ABOUT THE COMPANY:

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With over 194 member states, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide. We believe that everyone can play a part in ending hunger.

 

JOB SUMMARY

 

Organizational Setting

One (01) position of Gender Specialist will be located in the FAO office at Multan. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Pakistan focuses its efforts on poverty reduction, food security, sustainable livelihoods and rural development. FAO has partnered with the Government of Pakistan on research and development, training, extension services and strengthening of the staff capacity in planning and policy making. FAO has supported improvements in agricultural policy analysis, strengthened institutions. Enhanced integrated area development and expanded participation of marginalized and vulnerable communities in sustainable development.

FAO Pakistan with support from the Green Climate Fund is implementing a project called Transforming Indus Basin with Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Management in Punjab and Sindh Provinces. The project aims to develop the country’s capacity to get and use the information it needs to cope with the impacts of climate change on agriculture and water management. The overall goal of the projects is to enhance the capacity of agricultural and pastoral sectors to cope with climate change, by up scaling farmers’ adoption of climate change adaptation technologies and practices through a network of already established Farmers Field Schools, and by mainstreaming climate change adaptation concerns and strategies into on-going agricultural development initiatives, policies and programming.

Component 1 aims to develop the national capacity especially that of the Government by introducing and integrating climate- and water-relevant analytical tools and information, which will overcome the current gap in monitoring and analytical capacity of water, land use and climate change. On the other hand, Component 2 will transform practices among producers in the Indus Basin, through training on CRA and OFWM. Component 3 will play a crucial role in bridging components and key actors to promote climate change adaptation.

The project seeks to recruit gender specialist who will coordinate, organize and manage the gender related activities under all the three components.

 

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative, direct supervision of the project Technical Advisor and in close coordination with concerned FAO colleagues. The incumbent will ensure timely delivery of all activities/issues related to gender, food security and livelihoods in the ‘Transforming Indus Basin with Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Management’ Project, the incumbent will undertake the following tasks and duties:

 

Technical Focus

Implementation of Gender Action Plan along with focus on gender equality/women empowerment, food security and nutrition and support the project for implementation gender related activities.

Tasks and responsibilities

Gender equality/women empowerment

•    Support and promote the main pathways from climate resilient agriculture and water resources management to gender equality and
•    Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture Training through food production, agricultural income, natural resources management and women’s empowerment
•    Analyse existing gender policies and contribute to the policy forums towards creating enabling environment for sustained transformation of the Indus basin their impact on poverty reduction, food insecurity, growth, equity,
•    Promote project efforts towards quality implementation of initiatives that address women empowerment and improving access to nutrition sensitive agriculture that include post-harvest management, value addition food processing and storage,

 

Food security and Nutrition 

•    Assist in developing and increasing the understanding of household food security, nutrition and livelihoods issues and monitoring/measuring the project impacts in the project intervention districts
•    Compilation, analysis, and interpretation of gender issues through research work and preparation of quality analytical reports
•    Ensure that ongoing programs is in line with FAO’s Strategic Framework, Country Programming Framework (CPF), and priorities with respect to gender issues

 

Support project implementation

•    Provide support and facilitate Women and male farmer groups /Project Farmer Field School in introduction and establishment of Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) practices for improved nutrition & resilience and income generating activities on selected Farmer Field Schools for female farmers enterprises
•    Working closely with the Safeguard and MEAL Specialists carry out gender analysis of the project, update as needed the Gender Action Plan and ensure its implementation, monitoring and reporting.
•    Conduct appropriate studies to identify key indicators and barriers that limit farmer to understand the pathways that link agriculture and nutrition, analyse results and write reports
•    Training and capacity development for FAO project staff and government officials, public institutions on gender and
•     Nutrition-Sensitive Farmer Feld Schools issues.
•    Ensure and contribute to developing gender sensitive training material, manuals, Farmer Field Schools (FFS) training materials/curriculum development and IEC material.
•    Conduct periodic review meetings and workshop with partners and stakeholders for learning, sharing and action so far taken and make recommendations for policy studies, brief and forums
•    Coordinate with Reporting officer / communication specialist to prepare and timely submission of periodic progress reports, success stories/case studies.
•    Work closely with the Land Tenure Specialist on awareness raising of landowners/farm managers on gender and land tenure issues
•    Perform other related duties, as assigned by the supervisor.

 

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Gender and Development studies, Gender and Women Studies, Agriculture Science and Gender,
•    8 years of relevant experience practical experience in gender analysis, gender-sensitive needs assessment; in developing and carrying out training sessions with socio-economic and gender aspects of agriculture related projects,
•    Working knowledge of English

 

FAO Core Competencies

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

 

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Technical experience in formulation and implementation of gender action plan,
•    field experience, particularly in implementing projects or interventions to improve food security, income and diversified nutrition through the food and agriculture sector, Climate change Livelihoods, Food Security and agricultural development, integrating gender in agriculture development, gender analysis, gender-sensitive needs assessment; in developing and carrying out training sessions with socio-economic and gender aspects of agriculture and rural development,
•    experience in research and policy-level analysis,
•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable,
•    Ability to operate effectively in a team, contributing positively to team operations and working relationships,
•    Knowledge of United Nations and International Organizations’ administrative policies and procedures,
•    Excellent drafting skills and analytical mind,
•    Demonstrated ability to conduct research,
•    Demonstrated fluency in written and spoken English,
•    Ability to communicate effectively and fluent in one or both of the local languages commonly spoken in Punjab and Sindh Provinces,
•    Excellent interpersonal skills and to work in a team-oriented multi-cultural environment,
•    Willingness to travel,
•    Ability to work independently, with initiative and minimal supervision,
•    Good knowledge of common administrative and financial rules and regulations,
•    Good knowledge of communication and documentation standards,
•    Display initiative and take responsibility for achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and closely follow-up until successful outputs are achieved,
•    Ability to seek new, innovative and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work assigned,
•    Identify and recommend remedial measures to address problems in systems design or implementation.

 

Selection Criteria 

Candidates will be assessed against the requirements listed above.

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