Job Description

Technical Advisor

GIZ Internal/ External Vacancy Announcement #143/2020

Regional Project Improving the prevention of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the Horn of Africa

The elimination of female genital mutilation (FGM) and other harmful traditional practices is an explicit target of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDG target 5.3).

The regional GIZ project on “Improving the Prevention of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)“ will contribute to the priority areas of German Development Cooperation and the German Federal Government, in the fields of strengthening democracy and the rule of law, including human rights and women’s rights.

The regional GIZ project is being implemented in three Eastern African countries (Ethiopia, Somalia, incl. Somaliland, and Sudan).

Somalia, Sudan and some regions of Ethiopia are regarded as areas of high prevalence of FGM, where most women have been subjected to the most severe type (type III) of female circumcision. Results from national surveys show that in Ethiopia’s Afar and Somali regions more than 90% of women and girls over the age of 15 are affected.

Political efforts are being made in all three countries to combat female genital mutilation, and strategies are in place to strengthen women’s and children’s rights. In Ethiopia, FGM has been banned since 2005, however, there is for example a lack of regional coordination.

The regional GIZ project on “Improving the Prevention of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)“ (FGM-Prev project) pursues a multisectoral approach in four areas:

• government support;
• raising awareness;
• assisting those affected and
• generating evidence.

The FGM-Prev project supports subnational coordination structures in Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia. In close coordination with UNICEF and UNFPA, the project will strengthen the capacities of these implementation partners and foster exchange between them. The project aims to support societal change processes, in order to improve the prevention of FGM in the future.

The project evolves around three main areas of action: 

1. Capacity Building of relevant state and non-state stakeholders
2. Improvement of cross-border exchange
3. Support information and awareness-raising measures run by state and non-state stakeholders at the local, national and multinational levels.

Required Candidate:  One

Responsibilities:

Capacity Building and Technical Advice

• Support main partners through technical advice and independently initiate and coordinate capacity development activities for different stakeholders,
• Coordinate program activities in Ethiopia and represent the program in relevant fora in and outside Ethiopia, in consultation with the regional program office,
• Assist the project manager in the implementation of all project activities including planning, organizing and managing of workshops, conferences and partner events in Addis Ababa, the pilot regions Afar and Somali and eventually other locations,
• Be a resource person or focal point and provide advisory support to partners and colleagues for better integration of the gender approach and other themes related to the program's area of intervention,
• Through technical advice, support the planning, implementation, technical and financial monitoring, evaluation and documentation of specific awareness raising initiatives aimed at preventing FGM at community, regional, national or and/international level,
• Contribute to and/or lead the development of awareness raising, information material, teaching manuals and/or guidance documents on the theme of the program,
• Conduct research activities on themes related to the program's area of intervention,
• Contribute to ongoing assessments in order to better understand potential risks, map existing efforts in combating FGM, strengthen prevention, and identify support structures,
• Identify and reinforce existing support mechanisms and work closely with local counterparts to ensure community buy-in and cultural appropriateness of activities.
• Liaison, Networking and Coordination
• Facilitate and support networking activities and the exchange of ideas and information for the benefit of the program,
• Assist the project manager regarding the preparation, funding and technical and financial monitoring as well as the evaluation of community based and cross-border awareness-campaigns,
• Exchange and align activities with other project officers of the project (in Sudan and Somalia), within the country’s portfolio and across thematic expert networks,
• Initiate and ensure cooperation and dialogue with the relevant GIZ programs, partner institutions as well as with other organizations active in the area of intervention of the program, #
• Contribute to the positive image and overall credibility of the organization, notably through the application of the organization’s Code of Conduct,
• Actively participate in thematic or working groups and contribute to interagency initiatives.

Project Management

• Take responsibility for administrative tasks according to GIZ rules and regulations (PuR), including assisting in and autonomously
• preparing bookings, bidding procedures, preparing ToRs and contracting of experts/ external consultants, ensuring documentation of the procedures and handling invoices, office procurements, event-related purchases;
• Provide administrative assistance in collaboration with the GIZ Office (e.g. logistics of events organized by the program in Ethiopia, budget previsions, monitoring of results and expenditures),
• Analyze trends and suggest ways to develop/adjust/improve program strategies to meet needs,
• Contribute to program design and the preparation of concept notes and proposals, providing necessary field information/ data,
• Assist the project manager in the preparation of the annual reporting,
• Initiate and assure for the capitalization of experiences and good practices,
• Assist in the selection, training and support of qualified program staff,
• Maintain flexibility to take on added responsibility as and when needed

Job Requirements

Required qualifications, competences and experience

Qualifications

• MSc/MA Degree in Public Health, Social Sciences or related fields,
• Experience in participatory action planning and community engagement,
• Good knowledge of the public health sector in Ethiopia.
• Proven organizational and coordination skills in an international context, experience in project management is an asset
• Excellent command of English, fluency in Amharic and preferably other Ethiopian languages

Professional experience

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in the field of female/public health and/or prevention of FGM,
• Work experience in the field of international development cooperation is of advantage, as well as experience in the collaboration with state and non-state actors,
• Experience in public relations/ communication and/or impact monitoring is of advantage

Other knowledge, additional competencies

• She/he is concerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of female genital mutilation.
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and high commitment to integrity and the promotion of human rights, and in particular women’s rights
• Very good project management, organizational and analytical skills,
• Ability to work independently,
• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills,
• Proficiency in the use of computer and communication technologies (such as MS Office, Skype, …),

Availability for regular business trips to the pilot regions and eventually outside the country.

How to Apply

Application procedure:

Interested and qualified candidates shall submit their motivation letter along with their non-returnable recent CV via Email: hreth@giz.de

 Note: - Please make sure you mention the vacancy number and position title ‘Technical Advisor #143/2020’ in the subject line of your email application. Due to large number of applications we categorize applications with the vacancy numbers. Applications without vacancy numbers in subject lines might not be categorized in the appropriate folder and could be disqualified.

 Applications without vacancy numbers in subject lines might not be categorized in the appropriate folder and could be disqualified.

We encourage persons with disabilities to apply for the position. In case of equal qualification, persons with disabilities will be given preference.

Applications from qualified women are encouraged. Please refer to our brochure to learn more about GIZ’s attractive benefit package.