Gender Specialist - DRC

Summary



Save the Children is seeking a Gender Specialist who will be primarily responsible for the strategy and implementation of any specific action aimed at taking into account the differentiated needs of boys and girls in the execution of the CYERA project. The CYERA Project,“Child and Youth Education Response Activity’’ (CYERA), is valued at $38M and funded by USAID, and will focus on three provinces more affected by the conflict in the DRC: Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. This individual will work in close collaboration with all members of the USAID CYERA consortium as well as state and local partners. The Specialist will provide technical leadership in integrating gender into project activities while working closely with project coordinators of all members of the consortium. This position reports directly to the Chief of Party and is based in Goma.



This position is contingent upon donor approval and funding.



What You'll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

• As a senior member of the CYERA team, create a favorable and productive work environment; execution of the workplace and diversity program for national office staff during the intervention.


• Contribute to general activities of the national program.


• Access and utilize global technical policies, procedures and resources that will support the national office technically or operationally.


• Execute the duties involved in the position, in a manner that reflects Save the Children's commitment to the defense of children, in accordance with our code of conduct and our policy for the defense of children.


• Define a strategy for taking the gender dimension into account in carrying out the project, including
  • An analysis of the experiences, risks and challenges for children, girls and boys, and including vis-à-vis disabled children;
  • A strategy and plan to ensure that gender concerns are addressed in the objectives of the project, in the training modules, the various reading materials developed and in the designation of community animators / volunteers;
  • A strategy for the integration of mechanisms to ensure the safety of girls and boys in the target educational centers;
  • With MEAL, a strategy for accountability to children in target educational centers, including anonymous reception of complaints, handling of complaints, and care or referral of children



• Define the tools for the implementation of all the plans for taking gender into account in the project; train project teams and safe partners, and support the use of gender approaches, modules and tools;


• Revise what already exists, and identify or develop with project colleagues and MoE and ensure the implementation of gender-sensitive teaching practices


• In collaboration with the MEAL specialist, design a mechanism and practical tools for data collection, monitoring and gender analysis in aspects of the project;


• Define monitoring indicators specific to gender concerns and sensitive to the gender equality factor in collaboration with the monitoring and evaluation specialist;


• Design and conduct gender assessments at appropriate time intervals and document these assessments;


• Develop a gender mainstreaming plan and keep it up to date annually including activities, indicators and means of verification, deadlines and resources for each activity;


• Review each component of the project to assess the level of gender mainstreaming every quarter and monitor the quality of gender mainstreaming in all project activities, track the resources invested in gender activities, and identify areas where gender mainstreaming can be strengthened or changed and then present the progress / results in each quarterly or biannual progress review of the project;


• Collaborate with other colleagues and project partners to ensure gender mainstreaming throughout the implementation of the project in accordance with the USAID donor policies / strategies and gender requirements;


• Participate in periodic USAID gender thematic meetings.


• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where the project team strives to achieve excellence; and


• Incorporate SC’s vision and values and full adherence to Code of Conduct principles.

• Strong experience of working within a complex national program in the context of an emergency intervention or in contexts of conflict or fragile state.


• Master’s Degree in education or other relevant subject area preferred; plus professional experience of at least five (5) years in the development and implementation of major sensitive or gender or transformative programs.


• Extensive experience in gender analysis and integration, behavior change and gender-based social norms.


• Experience with some of the following elements:
  • The standard approaches of Save the Children;
  • Promotion of mechanisms for gender-sensitive education;
  • Safe and protective education, including in conflict situations;
  • Elimination of sexual and gender-based violence in or near schools;
  • Education on sexual and reproductive health for adolescents;
  • Case management for child protection;
  • Work with children at risk of being recruited or used by non-state armed groups.



• Experience in running a USAID-funded program is a great advantage.


• Experience with and commitment to approaches of accountability to populations, including children, affected by crises or conflicts;


• Demonstrated coaching and mentoring skills.


• Excellent written and oral communication skills in French; bilingual French and English preferred.


• Demonstrated ability to influence change at an operational and strategic level.


• Sensitive to political and cultural issues, and able to demonstrate patience, tact and diplomacy.


• Ability and willingness to be very flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes dangerous working circumstances.

• Language skills in Swahili, Nande or other eastern languages of the country are an advantage.


• Experience working in unsafe areas.

• Specific experience in managing consortium projects.

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children– every day and in times of crisis– transforming their lives and the future we share.



Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom Save the Children is in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse. In addition, it is Save the Children’s policy to create and proactively maintain an environment that aims to prevent and deter any actions and omissions, whether deliberate or inadvertent, that place children at the risk of any kind of child abuse. All our representatives are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this commitment and obligation. Any violations of this policy will be treated as a serious issue.



We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Save the Children complies with all applicable laws.

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