Gender Equality Technical Specialist

STATEMENT OF WORK

Job Title: Gender Equality Technical Specialist

Position Type: Consultancy (up to 21 days per month)

Duration of contract: March 2024 to February 2025

Position Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Application Deadline: 22ndFebruary 2014

Start Date: 1stApril2024

Assignment Duration: 1 year with an option to renew.

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT

The Field Support Services Project (FSSP) is a two-year initiative (November 2023 to October 2025) funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and implemented by Cowater International. It offers administrative, financial, procurement, and logistical support, along with technical expertise, to GAC’s development programs in Kenya, Somalia, and South Africa. The project assists GAC in procuring and managing local development initiatives in Kenya (and its accredited countries which include Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi), South Africa (and its accredited countries) and Somalia.

BACKGROUND

Canada’s vision for international assistance is rooted in its Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) that seeks to eradicate poverty and build a more peaceful, more inclusive and more prosperous world by promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls. Canada focuses on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in a manner that is both targeted and crosscutting. A targeted approach to gender equality includes a focus on initiatives that fight poverty and inequality by supporting gender equality and defending the rights of women and girls, particularly their sexual health and reproductive rights. A simultaneous crosscutting approach to gender equality means that all of Canada’s international assistance initiatives, across all action areas, are developed and implemented in ways that improve gender equality and empower women and girls.

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION

Cowater International is supporting the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi to recruit a Gender Equality Technical Specialist based in Nairobi to support its programming over one year with an option to renew for one year. The Specialist will provide field level advice, technical support and policy input on matters relating to gender equality relevant to Canada’s development assistance programs in Kenya, as well as Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda, when requested. The specialist will have a solid knowledge of specific gender issues, Kenyan context, and official development assistance principles, and Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP).

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide expert comments on documents produced by Canada’s implementing partners in particular:

1. work plans.
2. semi-annual and annual narrative and financial reports.
3. mission/field reports.
4. any other documents produced by implementing partners.

• Participate as an observer and provide back to office reports from various sector sub-committee meetings or other such meetings organized by Canada or implementing partners.
• Participate in field monitoring visits to observe program progress and conduct technical reviews and audits.
• Design and/or participate in and/or contribute to monitoring trips, visits and missions of international assistance projects.
• Participate in the preparation of committee meetings, their content, and the writing of minutes.
• Assist with program reporting on gender equality key performance indicators.
• Monitor gender equality trends and emerging issues and provide expert advice through various means including training and reporting.
• Provide gender equality-related training to GAC partners.
• Provide advice on best practices and innovation applicable to a local context.
• Establish and maintain contacts within relevant Ministries, Development Partner Communities, and other gender equality stakeholders in Kenya.
• Undertake any duties related to the gender equality sector in Kenya, as well as Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda, as necessary.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Master’s Degree in Gender/Women’s studies, development, social science or a related field, OR a bachelor’s degree with relevant training in gender equality or equivalent experience.

Minimum Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of professional experience at senior level advisory positions in gender equality, women’s/girls’ empowerment in East Africa Region.
• Previous experience working with the United Nations or a donor country is preferred.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience in conducting gender-based analysis, development of strategies for both the integration of gender equality as well as gender equality-specific initiatives, development and execution of gender-based needs assessments.
• Substantial experience in design, ensuring Gender Equality is integrated into the design of projects and experience in monitoring for gender equality.
• Strong understanding of gender equality concepts and demonstrated experience in applying gender-based analytical tools and conceptual frameworks to programming.
• Previous experience in writing comprehensive reports on gender equality aimed at informing programme design and implementation.
• Demonstrated experience working on gender equality policy and programmatic issues with national and local governments and civil society organizations including women’s rights organizations.
• Experience in developing and implementing conceptually innovative approaches to gender equality.
• Experience working with Canada-funded projects using Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy.
• Experience with project development and results-based management methodologies (RBM).
• Ability to think strategically and integrate diverse information on gender equality from varied sources; and
• Experience working in multi-cultural environments and capacity to build effective working relations with clients and colleagues.
• Experience in designing and facilitating different types of meetings and workshops on gender equality using a variety of participatory methodologies and approaches.

The following skills and experience will be an asset:

• Experience collecting and formulating gender-sensitive indicators and sex-age group disaggregated data and preparing gender-based project analysis, developing gender equality action plans.
• French language skills

Language Requirements: Excellent English language skills, as most of the reporting will be written in English.

Working arrangements:

• The Gender Specialist will attend meetings virtually and in-person. All travel expenses will be subject to prior approval by FSSP Manager.
• The Gender Specialist will report to the Project Manager, Field Support Services Project (FSSP) and work closely with the Canadian High Commission, specifically the development team. They will also liaise with relevant government agencies, local authorities, partner organizations, likeminded donors, local communities, as necessary.

Ownership of Intellectual Property:

• Documentation produced by the Specialist in the performance of the work under the contract shall remain the property of the Canadian High Commission.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested applicants must include the following documents:

1. CV indicating past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
2. Cover Letter indicatingwhy the Candidate considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment.
3. Financial Proposal The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily rate (including taxes, time-off benefits, all statutory contributions, social contributions, and insurance). The daily rate should consider a maximum working day of 7.5 hours.
4. Applications must be submitted by 22nd February 2024 by 5:00 p.m. Apply here: Cowater International Career Opportunities – Cowater International with the subject: Gender Technical Specialist. Any applications received after this time will not be considered.

Evaluation of Applications

The proposals that achieve a minimum of 70% in the technical desk review shall be further considered for interviews and written tests. The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and

b) having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (70% – Comprising of 15% scores of desk review, 25% written test, and 30% scores of interviews) and financial criteria (30%).

The Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by FSSP for the assignment.

Technical Score (70%)

Financial Score (30%)

1. Based on Qualification (desk review) (15%)

2. Written test (25%)

3. Interview (30%)

NB: Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points (70% of the desk technical review) will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.

We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.

ABOUT US

With more than 35 years’ experience, Cowater International is Canada’s global leader in management consulting services specializing in international development and has managed the implementation of over 800 projects in more than 80 countries around the globe. We work with governments, partner organizations, communities and civil society to design and implement sustainable solutions that generate lasting social, financial and environmental impacts. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Cowater International also has corporate offices in Montreal, Quebec; London, United Kingdom; Nairobi, Kenya; and Brussels, Belgium, in addition to project offices in a wide variety of other locations across Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow with Cowater International.

How to apply

Cowater International Career Opportunities – Cowater International