Technical Advisor, Gender and Rural Livelihoods

Women are frequently among the most vulnerable in conflict, crisis and post crisis locations as regards access to and control over natural and economic resources. Also they are often less easily consulted or involved in community consultations convened by external agencies. Without a strong gender focus, relief and recovery interventions fail to meet women's needs or benefit from their knowledge and experience. In addition unforeseen negative impacts for women and their dependents can result. IRC recognizes that affirmative action needs to be taken to ensure women's full participation in economic programming occurs and requires the use of gender analysis tools and processes to ensure we not only improve outcomes for women and their dependents but that we also do no harm.  These tools and processes should provide an accurate and better understanding of the societies in question and provide a basis for challenging explicit or hidden assumptions about gender dynamics in crisis affected livelihood systems. This new IRC advisory position provides gender and diversity technical support in the design and development of IRC’s rural economic programs in countries affected by conflict, crisis or post-crisis environments. The Technical Advisor will advise country teams on overall strategy to achieve positive outcomes for women and their dependents and develop tools and resources to support IRC programming, based on evidence demonstrating the impact of IRC’s work.

Major Responsibilities:

• Provide remote and on-site technical support and assistance on addressing gender inequality in the design, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of rural economic programming and project activities.
• Contribute to or lead the development of concept notes and proposals using  demonstrated processes and tools around the following:
  • Stakeholder Analysis to identify and distinguish between groups and their needs, interests, power and influence.
  • Gender analysis tools to explore how gender affects the system and its interrelationships, and to identify interventions that can enhance equitable livelihood outcomes. This should identify the different roles, perceptions, constraints and ways of working with both women and men in rural economies and the ways in which women and men are treated differently in law and custom that impact on natural resource use and development (eg. land and water rights; inheritance; ownership; involvement in marketing; access to credit; access to education, access to information and inputs, mobility barriers).
  • Participatory Methods which identify ways of overcoming barriers to the participation of women and other in economic programming especially women.
  • The development of context relevant theories of change that defines all the elements (preconditions, outputs, outcomes) required to bring about/contribute to a long-term goal of improved economic impacts for women.
  • Monitoring and evaluation especially the identification and measurement of gender relevant indicators and guidance on the collection of gender disaggregated data.
  • Maintain relationships with regional and country program coordinators and managers and offer them support, as needed, on program implementation and monitoring.  
• Act as spokesperson on gender equality issues in economic programming across the organization, serving as a resource to IRC staff seeking information about gender and diversity in economic program activities, including external relations and advocacy departments.  Respond to field queries regarding program activities. 
• Represent IRC on issues relating to gender equality issues in economic programming in outside meetings and academic forums with donors, other non-governmental organizations, research institutions, inter-agency working groups and foundations.
• Share and learn best practices gathered throughout the IRC Technical Units and country teams to support robust evidence-based programming within IRC.  Provide training sessions on core concepts and processes to technical and field staff.

Job Qualifications:

Education:

• Master’s/post-graduate degree in Gender and Development, other social sciences and/ or relevant field.
• Demonstrated experience of undertaking primary and secondary research and/or capacity building of institutions and partners’ in the context of gender and diversity.
• Demonstrated experience of gender analysis and program implementation in at least two geographic regions is desirable.
• Strong written skills in English.
• Participate in ongoing training courses and share knowledge and skill sets within the unit. 

Work Experience:

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in gender related project/ program implementation in conflict, crisis, post-conflict and/or post-crisis settings. 
• Strong understanding of gender and diversity issues  in the context of sustainable rural livelihoods and approaches that can overcome barriers to the participation of women and the least powerful in a community

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Demonstrated expertise in the development of strategic plans, effective program design, monitoring and evaluation, and of provision of sound programmatic support and advice in conflict, crisis, post-conflict and post-crisis settings with the ability to turn concepts and strategy into measurable action. 
• Strong verbal and written communication skills. 
• Demonstrated commitment to renewing and maintaining currency with best practices. 
• Understanding of program logic and theory of change for rural development programs that address gender  and diversity equality
• Proven operational experience with recognized ability to deliver high quality results and to meet deadlines;
• Previous experience working with international institutions (donors, foundations, multilateral agencies) and government agencies required ;
• Proven ability to develop and maintain professional relations with Government officials, development partners and implementing agencies;
• Evidence of effective team work and client relations, including with the private sector;
• Proven ability to work successfully in a multicultural setting, with efficiency, competency and integrity across disciplinary boundaries and in a team-based work environment;
• Language Skills: Proficiency in a non-English language especially French is highly desirable, depending on area of assignment.
• Working Environment: Up to 40% travel may be required.