Gender Equality & Somalia Specialist at Cowater International

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION

• Global Affairs Canada (GAC) requires the services of a Gender Equality and Somalia Technical Specialist. Cowater International is supporting the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi to recruit the Gender Equality and Somalia Technical Specialist. The Specialist will provide the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi with field level advice, technical support and policy input on matters relating to gender equality and Somalia as they relate to Canada’s international assistance programs and priorities in Somalia. Specifically, the Consultant will work closely with the High Commission’s development team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Monitoring Canadian-funded international assistance programmes and projects in Somalia:

• Build, contribute to and participate in the delivery of strategic and feminist monitoring plans based on Canada’s portfolio of international assistance in Somalia, bearing in mind costs, security risks, value for money.
• Monitor projects in Somalia against their results frameworks, with a particular focus on gender equality-related outcomes, ensuring an emphasis on participatory, inclusive and empowering tools and approaches, using both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
• Regularly assess the risks posed and challenges faced by Canadian-funded programmes and projects that are seeking to advance gender equality directly or indirectly, and propose mitigation measures.
• Advise GAC on best practices in maximizing gender-transformative results within Canadian-funded programmes and projects.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Collaborate with GAC staff, partner organizations, likeminded donors, local communities, and government agencies to address gender-related concerns and barriers and foster inclusive and gender-transformative responses.
• Lead on the coordination and organization of a government-led working group on gender and human rights, which Canada co-chairs with the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development.
• Participate in and provide guidance on consultations and engagement sessions on key gender equality issues for Somalia, including forced and early child marriage, female genital mutilation, sexual and gender-based violence, women’s meaningful representation in Somali politics, women’s economic empowerment, women and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive services and rights, and women peace and security.
• Identify capacity gaps and opportunities for GAC, partner organizations, local communities, and government agencies’ engagement in gender-related fora.
• Provide advice and local expertise, including through input on country strategy documents, meeting notes, key briefings, that enables Canada to effectively engage officials across the Somali government, including by leveraging the consultant’s pre-established relationships and contacts at all levels of the Somali government (note this is not limited to gender-related topics).
• Provide advice and local expertise on how to best navigate Somalia’s socio-cultural context in building and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders, including by leveraging the consultant’s pre-established relationships and contacts with likeminded donors, as well as UN, NGO and CSO representatives (note this is not limited to gender-related topics).

Reporting and Documentation:

• Draft, review and/or provide input on project documents, reports, and proposals, as requested.
• Prepare and submit regular reports, including on key gender equality issues in Somalia.
• Maintain accurate records of key contacts, reports, and other aspects as required.
• Draft reports on findings from project site visits.

Capacity Building:

• Provide gender-equality-related training, build awareness, share best practices with GAC staff, partner organizations, local communities and government agencies.
• Stay informed about emerging gender-related issues at the global, regional and national levels, as relevant to Canada’s engagement in Somalia, and disseminate relevant information to GAC.
• Provide assistance and capacity building support to GAC staff, government agencies, partner organizations and local communities on risks and mitigating strategies related to the advancement of gender equality.

Gender Equality Innovation:

• Identify opportunities to increase Canada’s leadership in Somalia as a gender-equality donor champion.
• Research and propose innovative solutions for Canada to work with local and national women’s groups to involve women and girls in program design, delivery and monitoring of Canadian initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to showcase and leverage Canada-funded activities, results and innovations.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Master’s Degree in Gender/Women’s studies, development, social science or a related field, or a bachelor’s degree with relevant training in gender equality or equivalent experience.

Minimum Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in providing advice and technical support on gender equality in Somalia, previous experience working with the United Nations or a country donor is preferred.

Qualifications:

• Thorough understanding of Somali politics and the Somali socio-cultural context is necessary.
• Knowledge of Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, as well as Canadian tools and requirements for partners to deliver gender-equality programming.
• Experience and knowledge of gender-related resolutions, legislation and policies at the global, regional and national (Somalia) level.
• Knowledge and experience on key gender-related issues in Somalia, including child and early forced marriage, female genital mutilation and cutting, sexual and gender-based violence, women’s political representation, women’s economic empowerment, and women, peace and security.
• Proficiency in feminist monitoring and evaluation, gender responsive budgeting and gender integration within project design and implementation.
• Excellent drafting and analytical skills with demonstrative ability to draft quality reports and correspondence
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural and multidisciplinary team.
• Proficiency in English and Somali is required. Knowledge of Swahili or other relevant local languages is an advantage.
• Pre-established positive relationships with relevant stakeholders, including within government, likeminded donors, partner organizations and local communities.
• Problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively in challenging environments.
• Ability to travel to Somalia.
• Strong organizational and time management abilities, as well as the ability to meet tight deadlines as required

The following skills and experience will be an asset**:**

• Experience in conducting Gender Based Analysis Plus (GBA+), in women’s empowerment projects, and/or in addressing gender inequality across the sectors addressed by the FIAP action areas;
• Experience carrying out participatory gender-based analysis;
• Experience collecting and formulating gender-sensitive indicators and sex-age group disaggregated data and preparing gender-based project analysis; developing gender equality action plans;
• Demonstrated understanding of the links between sustainable development, social and gender issues;
• Experience in designing and facilitating different types of meetings and workshops on gender equality using a variety of participatory methodologies and approaches;
• Experience in facilitating gender responsive stakeholder meetings is highly desired

Language Requirements: Excellent English language skills, as most of the reporting will be written in English.