Position:        Gender Specialist

Reports to:    Project Implementation Manager

Location:       Bahir Dar                   

MEDA’s Overview

Mennonite Economic Development Associate (MEDA) is an international non-governmental organization incorporated in Canada and registered in Ethiopia. MEDA is currently carrying out EMERTA project which stands for Ethiopians Motivating Enterprises to Rise in Trade and Agri-business and means ‘to leap to great heights’ in Amharic by focusing specifically on women. The project is committed to increasing sustainable employment and income generation for women and men in Amhara Region of Ethiopia in rice, vegetables and gemstone sectors, with a focus on women. MEDA is committing to identify and mitigate the social and economic barriers that limit women’s participation in the selected market sectors and constrain their participation in household decisions and control over resources.

Job Overview:

The Gender Specialist is responsible for implementing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting project impact on gender issues related to MEDA’s work in Ethiopia. The Gender Specialist represents gender considerations in activity planning, implementation and coordination among partners and beneficiaries. She/he will work closely with other members of the field project team to build capacity and recommend linkages and training as needed. The Gender Specialist will build relationships with women-serving agencies to link women partners to a range of services in support of success in vegetable, rice and gemstone sectors. She/he will focus on specific barriers that women face in each of these three sectors relevant to the EMERTA project and will develop mechanisms to address such barriers. She/he will serve as a primary contact for the project to other agencies and efforts focused on gender and women’s empowerment in Amhara Region and the country. The Gender Specialist will maintain a working relationship with MEDA’s headquarters-based Gender Advisor to liaise on technical issues, gender-related inputs to the project, etc.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Take active part in project design, planning and implementation to ensure that adequate focus is given (and resources allocated) to the promotion of gender equality across EMERTA project;
• Define and mainstream/integrate the project’s gender strategy, work plan, risk and mitigation plans, and update as needed based on finalized project activities;
• Provide support and mentor field team/partners to understand and adopt best practices in addressing gender issues throughout the project;
• Identify, screen and build relationships with organizations focused on gender equality to develop and expand appropriate gender empowerment methodologies; Build the capacity of MEDA’s EMERTA team in gender issues to effectively integrate into the project applicable tools and methodologies. Support EMERTA team by taking part in scheduled activities that requires technical knowledge of Gender related concepts and tools.
• Conduct assessments/research with partners (farmers, traders, processors, lapidaries, exporters, government staff, et al.) to identify gender-related constraints that limit women’s access to full participation in EMERTA’s three- sector focus.
• Support EMERTA team with assessment and identification of time and labor-saving technologies for women clients. With EMERTA staff, document the impact of technologies used in the project with the aim to reduce the time and labor burden of women clients; develop impact stories in relation to such issues and propose/test solutions.
• Compare actual project gender-related performance against plans through performance reviews, variance analysis, data quality audits and other performance verification/assessment processes, contribute to semi-annual and other reports.
• Identify any new gender-related risks and analyse, track and monitor existing risks to ensure that risks are identified, their status is reported and that appropriate risk management plans can be executed.
• Liaison with the Sectoral Senior Value Chain Specialists, for the provision of information and training on gender issues, gather sector specific information from the field office and take the lead in preparing semi-annual and other reports for the Gender piece of the EMERTA project.
• Perform other duties as assigned by immediate supervisor.

Job Requirements

Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences or other relevant discipline, preferably in gender studies.
• Five+ (5+) years of strong experience in gender; experience in implementing gender projects.
• Excellent presentation and written communication in English and Amharic.
• Computer skills: Microsoft Office Applications, specifically Excel and Word and Access.
• Other needed skills and competencies include: personal commitment to gender equality, respect, demonstrable team work, accountability, enthusiasm, willingness to build partnerships, pro-active problem solving and analytical abilities.

Desirable:

• Advanced degree focusing on Gender or related area of study. 
• Experience in economic development and value chain projects with direct experience working in rural communities with women,
• Knowledge of gender theories and practices.

How to Apply

If you are interested to be part of our dynamic team, exciting work environment and contribute to MEDA's mission and vision, please forward your: CV (not more than 3 page) and cover letter (not more than one page) directly to ethiojobs.net or Send your application by e-mail to vacancy.ethiopia@meda.org;

Those candidates who wish to apply in person can do so to our MEDA-Bahirdar office located behind Bureau of Education, Kebele 13 or Addis Ababa office located on the new road from Bole to AU.

Note: On the subject Line, please clearly write the position you are applying "Gender Specialist”. Your application will be automatically disqualified, if you fail to do so. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.