Advisor – Gender Equality and Inclusion

Advisor – Gender Equality and Inclusion

Cluster or office: Economic Transformation Cluster (ETC)

Project name: Jobs & Skills4Climate – Ethiopia / STEP IV – Sustainable Training and Education Programme

Duty station: Based in Addis Ababa with regular travel within Ethiopia as required.

End date of contract -6/30/2028

Brief and attractive description of the project/ unit

The special initiative Jobs and Skills 4 Climate, under the Ethio-German Sustainable Training and Education Programme (STEP IV), strengthens the role of green jobs and skills in partner countries’ transitions towards low-carbon, climate-resilient economies. The project links investments in green skills with climate and socio-economic benefits, integrates national climate and labour policies with local training programmes, and enables international knowledge exchange. It places particular emphasis on ensuring that women, youth and other relevant target groups participate in and benefit from emerging employment and skills opportunities.

The Gender Equality and Inclusion Advisor provides technical advice and coordination support to strengthen gender equality, social inclusion and equal access to skills development and employment opportunities across relevant policies, TVET programmes and labour market interventions. The position supports the integration of gender-responsive, inclusive and gender-transformative approaches into policies, programmes and institutional processes, with particular attention to groups that face structural barriers to participation and advancement.

The Advisor works closely with government institutions, TVET authorities and institutions, private sector actors, employers, development partners, civil society and other stakeholders to identify and address barriers to inclusive participation in skills development and the labour market. The position contributes to evidence generation, monitoring, learning and knowledge management on gender equality and inclusion and supports the documentation and scaling of effective approaches.

Responsibilities and Duties

Key Functions

• Provide technical advice to MoPD, MoLS and relevant TVET institutions on integrating gender equality and social inclusion into skills development, TVET, labour market and employment measures.
• Support the design and implementation of gender-responsive and inclusive approaches within green skills and employment interventions.
• Identify structural, institutional and socio-economic barriers affecting women, youth and other underrepresented groups in access to skills development, training and employment.
• Advise partners on strengthening equal participation and representation in TVET institutions, training programmes and decision-making structures.
• Coordinate multi-stakeholder processes involving government, TVET institutions, private sector, employers, CSOs and development partners to advance inclusive skills and employment measures.
• Generate and use gender- and inclusion-disaggregated evidence to inform programme design, implementation, monitoring and decision-making.
• Strengthen the integration of gender and inclusion indicators and targets into planning, monitoring, reporting and learning processes.
• Facilitate knowledge exchange and document good practices, lessons learned and scalable approaches related to gender equality and inclusion.
• Contribute to work planning, activity budgeting, procurement inputs and compliance with GIZ processes.
• Maintain cooperation and communication with implementing partners, private sector, TVET institutions and relevant development initiatives.
• Ensure quality assurance and gender responsiveness and inclusiveness of technical outputs.

Gender equality and inclusion policy and strategy advisory

• Review relevant national policies, strategies and programmes to identify entry points for strengthening gender equality and inclusion in skills development, TVET and labour market measures.
• Draft and review policy notes, action plans and implementation guidelines that integrate gender equality and inclusion objectives.
• Identify gender- and inclusion-related barriers and support partners in developing practical measures to address them.
• Advise on approaches to strengthen participation and opportunities for women and other underrepresented groups in training and employment.
• Support the development and application of gender-responsive and inclusive institutional and programme strategies.

Inclusive skills development and labour market linkage

• Conduct gender and inclusion analyses of TVET systems, training programmes, occupational areas and labour market pathways.
• Support TVET providers in integrating gender-responsive and inclusive approaches into curricula, training delivery, institutional management and student support systems.
• Promote measures that improve access, retention, completion and transition to employment for women, youth and other underrepresented groups.
• Advise on inclusive career guidance, employment services, apprenticeships and job placement mechanisms.
• Facilitate partnerships with employers and private sector actors to expand inclusive employment opportunities.

Institutional transformation and capacity development

• Support initiatives that strengthen women’s leadership and representation within TVET institutions and relevant decision-making structures.
• Assess institutional practices and organizational cultures that may create barriers to equal participation and advancement.
• Develop and facilitate capacity-building activities on gender equality, social inclusion and gender-transformative approaches.
• Support institutions in developing more inclusive, safe and supportive learning and working environments.

Evidence, M&E, and learning

• Establish gender- and inclusion-responsive baselines, indicators and targets to monitor programme results.
• Ensure systematic collection and analysis of sex-disaggregated and relevant inclusion data.
• Lead or commission gender and inclusion analyses, assessments, tracer studies and case studies.
• Synthesize evidence and lessons learned for decision-makers and contribute to technical briefs, reports and learning products.

Coordination and Operational contributions

• Convene and facilitate technical working groups, stakeholder consultations, workshops and trainings on gender equality and inclusion.
• Coordinate with MoPD, MoLS, TVET agencies, private sector actors, employers, CSOs and development partners.
• Draft terms of reference, review consultant deliverables and ensure compliance with GIZ quality standards.
• Provide inputs to annual and quarterly operational plans, budgets and activity implementation.
• Track progress and risks and contribute to reporting to commissioning parties and internal GIZ systems.
• Ensure adherence to GIZ procedures on procurement, data protection and compliance.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in gender studies, development studies, social sciences, economics, public policy, sociology, project management or a related field. Equivalent combination of experience and education may be considered.

Professional experience

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in gender equality, gender mainstreaming, social inclusion, inclusive development, TVET, skills development, employment or related fields.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing gender-responsive, inclusive or gender-transformative programmes and approaches.
• Experience conducting gender and inclusion analyses and translating findings into practical programme and policy recommendations.
• Demonstrated experience promoting women’s participation and leadership and/or improving access and opportunities for underrepresented groups.
• Experience working with Ethiopian government counterparts, TVET institutions and private sector stakeholders.
• Experience in multi-stakeholder coordination and donor-funded technical cooperation projects.
• Experience in monitoring and reporting gender and inclusion-related results, including the use of sex-disaggregated data.

Technical competencies

• Strong understanding of gender equality, gender mainstreaming, social inclusion and gender-transformative approaches.
• Knowledge of barriers affecting women, youth and other underrepresented groups in education, TVET, skills development and employment.
• Understanding of Ethiopia’s institutional, policy and socio-economic context related to gender equality, inclusion, skills development and employment.
• Ability to translate gender and inclusion analysis into practical policies, strategies, programmes and institutional measures.
• Strong knowledge of gender-responsive and inclusive planning, monitoring and results measurement.
• Strong analytical, drafting, facilitation and presentation skills.

Cross ‑cutting competencies

• Demonstrable commitment to gender equality, social inclusion and equal opportunities.
• Excellent facilitation, coordination and consensus-building skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• High level of organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to work effectively with government, development partners, private sector, TVET institutions and civil society organizations.
• High level of professionalism and adherence to quality and compliance standards.

Languages

• Business Fluency in English and Amharic is required.