Gender Mainstreaming Expert

Location: Various locations within Lebanon

Contract type: Consultancy until 31 March 2025

Closing date: Wednesday 5th June 2024 (Early applications are encouraged, as the closing date may be brought forward if sufficient applications are received)

About ARK

ARK is a social enterprise, empowering local communities through the provision of agile and sustainable interventions to create greater stability, opportunity and hope for the future.

We believe that strong, resilient communities are the foundation of local, national, regional and international development and stability – and ultimately a safer, peaceful and more prosperous world. At ARK, we have delivered research and programmatic interventions validating this approach in over twenty countries since 2008. As a social enterprise we work in partnership with communities, our donors, and other implementers to build local capacities, generate opportunity and bring about sustainable change.

Learn more about our impact here: https://www.ark.international/impact

About the Role

This consultancy serves to support, guide and advise the gender mainstreaming activity of the national armed forces, as part of a wider programme of support. This will involve working directly with the Gender Department of the national army to plan and develop the implementation of best practice theory and methodology, within the context of cultural sensitivities and the military operating environment. This will require you to be the lead point of contact on gender mainstreaming for the project and to work with a broad range of military departments and key civilian stakeholders in Lebanon.

As Gender Mainstreaming Mentor, you will deliver training and mentoring support to the beneficiary and support the project team to capture and demonstrate the impact of this support.

What you’ll be doing

Training & delivery of courses:

• Planning & preparation of relevant courses.
• Execution & delivery of courses.
• Collation of training statistics.
• Production of weekly reports (to include supporting photos).
• Production of Operational Vignettes.
• Supporting and answering RFIs as directed.
• Enabling & assisting Short Term Training Teams as directed.

Mentoring support:

• Advise and support Commanders, including the development and implementation of directives and policies. Incorporate innovative ways to implement and promote the WPS agenda.
• Mentoring support to national armed forces Gender Directorate and wider Units.
• Advise on gender issues, including implementing gender parity initiatives within the armed forces.
• Promotion of the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and 1612 and other resolutions, through effective operational planning.
• Provide training for armed forces and Gender Focal Points at the operational and tactical levels on Gender awareness and WPS.
• Act as interlocuter between other actors in the Gender space and advise on Gender issues, integration, and shape operational planning.
• Act as focal point for planning and leading training, thereby operationalising the development of the FET concept of employment.
• Provide input on Gender markers to support the beneficiary.
• Project POC for Gender Mainstreaming / WPS.
• Internal and external briefer on implementation of UNSCR 1325 within the national armed forces.

Liaison:

• HQ and wider Unit Staff
• Civilian Stakeholders

Requirements

You will likely have a NATO military background with an extensive gender mainstreaming or Female Engagement Team background. You may also have experience working in a non-military role with a focus on WPS/UNSCR 1325 in support of military or security forces. You will be comfortable operating in arduous environments and enjoy the challenge of mentoring and may have experience in a training and advisory role with host nation partners. You must have a positive attitude, be a team player, and be able to deal with uncertainty. A natural problem solver with excellent leadership skills.

Essential:

• Expert understanding on the implications of UNSCR 1325/ WPS agenda and experience implementing gender mainstreaming in a military context.

• Training and mentoring experience in a military context.

• Excellent report writing skills.

• Comfortable briefing senior military leaders.

Desirable:

• Experience working in the Middle East and alongside Middle Eastern militaries

• Basic Arabic language skills, understanding of the culture, or an interest in developing these.

Benefits

Why join ARK?

• Impactful Work: Your expertise will directly impact the lives of those in need.
• Global Reach: Collaborate with international experts and local stakeholders.
• Innovation: Engage in pioneering solutions for sustainable change.

Our People

Our team covers a diverse range of professional backgrounds, from diplomacy, humanitarian, development and the military, to the UN, civil society groups, multilateral organisations, journalism and the private sector.

An ARK Person Is:

Smart: We think deeply about things. We’re proud of our institutional knowledge and our grounding in rigorous research, which we use to make informed decisions.

Humble: Our work leaves little room for pride or arrogance. Our operating environment is constantly evolving, and we recognise out limitations. We believe in and rely on the education and experiences of others while remaining quick to read, invite feedback, and ask sensible questions.

Accountable: Each of us want ARK, its partners, and beneficiaries to succeed. This means taking initiative, assuming ownership when necessary and never giving up on our beneficiaries. We are committed and accountable, to both our donors and the communities we serve.

Collegiate: We know we are stronger together and that every contribution counts. We trust each other and always support each other.

Outspoken: We tackle diverse challenges and we always want to find the best solution to a problem. We aren’t afraid to share our opinions and we want to hear those of others too.

ARK Group is an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. ARK Group does not discriminate on the basis of ability, age, gender identity or expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs or sexual orientation. We welcome all kinds of diversity. ARK Group places human dignity at the centre of its development and stabilisation work and is this committed to the protection from sexual exploitation and abuse of children and adults. All ARK Group employees and related personnel are expected to share this commitment and only those who also uphold these values will be recruited as part of our team. This vacancy is therefore subject to a range of due diligence checks.