National Gender Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized technical agency of the United Nations. The FAO mission is to work toward the eradication of hunger and strive for food security for everyone as stated in the 2030 Agenda. The FAO’s Strategic Framework aspires to transform agri-food systems so that they are more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. The ultimate goals of these efforts include better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better lives, while leaving no one behind. The FAO projects in Nepal currently involve building technical capacity, developing policies, enhancing agri-production, strengthening food systems, improving food & nutrition security, and mitigating the adverse impact of natural disasters and climate change. The FAO also embraces the One Health approach to address threats posed by zoonotic diseases to human health. Within the framework of the food security cluster, the FAO helps to coordinate humanitarian assistance and the recovery of livelihoods in the agriculture sector.

The FAO endeavours to eradicate hunger and malnutrition through its global initiatives. The key priorities of the Country Programming Framework (CPF) for Nepal (2018-22) entail enhancing natural resource management and agricultural production system resilient to climate change and disasters. For this reason, resilient livelihoods are critical to the efforts of the FAO to help the most vulnerable people achieve food security and the freedom from hunger — one of the most basic human rights. Thus, protecting people’s livelihoods from shocks, and strengthening their capacity to absorb the impact of, and recover from, disruptive events is important.

The National Gender Specialist will work for the project “Building a Resilient Churia Region in Nepal” (BRCRN) being implemented in 26 river systems of three provinces i.e. Bagmati, Madhesh and Koshi. The project aims to promote widespread adoption of climate-resilient land use practices, confront the challenges of deforestation and forest degradation, better maintain the forest ecosystem in the Churia hills, and build resilience to climate-induced hazards. Working closely with the project team i.e. FAO-TA and the project and provincial project management units (PMU and PPMUs) of Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE), the consultant will support community based organisations (CBOs) of the project area to develop, strengthen and deliver forest management operational plans (FMOPs) to be able to show the increased forest density in the project sites at the end of the project.

The overarching objective of this GCF funded project is to enhance the climate resilience of ecosystems and vulnerable communities in Nepal´s Churia region through integrated sustainable natural resource management (SNRM) approaches.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision FAO Representative, and in close consultation with the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme), with technical guidance of Lead Technical Officer FAO RAP and direct supervision of the National Project Manager, in close cooperation with the BRCRN National Project Director (NPD) under MoFE.

Technical Focus

The National Gender Specialist will be responsible for implementation of the Gender Action Plan (GAP) and for development of approaches, manuals and tools for mainstreaming the GAP in the project implementation.

Tasks and Responsibilities

The gender specialist will perform the following tasks:

Task 1: Develop approaches, manuals and tools for mainstreaming GAP in project implementation • With reference to FAO internal guidance on gender mainstreaming and the national policy of the Nepal government, revise or create gender mainstreaming approaches for screening project periodic work plans and activities. • Develop gender tools such as field facilitator’s manuals, handbook for local resource person, agri-extensions worker and other field implementers to integrate and ensure gender into SNRM activities. • Develop a facilitator’s manual for Gender “Champions” and Gender Change Makers at river system level to lead CR-SNRM. • Provide gender inputs on ToRs, Concept Notes, and manuals as required for the project.

Task 2: Contribute to capacity building on gender mainstreaming for project personnel and partners: PMU, PPMU, TA component staff and stakeholders involved in the project activities • Conduct orientation training, and refresher training on gender equality and social inclusion for project implementers (government staff, LRPs, and extensions workers) to integrate CR SNRM during the implementation. • Support in capacity building on Gender Focal Person (PMU, PPMUs) to implement GAP and gender tools and ensure gender equality and social inclusion to stakeholders and partners involved in delivering project activities. • Build the capacity of government field staff (Gender and Safeguard Officer) and conduct TOT sessions to mobilize gender “Champions” to implement the CERPs activities.

Task 3: Develop communication materials, knowledge products related to gender and social inclusion • Develop communication materials such as case studies, best practices, articles related to gender and social inclusion and disseminate using ecoclubs, farmer field schools and other channels as appropriate. • Liaise with the Office of Communication (OCC) to ensure compliance with OCC standards, appropriate review and clearance processes.

All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including: FAOSTYLE (English: https://www.fao.org/3/cb8081en/cb8081en.pdf; French: https://www.fao.org/3/AC339FR/ac339fr.pdf; Spanish: https://www.fao.org/3/ac339s/ac339s.pdf; Arabic: https://www.fao.org/3/ac339a/ac339a.pdf; Chinese: https://www.fao.org/3/ac339c/ac339c.pdf); FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm; FAO Names Of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en; Story guidelines http://intranet.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/occ/Quick_Guides/UPDATED-Digital-Storytelling-Guide-EN-FINAL.pdf; Story template http://intranet.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/occ/Quick_Guides/FAO-Stories-Template-UPDATED.pdf; UN map standards (available to staff); FAO Brand and policy book (available to staff). Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

• Support in integrating relevant local/indigenous knowledge, skills, and practices into modules for extension services. • Document gender and social inclusion related best practices in SNRM in close coordination with Knowledge Management expert and community training expert during the development of compendium of local and indigenous knowledge. • Support CERP Intervention Package (gender responsive package) implementation and orientation to PPMUs staffs.

Task 4: Carry out monitoring and reporting against GAP implementation

• Develop monitoring and reporting tools to collect gender and sex-disaggregated data and integrate them with the project database system. • Integrate GESI into Annual Work Plan and Budget, ensure inclusion of GESI in six monthly and annual reports. • Ensure implementation of all activities aligning with the GAP. • Develop a format and orient to collect best practices, success stories, case studies, and lessons learned on gender and social inclusion in SNRM. • Monitor for the effective implementation of CERP intervention packages, including gender- responsive packages at the field level. • Undertake other tasks as assigned by the Project Manager.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• National or Resident of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. • Master’s degree in Sociology/Gender Studies/Rural Development (attach educational certificates in the online profile) • Minimum 7 years of work experience in advisory and technical service delivery on gender mainstreaming, social safeguard, and risk assessment • Working knowledge of Nepali and English

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus • Teamwork • Communication • Building Effective Relationships • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Strong experience on planning and implementation of GAP, SIMP and ESMP • Proven track record of advising and collaborating with government institutions, other stakeholders and CBOs • Proficiency in technical writing including case studies, communication materials, knowledge products related to gender equality and social inclusion • Computer skills in Office applications including Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint • Ability to plan, organize, and administer workshops and training sessions • Knowledge of gender issues relevant to climate change, forestry, and other natural resource management projects • Proven experiences working with government agencies in Nepal • Excellent writing skills both in Nepali and English

Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated practical and technical experience in gender and NRM • Ability to manage and work with a multidisciplinary and multicultural team • Proven ability to coordinate and work with government and community-based stakeholders, rights holders sensitively, cooperatively, and productively. • High degree of team ethics, well-organized, results-focused, and dynamic personality • Proficiency in English and Nepali language (both spoken and written) with good communication and interpersonal skills • Previous experience working with UN agencies is an asset. • Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation and educational certificates to the online profile, along with other supporting documents.