Gender Policy and Strategy Expert – Aquatic Environmental Management at African Union - InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources

Job Description Summary

Under the direct supervision of the Project Team Leader at AU-IBAR, the incumbent will undertake the following targeted areas of work so as to achieve the objectives of the Project ‘Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in African Blue Economy’:

1. Contribute to the identification and mainstreaming of gender related issues across the project’s activities relevant to aquatic biodiversity and environmental management.
2. Participate in analysis of, from a gender perspective, existing national, regional and local policies, strategies and action plans and elaborate on the added value of gender mainstreaming into national and regional conservation policies.
3. Support the operationalization of the AU endorsed continental strategy for gender mainstreaming in aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental management in the continent.
4. Contribute to the implementation of the Continental strategy on Nature-based solutions for sustainable aquatic biodiversity conservation, and environment management - ensuring effective community, private sector, women and youth, participation in climate change mitigation efforts, conserving and restoring aquatic ecosystems and fish stocks.
5. Strengthen inclusive Regional Blue Value Chains in selected fisheries and aquaculture undertaken: including actors, enablers, drivers and develop mechanisms for enhancing effective private sector, women and youth engagement.
6. Promote the operationalization of WION-SOF (West Indian Ocean Network for Small-scale Octopus Fisheries (development of strategic plan and annual workplan; and to coordinate support to stakeholders along the value to enhance capacity for improved market access for Octopus).
7. Enhance mechanisms to promote the Private sector and Women’s representation in climate change decision-making institutions at national, regional and continental levels.
8. Identify partners (including NGOs, regional and national institutions) for collaboration to support gender and climate actions in coastal communities.
9. Any other duty as may be assigned by the Project Team Leader.

Academic Requirements

The incumbent should have a Minimum of a Master’s degree in the field of Gender Studies and/or Life Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Social Science, International Policy Development Studies with focus on Gender considerations.

General Experience

1. A minimum of 5 years of combined relevant work experience in development-oriented institutions, NGOs, UN, AU member states or related international development aid projects in Africa.
2. A Minimum of 3 years of experience in at least one of the sectors (e.g., gender and climate change mitigation programmes; conservation of aquatic ecosystems, integrating gender considerations and women’s empowerment in environmental programming).
3. Proven experience of working with and mobilizing communities in riparian and coastal settlements.
4. Experience working with and/or familiarization of regional economic communities and specialized regional institutions and their roles in enhancing gender integration in regional development agendas, including environmental considerations.
5. Experience in planning, implementing training and facilitating stakeholders’ consultative workshops.