Gender equality specialist

Cowater is currently seeking a Gender Equality (GE) Specialist to join its Social, Economic and Environmental Development division (SEED) and support on-going and new international development projects, in particular in Francophone countries. The GE Specialist is also a key member of the Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Unit of Cowater.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide Gender Equality expertise to Projects:

• Research and conduct Gender Analyses for projects and initiatives;
• Design and review Gender Equality (GE) Strategies, and other relevant documents including budget and staffing needs;
• Lead planning and/or brainstorming sessions with field staff and stakeholders to identify the GE priorities, activities, and desired outputs that correspond to available project resources and budgets, and roles and responsibilities;
• Plan and manage GE-related project activities in accordance with the contracted statement of services and in support of desired project results and supervise their implementation;
• Using the GE Strategy as a starting point, facilitate agreement among project stakeholders on desired GE results (revised as needed) given the existing project goals, objectives, etc.;
• Support implementation of GE strategies (both from HQ and in the field);
• Ensure the strategic and daily management of GE-related project activities and delivery of project inputs and outputs, on time and within budget;
• Provide training and post-training follow up activities to field staff;
• Assess the effectiveness of existing structures and personnel to meet each project’s GE results and provide necessary recommendations;

Support business development activities:

• Participate in initial project design meetings;
• Identify key entry points with design teams for the integration of GEDSI in project activities;
• Review proposal sections and provide advice on conducting gender analyses for project proposals;
• Consult with relevant GEDSI and other stakeholders, including women’s organizations;
• Research and draft GEDSI analyses and propose preliminary GEDSI strategies;
• Review the MEL framework through a GEDSI lens;
• Support project design teams in identifying GEDSI resources to include in proposals;
• Participate in scoping missions/field visits to relevant countries;
• Perform any other related tasks necessary to the submission of gender-integrated proposals.

GEDSI Corporate Responsibilities

• Participate as a member of Cowater’s GEDSI Unit and contribute to the identification, design, and implementation of activities to support the integration of GEDSI across Cowater operations and programmes;
• Support the development of GEDSI strategic plans, GEDSI action plans and annual GEDSI workplans, and associated tasks;
• Support the management and operation of Cowater’s GEDSI Working Group as a key contributor representing the Francophone projects;
• Contribute to the design, implementation, and evaluation of GEDSI deliverables, such as tools, training, materials, and other identified requirements, in accordance with the annual GEDSI Action Plan;

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• A Master’s degree (or higher) in social sciences or relevant field (e.g., gender studies, economics, public policy, international relations, political science, health, education, agriculture, etc.).

Minimum Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience working in the international development field;
• A minimum of 3 years of progressively responsible experience in advisory or programme management experience related to the promotion of Gender Equality and operational gender mainstreaming, particularly in an international organization
• A minimum of 1 year of international field experience is a plus
• Demonstrated skills in training and/or capacity building related to gender and social inclusion
• Demonstrated success in supporting cross-functional transformational initiatives, supporting the development and implementation of gender equity, diversity and inclusion strategies, and stewarding collaborative processes across multiple stakeholders;
• Understanding of MEL and capacity building approaches for supporting local organizations and local government actors;
• Familiarity with GAC’s objectives, approaches and operations related to Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, particularly related to MEL, is a plus.

Essential Skills:

• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel and PowerPoint skills);
• Timeliness (meet deadlines, generally handle duties in an efficient and timely manner);
• Multi-tasking (prioritizing and juggling various tasks effectively).
• Demonstrated abilities to work in a multi-disciplinary team and in multicultural environment
• Strong analytical skills and problem solving skills, including a demonstrated ability to effectively communicate strategies or plans to field staff and stakeholders;
• Ability to sustain a pro-active approach to problem-solving (managing and structuring a range of responsibilities without close supervision);
• Willingness to engage in project-related travel to fragile states or medium to high-risk regions.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a high level of emotional intelligence.

Language Proficiency:

• High proficiency in both French and English is essential (written, comprehension and verbal communication).
• For the position advertised, fluency in French (both oral and written) is required.

Employment Conditions:

This position is full-time and permanent, based in Ottawa or Montreal.

How to Apply:

We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.