and operational activities would be an advantage.
•    Relevant experience related to the mainstreaming of gender in the design and implementation of projects and programmes, particularly in the field of agriculture, emergency and early recovery.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION