Regional Researcher Gender and Social Inclusion

The Regional Researcher – Gender and Social Inclusion will lead the planning, design, and implementation of gender-transformative, gender-mainstreaming, and social inclusion aspects of applied research for development projects focused on water and food security in the MENA region. Additionally, the incumbent will address key development and humanitarian-to-development challenges with a core focus on the implementation of gender transformative approaches. The position-holder will contribute to building core competency in the IWMI-MENA office, with partners, and stakeholders, on gender transformative and mainstreaming approaches. Also, the Regional Researcher will serve as a key expert on gender and social inclusion issues in research project development and implementation. During the initial contract term, the successful candidate will focus on MENA projects within the FCDO-funded PHENOMENAL program, including Al Murunah.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Lead delivery of the inception phase for gender transformative pilot projects in Al Murunah project communities, at least in Egypt, Jordan, and the Occupied Palestinian territories. This includes the development of the full project workplan and budget with support from the Al Murunah Project Lead and Project Coordinator.
• If the full project is approved, lead its delivery.
• Lead Al Murunah pilot project adoption readiness work with a focus on women and youth in the four project countries, which includes a strong oversight role of implementing partners and national consultants.
• Operationalize the Al Murunah gender action plans and mainstream gender issues across Al Murunah operations.
• Plan, design, and implement scientific methods assessing the effect of water and agricultural management technologies and practices on the livelihoods of women, youth, and small-scale producers.
• Support and lead stakeholder consultations at multiple scales and with diverse audiences including rural farmers, local and central government officials, community-based organizations, international institutions, research organizations, and donors.
• Lead cutting-edge intersectional gender integration, such as within water resource management, natural resource management, agroecology, migration, climate adaptation and resilience, and disaster risk reduction.
• Lead and substantially contribute to the authorship of key project outputs including but not limited to technical reports, research papers, communications content, presentations, policy briefs, and implementation guidance.

Requirements:

Educational Qualifications & Experience:

Essential:

• PhD in gender studies, sociology, law, anthropology, development studies, economics, agricultural economics, water resources governance, environmental studies, geography, political science, or other closely related fields, coupled with 3 years of post-doctoral experience. OR; Master’s degree in the aforementioned fields coupled with a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of directly relevant work experience with a preference for development, or Research for Development (R4D) in the MENA region.
• Experience in influencing and supporting teams (within own organization and others) to mainstream gender equality and social inclusion into programs of work.
• Experience in working within, or preferably leading, teams to design, manage, monitor, and evaluate projects/programs focused on women’s empowerment and shifting harmful gender norms with communities in the MENA region.
• Proven professional experience in social norms changes related to violence against women and girls.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Essential:

• Ability to work strategically with a range of partners (multilateral, bilateral, private sector, public sector, and civil society – including women’s rights organisations – and men and boys) in support of gender equality.
• Demonstrated ability to translate research data and evidence into knowledge products with impact and outreach relevant to the region.
• Knowledge of key concepts and frameworks including gender equality, intersectionality, girls’ and women’s rights, and empowerment of women and girls.
• Knowledge of structures and processes that drive gender inequality and exclusion of women and girls, including discriminatory legislation, social norms, and the role of men and boys and masculinities.
• Knowledge of the global evidence base on what works to achieve gender equality and girls’ and women’s economic empowerment.
• Knowledge of international indices and indicators to track the differential impacts of interventions by sex, age, and disability status.
• Knowledge of how to design/deliver gender equality interventions and generate evidence, including rigorous impact evaluation.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the capacity to work in a multidisciplinary, multi-institutional, and multicultural environment.
• Excellent oral and written language skills in English & Arabic, including effective listening and strong verbal and written communication abilities.

Source:  https://apply.workable.com/international-water-management-institute/j/990DD2F125/