Gender Officer 118 views0 applications

Project Summary

The Cooperative development Foundation of Canada (CDF) has received a multi-year grant from Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The project, entitled “4R Nutrient Stewardship Program (4R –NSP)”, will be implemented in partnership with Fertilizer Canada alongside a representative of manufacturers, wholesale and retail distributers, The International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) and Ethio – Wetland and Natural Resource Associations, a local implementing partner. The goal of the project is to improve the socio-economic well-being and resilience of smallholder farmers, particularly women through improving agricultural productivity and sustainability. It will also support smallholder farmers to address fundamental causes of food insecurity while laying the foundation for long term economic prosperity through the integrated Cooperative Models (ICM). 4R-NSP will develop a value chain with a strong focus on gender equality and will advocate for the implementation of 4R principles.

CDF Canada is an international development organization building prosperity in communities around the world.  We work with local partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America to establish and grow community-owned co-operatives to help people achieve more prosperous, self-reliant lives.  CDF is committed to gender equitable programming because we recognize that gender equality is a basic human right. CDF believes that promoting women’s empowerment is critical to securing better livelihoods for both women and their families, and that it is important to work with and engage men to achieve these goals. Moreover, positive actions specific for women are often required to help balance the historical disadvantages they have experienced.

Position Summary

The position holder implements CDF’s Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Strategy focusing on 3 areas:

• Promoting women’s empowerment and leadership in decision-making processes at all levels;
• Ensuring equitable access to and control over the resources and benefits of co-operative development; and,
• Providing gender responsive capacity building for partners and co-operative networks. This strategy takes a holistic approach to addressing gender constraints at the household, co-operative/community and institutional levels.

 CDF’s gender programming includes a balance of activities from 4 core domains: gender-responsive, gender-specific, institutional capacity-building and operational/budgetary considerations.

 Tools for implementing CDF’s gender programming include the CDF Gender Assessment Toolkit and development of a Gender Equality Strategy (GES) accompanied by a monitoring and reporting framework.

Essential Job Functions

• Work on enhancements in women’s socio-economic empowerment, including access to income earning opportunities, productive inputs, training, and financial services.
• Support women in the realization of their full human rights by addressing inequality and promoting greater gender equality, and by fostering an environment that nurtures women’s empowerment in agriculture.
• Facilitate the establishment of Gender Model Family (GMF) and peer-to-peer networks.
• Facilitate and engage in gender awareness programming (including positive masculinities) that engage men and nuclear/polygamous families in intra-familial, inter generational and peer-based learning to nurture mutual respect, as well as model gender equitable behavior.
• Implement strategies to create enabling environment for women to enhance their personal autonomy and empowerment.
• Provide leadership development training for women in agricultural and agriculture -related business.
• Ensure the provision of accessible resources for women which is essential for economic advancement including: labour-saving equipment for women, training and technical assistance, and improved agricultural inputs,
• Identify and address cultural barriers to women’s participation, provide basic financial and literacy trainings, and enhance women’s participation as leaders and peer agriculture extension agent,
• Ensure the interest and needs of women smallholders are addressed in production and post-production enterprises,
• Conduct gender assessment and identify barriers for women economic participation, conduct  training programs, and equipment/infrastructure with respect to women’s equal participation and access,
• Develop gender strategies to improve gender equality within these enterprises.
• Conduct case studies and study tours in similar experiences in Ethiopia where inclusive and gender programing is of a particular success,
• Identify and timely address resistance, particularly from men and traditional authorities, to the project’s message of gender equality and women’s empowerment,
• Ensure the project initiative does not reinforce existing inequalities or create new ones.
• Undertake a comprehensive men’s engagement strategy,
• Ensure the allocation of appropriate budget for specific activities such as establishing Gender Model Families (GMF), peer-to-peer initiatives, as well development of Gender Equality Strategy (GES),
• Provide gender trainings to the project team and project participants.
• Establish and maintain a working relationship with CDF Ethiopia team, CDF partners in Ethiopia and CDF gender specialist in Ottawa.
• Help develop M&E gender indicators with CDF gender specialist in Ottawa and monitor throughout project.

Duration of initial contract: One-year initial contract (extendable based on performance)

Job Requirements

Required qualifications and experience

• At least 4 years proven and progressive experience working on advocacy, gender and women empowerment issues in rural smallholder set up is required,
• Bachelor’s level qualification is required in Gender & Development studies, Sociology, Rural development, Development studies, or related studies.
• A Master’s Degree in related studies will be an added advantage.
• Strong public speaking skills and representational experience
• Substantive experience and record of accomplishment in gender equality and women’s empowerment issues at policy and programming level;
• Experience with implementing gender mainstreaming agendas across a variety of sectors, including experience gender mainstreaming in governmental bodies.
• Experience working with women’s movements, and civil society and familiarity with women’s rights organizations and networks in the region and globally,
• Ability to build the capacity of staff and partners to deliver advocacy work,
• Good networking and alliance building skills
• Fluency in English and Amharic (and other local languages).
• Experience in group training and facilitation
• Gender equality and feminist values
• Good coordination skills
• Ability to work with a variety of stakeholders (government bodies, local NGOs, donors, etc.)
• Experience/knowledge in monitoring and evaluation

Key Competency Requirements

·         Advocacy and gender mainstreaming tactics, ·         Adaptability, ·         Awareness and sensitivity regarding gender  issues ·         Accountability ·         Creative Problem Solving ·         Effective Communication ·         Inclusive Collaboration ·         Stakeholder Engagement ·         Good knowledge of program formulation, implementation and Results Based Management, ·         Professional integrity ·         Ability to work under pressure in changing environments Success Factors The successful candidate should be conversant with women focused on value chain and economic development projects and should have demonstrated cultural knowledge and sensitivity. Women empowerment and increased participation of them in economic activities, value chain and leadership roles is another success factor.

How to Apply

CDF Canada is committed to achieving workforce diversity. Women are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. Interested applicants can send an updated CV together with a motivation letter to [email protected] in a combined document within 10 days from the date of the. advertisement