Gender Expert

Expertise France is a public agency part of the AFD Group, merging six agencies under the supervision of the French Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Economy and Finance with a strong inter-ministerial vocation. MISSION DESCRIPTION Expertise France (EF) is looking for a Gender Expert. home based. Potential travels to Erbil or North Syria.

The general objective of the project is to empower Syrian Civil Society actors to become actors of change able to actively engage in policy shaping and dialogue and echo the aspiration of Syrian communities’ vis-à-vis local and national-level decision-makers.

These objectives will be reached through achieving two connected outputs that will be implemented in parallel:

• Output 1: Non-state actors are strengthened and able to engage in local-level policy dialogue on technical/sectorial issues.
• Output 2: Dialogue, coordination and sector-based initiatives are established, experimenting sectorial dialogue and geographical coordination

Under the supervision of the Project Manager and in close coordination with the Program Director and other project members at HQ, the incumbent will be responsible for providing advisory, technical support, policy development, and consultancy for the ENSAAC project on the gender activities and initiatives in north Syria. He/she will carry out the following activities:

• Identify potential initiatives (Dialogue, coordination and sector-based) in the field of gender empowerment, that could be implemented by identified NSA.
• Assess feasibility of suggested gender initiatives.
• Providing technical and advisory support and mentoring for promoting gender concepts for NSAs that are engaged in gender empowerment of promotion.
• Strengthening NSAs’ capacity for developing the gender related policies by reviewing the current policies and developing them.
• Explore options for connecting NSAs with resource networks and other peer actors.
• Support NSAs to develop advocacy plans to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women.
• Identify potential risks related to gender inequality and develop mitigation strategies.
• Conduct focus group discussions and interviews with selected NSAs concerned with gender to understand:
• Existing knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding gender equality.
• Specific needs, issues and gaps in capacity for gender mainstreaming.
• Priorities and areas for capacity building.
• Design and deliver interactive workshops and training sessions on, for example but not limited to:
• Core gender equality concepts and frameworks (gender analysis, power dynamics, intersectionality with other thematic areas).
• Addressing specific gender issues relevant to the NSAs’ work (e.g., economic empowerment, access to education, protection from gender-based violence (GBV)).
• Gender-sensitive communication and advocacy strategies.
• Identify and share relevant resources on gender equality, such as:
• Gender-related tools and materials
• Toolkits on specific Gender Equality and Women Empowerment topics (e.g., economic empowerment, political participation).
• Case studies showcasing successful interventions in similar contexts.
• Online platforms and networks for continued learning and collaboration.
• Identify strategies for promoting sustainability, such as:
  • Encouraging peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchange among participating NSAs.
  • Supporting NSAs in developing action plans outlining steps to integrate acquired skills into their ongoing work.
  • Fostering a culture of gender equality within NSAs through ongoing advocacy and awareness-raising efforts.
• Capacity Building and Mentoring action plan for each targeted NSAs, including a brief needs assessment, a list of priorities and suggested support modalities.
• Coaching and training report,
• Lessons learned paper based on project implementation reports, including on project’s benefits according to the gender.
• Draft final report of the consultancy.

Qualifications & Preferred Skills

• University degree or master’s degree in Gender Studies, Women’s Studies, Social Sciences, International Development, or related fields.
• Proven experience working in the humanitarian and development sectors.
• At least 5 to 7 years of experience in gender, social sciences or related fields.
• In-depth knowledge of gender equality and women’s empowerment issues, particularly in conflict and post-conflict settings.
• Experience in conducting gender analysis and integrating gender considerations into development projects.
• Proficiency in gender-responsive monitoring and evaluation methodologies.
• Familiarity with international frameworks and policies related to gender equality and women’s rights.
• Experience in developing gender policies and gender training resources.
• Strong training and facilitation skills, with proven experience in capacity building for local organizations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent writing skills with high proficiency in English and Arabic.
• Sensitivity to cultural contexts and gender dynamics in northern Syria.
• Ability to do the documentation and prepare publications, reports, and presentations.
• High level of flexibility required.