Gender Advisor

Vacancy Announcement #212/2023

Gender Advisor

Climate Change Cluster

CDSDR III

Contract duration: 30.06.2026

Application deadline: 31.12.2023

GIZ supports the Ethiopian Government in various areas, increasingly also in the Ethiopian lowlands, which account for nearly 60% of Ethiopia’s land area. These areas are inhabited by more than 18 million (agro-)pastoralists, and people who sustain their livelihoods from related professions.

Due to population growth and the increasingly frequent occurrence of extreme weather events, this the pastoral livelihood system is increasingly put at risk and the people, their livestock and their harvests are increasingly exposed to risks associated to climate variability. Extensive resource use like overgrazing and deforestation causes food insecurity, soil degradation, and erosion. These result in dry valleys, in which rainwater flows quickly out of the area before being able to infiltrate into the soil. This further exacerbates desertification and food insecurity. To address this issue, the Dry Valley Rehabilitation and Productive Use (DVRPU) approach was developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and the Bureaus of Agriculture (BoA) in Afar and Somali regions, and GIZ.

The Capacity Development to Strengthen Drought Resilience in the Lowlands of Ethiopia (CDSDR) has started its third phase. It promotes the DVRPU approach with a series of technical, biological, economic, social, institutional, and managerial measures to rehabilitate entire dry valleys for the benefit of the inhabitants and their animals. Besides upscaling of the approach in Somali and Afar regions, the project will expand its application to Oromia and SNNPR regions.

Responsibilities and Duties

The Social Cohesion, Gender, and Youth Advisor will play a pivotal role in promoting community natural resource management initiatives, focusing on fostering social cohesion between primary and secondary project beneficiaries, as well as between internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities within Somali Region.

The Advisor will be responsible for providing strategic guidance and technical expertise to promote social cohesion, gender equality, and youth engagement within community development programs. This role requires a strong understanding of gender dynamics, youth empowerment strategies, and social cohesion initiatives, as well as effective communication skills, to ensure inclusive and equitable practices for sustainable natural resource management and use.

1.    Facilitate Community Engagement:

• Engage with both IDP and host communities, as well as with primary and secondary beneficiaries of dry valley rehabilitation, to understand their needs, concerns, and aspirations regarding natural resource management.
• Organize community meetings, workshops, and forums to encourage dialogue and collaboration between different groups.
• Foster inclusive decision-making processes that involve all stakeholders in resource management strategies.

2.    Integration of Social Cohesion, Gender, and Youth Perspectives:

• Develop strategies and protocols to ensure the integration of social cohesion, gender equality, and youth perspectives in all phases of natural resource management initiatives.
• Develop protocols and mediation strategies to address conflicts related to resource use or management within the watershed.
• Advise project teams on best practices and methodologies for promoting inclusivity and participation of diverse groups.

3.    Gender Mainstreaming and Empowerment:

• Lead efforts to mainstream gender considerations throughout project activities, ensuring equal participation and benefit-sharing among women and men.
• Design and implement programs that enhance the socio-economic empowerment of women within natural resource management activities.

4.    Youth Engagement and Capacity Building:

• Develop strategies to engage and empower youth in decision-making processes related to natural resource management.
• Facilitate capacity-building activities and mentorship programs to enhance the skills and leadership of young individuals within project communities.

5.    Social Cohesion and Community Engagement:

• Work closely with communities to identify social cohesion challenges and develop strategies to address underlying tensions or conflicts.
• Facilitate dialogues and workshops aimed at promoting understanding, respect, and collaboration among diverse community groups.

6.    Partnership and Collaboration:

• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including local authorities, NGOs, and community-based organizations, to leverage resources and expertise for promoting social inclusion and cohesion.

7.    Develop and Implement Programs:

• Contribute to the design and implementation of activities that promote sustainable utilization of natural resources while addressing the specific challenges faced by IDPs and host communities, and by primary and secondary beneficiaries.
• Collaborate with local stakeholders, government agencies, NGOs, and other relevant partners to implement effective initiatives. Particularly with partners of the Durable Solutions Working Group

8.    Capacity Building and Training:

• Support training sessions to build the capacity of community members on effective resource management techniques, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding.
• Provide guidance on alternative livelihood options that are environmentally sustainable and socially beneficial.

9.    Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL).

• In collaboration with the M&E Federal Team, develop MEL frameworks to track the effectiveness of gender-responsive and youth-focused intervention.
• Regularly assess and report on the impact of social cohesion, gender, and youth-related initiatives within natural resource management projects.

Other duties/additional tasks

• The Expert performs other duties and tasks at the request of the management team.

Skills

1.    Communication Skills: Ability to effectively communicate and engage with diverse groups, including IDPs, host communities, local leaders, and stakeholders, using clear and culturally sensitive language.

2.    Conflict Resolution: Proficiency in conflict resolution techniques and the ability to mediate and mitigate tensions between different groups, fostering understanding and reconciliation.

3.    Cultural Competence: Understanding and respect for diverse cultures, customs, and traditions prevalent within the community, enabling effective interaction and relationship-building.

4.    Facilitation and Mediation: Skills to facilitate discussions, workshops, and dialogues, coupled with mediation abilities to manage disagreements and navigate sensitive issues.

5.    Community Engagement: Experience in engaging communities, understanding their needs, and mobilizing them for collective action toward shared goals.

6.    Program Development and Implementation: Capacity to design, implement, and manage initiatives aimed at promoting social cohesion, with a focus on community-based natural resource management.

7.    Analytical Skills: Ability to assess social dynamics, identify underlying issues, and develop strategies that address the root causes of tension and conflict.

8.    Adaptability and Flexibility: Capacity to adapt interventions based on the evolving needs and feedback from communities and stakeholders.

Qualifications

1.    Educational Background: A degree in Social Sciences, Conflict Resolution, Development Studies, Anthropology, Sociology, or a related field. Advanced degrees or specialized certifications in conflict resolution or community development can be advantageous.

Professional experience

1.    Relevant Experience: Prior experience (5 years) working in community development, conflict resolution, or social cohesion initiatives within similar contexts, preferably in areas dealing with displaced populations or multicultural settings.

2.    At least 3 years of working experience with governmental partners and communities in facilitating communication/training material development and knowledge transfer for (behaviour) change processes.

3.    At least 3 years of practical experience working with international organizations, preferably in the area of communication and communication management.

4.    Monitoring and Evaluation: Understanding of monitoring and evaluation methodologies to assess the impact of programs and interventions aimed at fostering social cohesion.

Other knowledge, additional competencies

1.   Language skills: fluency in Somali languages is highly beneficial for effective communication and rapport-building. English for professional use.

2.   Cultural and contextual understanding: In-depth knowledge or familiarity with the cultural, social, economic, and political context of Somali Region.

3.   Interpersonal and teamwork skills: ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, community leaders, and international organizations.

4.   Knowledge of government institutions active in natural resource management and pastoralism in Somali is an advantage.

5.    Previous work experience in Somali Region is an advantage.

6.   High degree of initiative, integrity and accountability

7.   Good self-organization, strong interpersonal skills and results-orientation

8.  Ability to work structured and maintain the overview in a complex environment; ability to work independently and as part of a team; ability to work under time pressure; stress tolerance and with patience

9.    High work ethic, discipline and punctuality, and willingness to travel.

10.  Highly experienced in MS Office applications

11.  Female applicants are highly encouraged to apply