Gender Policy Advisor Job in Nairobi Kenya

Job Title: Gender Policy Advisor

Department: Pan-African Programme

Location: Acord Headquarters- Nairobi- Kenya

Reporting To: Pan-African Head of Policy and Advocacy

Organisational Context

ACORD (Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development) is a Pan-African organisation working for Social Justice and Development in Africa.

ACORD is implementing a Pan-African Programme mainly focused on foodsovereignty and cross-cutting thematic programmes on Conflict, HIV & AIDSand Gender.

ACORD operates in 18 African countries. ACORD’s response to the challenges of Africa is firmly based on a belief that people themselves are the agents of change and actors of their own development. People’s ability to take action on the causes of poverty is what will transform Africa’s future.

This belief underpins ACORD’s practical work, its research methodologies and policy advocacy. ACORD works in partnership with local civil society associations and communities and in alliance with like minded organizations in Africa and the rest of the world.


ACORD was created in 1976 as a consortium of non-governmental development organizations from Europe and Canada to implement long term development programs.

Following an organizational change process, the strategic leadership of ACORD was relocated to Africa and as of today the ACORD Head Office is located in Nairobi-Kenya.

Job Summary

The Gender Policy Advisor is responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of the gender thematic programs in line with the overall ACORD Strategic Plan, the Pan-African programme, and Gender thematic strategies and Programming guidelines.

S/he will provide technical and methodological support to ACORD’s country and area programmes across Africa in relation to gender work.

S/he shall actively contribute to define strategies advancing gender work at Pan-African level through research, partnership, alliance building and advocacy initiatives.

S/he shall provide leadership in cross-learning and knowledge generation for thematic alignment in relation to ACORD’s gender strategic priorities across the organisation.

Specific Responsibilities

1. Strategy and Planning

• Coordinate the further development of the gender thematic strategies in line with the overall ACORD Strategic Plan and Programming guidelines;
• Provide leadership in the implementation of the gender thematic strategies through the gender working groups;
• Support the development of clear policy and practice change (PPCs) targets on gender within Area Programmes, as well as at regional and pan African levels, through a process of critical analysis and reflection;
• Provide leadership and technical support in the development and implementation of viable work plans for the area programme and pan African levels, in line with country and area strategies and the overall gender thematic strategies;
• Facilitate the institutionalization of gender equality across the organisation;
• Coordinate the development of the annual budget for multi-country and Pan African gender thematic programmes and ensure their adequate implementation;

2. Technical and Methodological Support on Gender Theme

• Support cross-cutting research and advocacy work around the gender theme;
• Enforce the implementation of the rights-based approach and the social exclusion analysis and other methodological tools that would be developed or adapted in the implementation of the gender thematic strategies;
• Coordinate capacity building initiatives on the gender theme for ACORD staff and partners;

3. Contribution to the Delivery of thePan-Africa Programme

• In collaboration with the Pan-African Head of Policy and Advocacy, define strategies to deliver on objectives in respect to gender theme within the Pan-African Programme;
• Map out and build alliances with organisations working on gender issues at Pan-African level and Internationally;
• Contribute to policy analysis and positioning of ACORD through the Pan-African programme;
• Contribute to research and advocacy initiatives related to gender within the Pan-African programme.
• Ensure thematic alignment with other themes namely Conflict, Food sovereignty and HIV and AIDs
• Mainstream gender into the Pan-African programme

4. Specific Gender Research and Advocacy Work

• Keep abreast of research and policies development on gender
• Gather relevant intelligence on issues of gender so as to keep ACORD and its partners on top of the knowledge in the area and inform meaningfully the advocacy and lobby work
• Develop and maintain sustained Partnerships and Alliances with Civil Society organisations and Social Movements at regional, Pan-African and Global levels to advance ACORD’s work on gender in Africa;
• Develop and implement a lobbying and advocacy strategy and plans at regional and Pan-African level toward critical actors and “change makers” in gender
• Prepare advocacy materials and in cooperation with the gender working groups coordinate the mobilization and capacity building of popular mass movement across Africa on issues of gender
• Raise sustained public profile of ACORD and its agenda through creating, developing and maintaining good relations with the media
• Provide methodological support to the ACORD’s thematically aligned gender work at national and regional level and build the capacity of the gender thematic working groups
• Facilitate and consolidate learning and knowledge generation and the thematic alignment of ACORD’s processes and methods across Africa in relation to gender.

5. Fundraising and Donor Reporting

• In collaboration with the Partnership Development Unit, identify new funding sources and generate concept notes and proposals in line with the gender thematic strategies;
• Develop quality reports on ACORD’s overall gender work;
• Contribute to the internal review of reports from country and area programmes on gender related work

6. Documentation of Best Practices and Learning

• Promote the development of practical tool kits to guide gender thematic work;
• Promote capacity building initiatives strengthening synergy and exchange among gender working groups;
• Contribute to organize annual learning events on program practices and approaches in relation to the work on gender;
• Promote replication of documented best practices on gender work among partner organisations in Africa and internationally;
• Capitalize on success stories promoting gender work to internal and external audiences.

7. Monitoring and Reporting

• In collaboration with the Monitoring & Evaluation Coordinator, organize the review of the gender thematic programmes;
• Coordinate reporting processes on the gender thematic work and prepare consolidated annual and bi-annual report on ACORD’s work on gender;
• Document lessons learned from review processes in order to continuously improve the quality of gender work within ACORD.

8. Supervision and Collaboration

• The Gender Policy Advisor is under the direct supervision of the Pan-African Head of Policy and Advocacy.
• The Gender Policy Advisor will work closely with other colleagues in the Programming department: HIV & AIDS Thematic Manager, Conflicts Thematic Manager, Livelihoods Policy Advisor, Monitoring & Evaluation and Knowledge Management Coordinator, Head of Programmes Operations & Development, Programmes Operations & Development Coordinator and the Area Programme Managers.
• S/he shall also work closely with colleagues in other departments- Partnership Development, Human Resources & Administration and Finance.
• S/he shall manage the gender team and coordinate/facilitate the functioning of the gender thematic working group.

Qualification and Experience

Education/Qualification

• Masters in Social Sciences or Sustainable Development, Gender or similar field

Experience:

• Five (5) years working experience in gender work with an International Non-Governmental Organisation (INGO) at Management level;
• Strong experience in strategic planning and policy formulation
• Strong experience in lobbying and media work
• Experience in popular mobilisation and policy advocacy at international level
• Experience in alliance and partnership building
• Bilingual: English-French spoken and written is an essential requirement for the position

Technical expertise

• High level of conceptual, strategic thinking
• Communicating with impact with various stakeholders
• Excellent Communication (written and oral) and Public Relations skills
• Very good understanding of gender issues at the level of Policy influence in the Pan-African scene
• Highly conversant with Civil Society and Social Movement approaches on gender work at Pan-African level
• Good organisational, research, negotiation and analytical capabilities
• Ability to identify, obtain and analyze information from a variety of sources

Required Competencies:

• Strong Leadership skills;
• Strategic Decision Making
• Adaptation skills: ability to work well in a multicultural environment
• Highly motivated, responsible, self-directed, resourceful and flexible
• Collaboration and Team work;
• Problem solving skills;
• Partnership and Negotiation skills
• Creativity and Innovation
• Able to manage work load and meet deadlines

Remuneration: A competitive national package

Download the application form at this link and apply to:

Human Resources & Organisational Development Manager
ACORD Nairobi, ACK Garden House,
P. O. Box 61216, 00200,
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 20 2721172, 2721185/86

To apply, please complete the application form attached and e-mail it with a detailed Curriculum Vitae and cover letter to recruit@acordinternational.org with the Job Title in the Subject Box.

Closing Date: 28th October 2011

 

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