Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Specialist-GCF

TITLE: Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Specialist (Nationals only)

TEAM/PROGRAMME:

GRADE: 2

LOCATION: Freetown, Sierra Leone with travel to the Sierra Leone Coastal Landscape

CONTRACT LENGTH: 24 months

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3: the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the child friendly activities.

BACKGROUND AND ROLE PURPOSE:

Save the Children International Sierra Leone seeks to recruit a Gender Equality and Social Inclusive Specialist (GESI) to support the successful implementation of the ‘Sierra Leone Coastal Resilience Project’ (SLCRP), a Green Climate Fund-funded (GCF) project. Gender Mainstreaming is central to the Government of Sierra Leone’s development agenda, Save the Children’s policies and GCF’s objectives and guiding principles, including through engaging girls, women, boys and men of all ages as stakeholders in all development strategies and activities. The Sierra Leone Coastal Resilience Project will be one of the largest community-based adaptation projects ever delivered in West Africa. It has been designed to improve the climate resilience of communities across five coastal districts of Sierra Leone. It will increase communities’ resilience to climate variability, extremes and change and build the adaptive capacity required to ensure communities can maintain a good quality of life in the face of climate change.

The project will do this by:

1. Community mainstreaming of climate change adaptation through governance, partnerships, education and training,

2. Enhancing climate resilience of food production systems and value chains to secure food and livelihoods, especially for women, youth and children

3. Delivering ecosystems-based adaptation for coastal protection and natural resources

The project is extremely ambitious in scope. It will intervene in five districts and 75 coastal communities; and covers several thematic areas, including: Governance; WASH; education; livelihoods; climate change adaptation; and ecosystems rehabilitation, with the key focus on livelihoods, and ecosystems rehabilitation. Due to this broad focus, an experienced GESI Specialist will work across multiple sectoral areas and a strong background in the field of environment and governance would be an advantage for the role.

The GESI Specialist will have direct liaison and support from the Director of Operations, Project Director and Technical Specialist. He/she will play a key role in protecting Save the Children Staff, EPA staff, Partners, consultants, contractors, project affected persons especially children women, vulnerable groups against sexual exploitation, harassment, harm and abuse. He/she will be instrumental in mainstreaming GESI perspectives in the three project outcomes and monitor the achievement of the GESI indicators in the result framework.

The SLCRP is a partnership between the Government of Sierra Leone through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Save the Children International Sierra Leone, supported by four other NGO implementing partners. The project will be managed by a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) which will sit within the Save the Children International Sierra Leone office, overseeing staff within the EPA and the other NGO partners.

The GESI Specialist will also complete an annual risk assessment and safeguarding self-audits which maps the internal and external safeguarding risks present in the area of operations, as well as details on legislation, support services etc.

The Government of Sierra Leone through the Parliament enacted the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act 2020 with key provisions including 30% of women in elective and appointive positions, 30% representation of women in decision making positions in public and private sector among others. SCI values the work and contributions of every staff within the organization. We embrace diversity, equity and inclusion. We believe that it is essential to create an open, inclusive environment that allows every staff to thrive. SCI, we have zero tolerance for harassment, bullying and sexual exploitation and abuse. These behaviours are prohibited under our policies, and we have systems and processes in place to address them if they occur. Whilst SCI has a globally recognized International Gender Equality Principle, it is also fitting for SCI to fully implement all the provisions of the GEWE Act and GCF’s gender policy considerations.

The GCF Policy states that:

1. Women, as well as men significantly contribute to combating climate change. Shifting the paradigm towards low-emission and climate-resilient development pathways, which is the Fund’s mandate, requires a large number of individual and collective decisions by women and men. A gender-sensitive approach is therefore part of a paradigm shift.

2. Climate change impacts women and men differently, to the detriment of women, and existing gender inequalities are likely to be exacerbated by climate change; and

3. Gender inequality, exacerbated by climate change, is linked, as are other development areas, to vulnerability and risks. The greater vulnerability of women to climate change stems from gender norms and discrimination that result in the imbalanced division of labour, lower incomes, and lesser livelihood opportunities; less access and control over land and other productive assets; fewer legal rights; lesser mobility and lesser political and professional representation.

By adopting a gender-responsive approach, the GCF will efficiently contribute to gender equality, in addition to:

• Achieve greater, and more effective, sustainable and equitable climate change results
  
• Build equally women and men’s resilience to, and ability to address climate change, and ensure that women and men will equally contribute to and benefit from Fund activities
  
• Address and mitigate assessed potential project risks for women and men from funded adaptation and mitigation activities; and
  
• Contribute to reducing the gender gap in climate change-exacerbated social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities.
  
  Through its Gender Policy, the GCF commits to:
  
• Gender equality and equity, as enshrined in international agreements and national constitutions, and other human rights agreements
  
• Inclusiveness in all activities
  
• Accountability for gender and climate change results and impacts
  
• Country ownership through alignment with national policies and priorities, and inclusive stakeholder participation
  
• Competencies throughout the Fund’s institutional framework; and
  
  Equitable resource allocation so that women and men benefit equitably from the Fund’s adaptation and mitigation activities.
  
  The GESI specialist will show proven commitment to the realisation of the above policies in implementing the SLCRP in the country.
  
  SCOPE OF ROLE:
  
  Reports to: Project Director
  
  Number of direct reports: None
  
  Indirect or Matrix Management Reports: Gender and Child protection specialist
  
  Budget Responsibilities: None
  
  KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
  
  Technical Guidance
  
• Oversee the implementation of the GCF SL Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) Action Plan mainstreaming gender and social inclusion and promoting the leadership of women, girls and people with disabilities.
  
• Conduct comprehensive gender and social inclusion analysis to identify the unique vulnerabilities, needs and capacities of different groups and actors affected by climate change and recommend any adaptations that are needed to the project to account for them.
  
• Train all programme staff and partners in gender and social inclusion principles and values and orient them on the GESI Action Plan including indicators and ensure all project staff understand their responsibilities in the GESI Action Plan.
  
• Develop and implement detailed action plans outlining how gender equality and social inclusion will be integrated and monitored throughout the project lifecycle;
  
• Develop and maintain the project compliance and safeguarding requirements including but not limited to the Risk Register, Social and Environmental Safeguards, GCF’s Grievance Redress Mechanism and the Independent Redress Mechanism focussing on inclusion of the most marginalized communities/groups in particular gender inclusion and mainstreaming, Do No Harm Principles.
  
• Advocate for the adoption of GESI principles in broader development plans for local councils, ensuring that project outcomes influence long-term institutional changes.
  
• In collaboration with the MEAL team, ensure the project identifies and measures changes in gender equality, risk and impact on women, girls and people with disabilities and holds the project team to account for them. Conduct field visits as necessary to implement and oversee project activities.
  
• Conduct risk monitoring, reporting and mitigation within our compliance monitoring system.
  
  Other: Cross-Cutting Issues
  
• Prepare and submit regular work plans and relevant documents to line manager as requested.
  
• Other significant duties as may be assigned by the line manager; participate in required trainings.
  
• Comply with all relevant Save the Children policies and procedures, including, but not limited to: fraud and anti-bribery, child safeguarding and code of conduct, sexual harassment and gender equality, safety and security, finance, procurement, and human resources.
  
• Ensure all activities of the SLCRP is implemented in line with safe programming procedures and international good practices, as adapted to the local context.
  
• When requested, represent the country office at relevant conferences and workshops.
  
  Safeguarding:
  
• Develop and agree on annual safeguarding goal and deliverables with your line manager
  
• Ensure safeguarding banner and discussions are held during project meetings
  
  BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
  
  
  
  Accountability:
  
• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
  
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
  
  Ambition:
  
• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
  
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
  
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
  
  Collaboration:
  
• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
  
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
  
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
  
  Creativity:
  
• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
  
• Willing to take disciplined risks.
  
  Integrity:
  
• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
  
  QUALIFICATIONS
  
  Bachelor’s Degree in any of the Social Sciences related to the field of study and a postgraduate degree or diploma in Gender studies will be an added advantage.
  
  EXPERIENCE and SKILLS
  
  
  
  Essential
  
  
  
• A minimum of 3 or more years of experience in programming related to gender equality, women’s empowerment, gender-based violence, or a related field in a humanitarian or development context.
  
• Minimum (2) years of experience in a gender technical or management/coordination role.
  
• Proficiency in computer e.g. MS Word, MS Power Point and Excel
  
• Demonstrated understanding of underlying factors related to gender equality, patriarchy, and women’s empowerment; how these impact on the experiences of men, women, boys, and girls in Sierra Leone; and how to adapt programming (in all sectors) to address these factors.
  
• Demonstrated experience with programming to address such gender/protection issues as gender-based violence, harmful traditional practices, child/early/forced marriage, and related issues
  
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, including excellent internal consultation and liaison skills; facilitation and coaching skills
  
• Understanding of and commitment to principles of the relevant international conventions and national laws, policies, and strategies related to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
  
• Excellent analytical and creative abilities; ability to read and synthesize new information, research and evidence; and to use it to adapt current programming or design new programming.
  
• Ability to contribute gender-transformative elements to other proposals and concept notes.
  
• Ability to train staff, partners, and other stakeholders in basic concepts pertaining to gender equality and gender-based violence, using reflective and interactive approaches.
  
• Commitment to Save the Children’s values and Child Safeguarding / safe programming.
  
• Experience of representation and ability to represent SC effectively in external technical forums, particularly with respect to gender equality and gender-based violence.
  
• Experience working with local partners and helping them strengthen their technical capacity.
  
• Experience working with government agencies in a professional and constructive manner.
  
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy.
  
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
  
  Desirable
  
• Experience working in child-focused programmes or programmes serving children and families or engaging directly with children; and with a particular focus on child/early/forced marriage, adolescent pregnancy, sexual and gender-based violence, and other harmful traditional practices.
  
• Experience working in emergency response, environment and governance projects.
  
  Additional job responsibilities
  
  The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
  
  Equal Opportunities
  
  The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
  
  Child Safeguarding
  
  We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
  
  Health and Safety
  
  The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health & Safety policies and procedures.