Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Specialist (Social Policy)

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO’s values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

Organizational Setting

The Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP) structures its work around three core Objectives: 1). Build sustainable and resilient livelihoods for vulnerable people in agrifood systems; 2) Achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment in agrifood systems; and 3) Promote equitable, inclusive and sustainable climate action and natural resource management.

The Gender Team in ESP contributes to these objectives by working to advance gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls as part of the transformation process of agrifood systems and rural development. It coordinates the implementation of the FAO’s Gender Equality Policy by providing strategic guidance and capacity development to all staff, particularly to members of the gender focal point network; generates and disseminates gender-related evidence and knowledge; develops tools and guidance materials; provides technical advice and policy support to Members and development partners; and coordinates the implementation of projects and programmes targeted to women or aimed at promoting gender equality.

FAO International Consultants and Call purpose

The Organization engages many experts to work on short-term projects as international consultants, who are expected to provide expertise, skills or knowledge for the performance of a specific short-term task or the development of a knowledge product. The assignment may involve full-time or part-time functions similar to those of staff members, and its duration may be from 1 month up to 11 months. The possibility of extension is subject to satisfactory performance, depending on the available resources and the needs of the Organization.
The objective of the Call is to attract suitable individuals to undertake A, B or C level consultancies in the area of gender equality and women’s empowerment, as well as support the gender mainstreaming work of the Organization, in line with the commitments of FAO’s Policy on Gender Equality (2020-2030). Individuals meeting or exceeding the requirements of the Call will be included in the Divisional Roster of Gender experts, and be considered whenever relevant opportunities for a consultancy arise related to gender equality and women’s empowerment and gender mainstreaming.
The purpose of this call is to attract talents with relevant experience and background to populate the roster.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent reports to the Gender Team Leaders in the Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP).

Technical Focus

The incumbent(s) will contribute to the implementation of FAO’s Strategic Framework and the Gender Equality Policy, which aims to achieve equality between women and men in sustainable agricultural production and rural development for the elimination of hunger and poverty. Specifically, the incumbent(s) will address aspects such as: achieving gender equality in food security and nutrition, and in agrifood systems; addressing the gender aspects in market development; collection, analysis and use of gender-statistics including sex-disaggregated data and gender-sensitive indicators; gender economics and women’s empowerment; use of gender transformative approaches; supporting gender-responsive disaster risk reduction and resilience building; gender and climate-smart agriculture; gender, agroecology and biodiversity management; gender-based violence in the context of food security and nutrition; gender, digitalization and technology; women’s land rights, gender mainstreaming across the Organization’s institutional mechanisms, including monitoring and reporting.

Tasks and responsibilities

For levels A and B consultants and PSAs

• Undertake policy analysis and analytical work on effective ways to address gender inequalities in agrifood systems and support rural women’s socio-economic empowerment in agriculture, food security and nutrition, rural development and poverty reduction;
• Provide technical support to governments in the formulation and implementation of gender-responsive agriculture, rural development, food security and nutrition, climate change and resilience policies and programmes;
• Support the preparation of knowledge products, policy and capacity development materials, and organize learning events to enhance the skills of FAO staff and Members;
• Organize international meetings, workshops, learning events and policy dialogues to influence global debates on the relevance of gender equality and women’s empowerment;
• Provide technical support and guidance to FAO’s divisions and offices, both at headquarters and in field offices on issues related to gender equality and women’s empowerment, as well as gender mainstreaming activities;
• Assist the gender team with multi-stakeholder partnerships, and implementing field activities and projects;
• Perform any other related duties, as required.

For level C consultants and PSAs

• Support to formulate and implement gender-responsive agriculture, rural development and food security and nutrition policies and programmes;
• Assist to prepare knowledge products and capacity development materials to enhance the skills of FAO staff and Members on rural and agriculture-related gender issues;
• Participate in field missions and provide technical support to FAO regional and country offices in the planning and implementation of gender-related activities in the region;
• Contribute to the preparation of technical reports, information and communication products, in line with the requirements of FAO;
• Liaise with FAO divisions and offices, strategic programme teams and decentralized offices and partners, as necessary, on issues related to gender equality and women’s empowerment;
• Contribute to the incorporation and monitoring of gender-related activities and results in FAO’s programme of work;
• Support the update of the FAO’s Gender Learning and Information Centre and the Gender Website;
• Support the development of webpages under the gender website.
• Perform any other related duties, as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements for COFs

• Advanced Degree in social sciences, natural sciences, rural sociology, development economics, agriculture economics, social anthropology, rural development or other relevant disciplines;
• At least 10 years for Level A, five years for Level B and one year for Level C of relevant experience in analysing and integrating the gender dimensions into policy and programme formulation and implementation, particularly in the context of agriculture, rural development, food security and nutrition;
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the other official languages of the organization (French, Spanish or Arabic).

Minimum requirements for PSAs

• University Degree in social sciences, natural sciences, rural sociology, development economics, agriculture economics, social anthropology, rural development or other relevant disciplines;
• At least 10 years for Level A, five years for Level B and one year for Level C of relevant experience in analysing and integrating the gender dimensions into policy and programme formulation and implementation, particularly in the context of agriculture, rural development, food security and nutrition;
• Working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical /Functional Skills

ESP is looking for gender experts who are able to work in at least one or more of the following technical fields:
• Women’s empowerment to achieve food security and nutrition, and rural development;
• Gender equality in the sustainable management of natural resources, such as forestry, fisheries, livestock and water;
• Gender, agroecology and biodiversity management;
• Gender and sustainable mechanization;
• Women’s land rights;
• Gender and climate-smart agriculture;
• Gender-responsive value chains;
• Gender and food loss and waste;
• Gender and markets;
• Gender and digitalization and technology adoption;
• Gender transformative approaches;
• Gender and impact evaluation of social protection programmes;
• Gender economics and women’s empowerment;
• Econometric analysis;
• Gender statistics, including analysis of sex-disaggregated data;
• Gender-responsive approaches for disaster risk reduction and resilience building;
• Reduction in gender-based violence in context of agriculture, food security and nutrition;
• Gender mainstreaming across large organizations, including monitoring and reporting.

Selection Criteria

• Knowledge and extensive expertise on gender equality and women’s empowerment issues;
• Experience and knowledge of capacity development programmes and tools, as well as in communication products.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

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