The position is located in the Regional Office for Africa (RAF) in Accra, Ghana.

Reporting Lines

The Gender Officer reports to the Deputy Regional Representative, RAF.

Technical Focus

The Gender Officer will contribute to the implementation of the FAO Strategic Framework and the Gender Equality Policy, which aims to achieve equality between women and men in sustainable agricultural production and rural development for the elimination of hunger and poverty. Specifically, the incumbent will address aspects such as: gender equality in food security and nutrition; gender equality in the sustainable management of natural resources, such as forestry, fisheries, livestock, and water; gender-sensitive value chains and trade; collection, analysis and use of gender-relevant sex-disaggregated data; gender-sensitive disaster risk reduction and resilience; gender and climate-smart agriculture; reduction in rural women’s work burden; gender mainstreaming across the Organization, including monitoring and reporting; women’s land rights; gender and social protection.

Key Results

Comprehensive technical, analytical and/or policy analysis support and the development of specialized tools, methodologies, systems and/or databases to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of the programme of work and related products, projects, publications and services.

Key Functions

•         Plans and leads components of multidisciplinary teams and working groups; leads and/or participates in teams; participates in Organization-wide committees, project teams and working groups; provides specialized expertise on gender international technical networks and or technical policy and standard setting bodies.

•         Develops technical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks and related tools, methodologies and systems, etc. to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of the programmes of work, products, projects and services.

•         Designs and conducts gender and socio-economic research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative tools and methodologies, flagship publications/technical reports and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical inputs and/or policy advice and expertise.

•         Responds to requests and provides technical/policy advice, assistance and solutions to Regional, Subregional and Country Offices related to gender, and provides technical backstopping to field projects both in development and humanitarian contexts.

•         Promotes international cooperation and collaboration, advocates best practices and increased gender related policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international meetings and conferences.

•         Coordinates capacity development activities involving knowledge sharing, organization of training workshops, awareness raising, seminars and meetings as well as the development of related materials, on-line tools and information kits.

•         Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with FAO Strategic Framework.

Specific Functions

·              Undertakes policy analysis and research on effective ways to address gender inequalities and promotes women’s empowerment in agriculture, and food security and nutrition.

·              Leads the integration and institutionalization of gender-transformative programming across RAF’s strategic priorities and field programmes, ensures that all policies and programmes supporting FAO’s gender equality policy are implemented in FAO’s field programme of the region / subregions.

·              Supports governments and regional organizations to formulate and implement gender-sensitive agriculture, rural development, and food security and nutrition policies and programmes, including also to countries facing protracted crises or at risk of natural disasters.

·              Produces knowledge products and capacity development materials and implements learning events to enhance the skills of FAO staff and Member States.

·              Organizes and prepares international meetings, workshops, learning events, and policy dialogues to influence global debates.

·              Advocates for the integration of social and gender equality issues into FAO’s agriculture and rural development programmes and projects, and participates in the project appraisal process.

·              Implements gender accountability mechanisms, including periodic gender audits, and performance reviews to ensure delivery of gender-related results across country offices and regional initiatives.

·              Acts as regional gender focal point and coordinates a regional Gender Focal Point (GFP) network and strengthens capacity of professional staff in decentralized offices in the Region.

·              Collaborates and provides technical support to FAO country offices and related governments, strategic programme teams, and partners on gender equality and women’s empowerment and carries out gender mainstreaming activities and provides technical support and advice related to gender-based violence.

·              Represents the Regional Office at international/inter-governmental meetings and conferences, advocates strategic partnerships, best practices, and increased policy dialogue and develops and negotiates effective working relationships/consensus and agreements with international and national partners.

·              Leads and/or participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the corporate strategy.

·              Coordinates and provides oversight over multi-stakeholder partnerships, field programmes and projects.

·              Performs other duties, as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

•         Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, rural sociology, gender studies, rural development, social anthropology, agricultural economics or other relevant social sciences.

•         Seven years of relevant experience in socio-economic analysis, policy formulation, capacity building in relation to gender equality and women’s empowerment, in development and/or humanitarian contexts.

•         Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

•         Results Focus

•         Teamwork

•         Communication

•         Building Effective Relationships

•         Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

·          Work experience in more than one location or area of work particularly in field positions.

·          Experience in the African region is an asset.

·          Extent and relevance of experience and knowledge related to food security and nutrition, agriculture, rural development, and rural poverty and gender, and other social issues.

·          Extent and relevance of experience in quantitative and qualitative socio-economic analysis.

·          Extent and relevance of experience in policy analysis, formulation, monitoring and evaluation in the fields of gender equality and social policies, both, in development and humanitarian contexts.

·          Extent and relevance of experience in providing technical support to governments in the formulation and implementation of gender-sensitive agriculture, rural development and food security and nutrition policies and programmes.

·          Extent and relevance of experience in capacity development and organization of awareness raising and training activities.

·          Ability to mobilize resources.

·          Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of French is considered an asset.

·          Work experience with FAO or other UN agencies on gender issues is an asset.