Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Consultant

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO's Subregional Office for the Caribbean (SLC) is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing agreed strategies for addressing food, agriculture, and rural development priorities in the sub-region. It develops and maintains relations with subregion-wide institutions including regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs).

The Subregional Office is a subsidiary of FAO's Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (RLC), in Santiago, Chile. SLC is located in Barbados and is responsible for 13 countries of the subregion. SLC houses the FAO Multi-Country Office for Barbados and six OECS (Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States) countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis and St Vincent and the Grenadines).

The primary mission of the FAO offices in the countries, led by the FAO Representative, is to collaborate with governments in the development of policies, programs, and projects to achieve food security and reduce hunger and malnutrition. This includes helping to develop the agricultural, fisheries, and forestry sectors and using their environmental and natural resources sustainably.

The project FISH-ADAPT is a Green Climate Fund (GCF) financed project, developed by FAO in direct response to a request by the Government of Saint Lucia (GoSL). The GoSL, acting through the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development and the Ministry of Finance Economic Development and the Youth Economy (the GCF National Designated Authority) also requested FAO to act as Executing Entity. FISH-ADAPT will support the scale-up of previous initiatives by implementing key elements of the Saint Lucia Fisheries Sectoral Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan (SASAP). The project will help to make fishing safer and more productive despite a changing climate and help ensure that improved livelihoods do not require catching ever-increasing volumes of wild fish. The project establishes paradigm shifting pathways that will permanently change the operation of Saint Lucia’s fisheries sector, improve the climate resilience of over 5,000 fishers, fishworkers and aquaculture farmers, and their households (total estimated direct beneficiaries of 10,000) and improve access to finance and insurance for long-term sustainability. The benefits from FISH-ADAPT will transcend fisheries to positively impact 62,000 people working in the tourism and hospitality industry and strengthen ecosystem services provided by approximately 25 hectares of mangrove and 7 ha of coastal coral reef, and serves as a model for scale-up and further climate adaptation actions across the Caribbean and in other regions, by building stakeholder capacity, strengthening private sector linkages, and enhancing coordination mechanisms and knowledge-sharing at national and regional levels.

The project is comprised of four main components:

1.    Transform and reorient fishing systems for safety in a changing climate. 
2.    Implement Nature-based Solutions and sustainable fishing practices to improve ecosystem health and fish stock sustainability in response to climatic changes.
3.    Increase financial resilience and diversify incomes for fishing sector stakeholders.
4.    Strengthen institutional structures for participatory climate adaptation.
These four mutually reinforcing components address key elements of the climate resilience challenge facing Saint Lucia’s fishing sector and propose adaptation solutions targeting i) the artisanal fishing vessels and traditional practices that form the core of the sector; ii) the landing sites and fish processing facilities that support those vessels; iii) the nearby seamoss farms and coastal ecosystems that serve as critical fish habitat; iv) the key role of aquaculture in increasing fish production for the island, and v) the need to mobilize credit, insurance and other financial services, and engage private actors.

For more information about the project, please review: SAP053: FISH-ADAPT: Transforming climate resilience and sustainability in Saint Lucia's fisheries communities | Green Climate Fund

Reporting Lines

The GESI Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Officer in the FAO Subregional Office for the Caribbean and the Lead Technical Officer of the project, with day-to-day supervision and technical guidance from the Project Coordinator - International Fisheries Specialist and in close collaboration with the other members of the project team, and the staff in the FAO SLC, HQ and RLC.

Technical Focus

The objective for this consultancy is to lead the integration of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) across all components of the FISH-ADAPT project, ensuring alignment with the Gender Assessment and Action Plan (GAAP), FAO and GCF gender policies and strategies, and national strategies. The consultant will support inclusive planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting, with a focus on empowering women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Operationalize the Gender Assessment and Action Plan (GAAP) and ensure its integration across project components and activities, ensuring activities are gender sensitive and aligned with the Gender Action Plan (GAP).
•     Support gender-responsive budgeting and planning in coordination with the Project Management Unit (PMU).
•     Ensure alignment with FAO and GCF gender policies and Saint Lucia’s national gender frameworks.
•     Design and deliver gender sensitization and Gender-Based Violence/ Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (GBV/SEAH) prevention training for project staff and beneficiaries.
•     Facilitate inclusive stakeholder engagement, using participatory and culturally sensitive methodologies, and ensuring representation of women, youth, PWDs, and LGBTQ groups.
•     Partner with cooperatives, CSOs, and government entities to promote gender-equitable participation.
•     Develop and implement sex-disaggregated data collection and analysis tools and indicators and implement these in the project.
•     Contribute to gender-sensitive M&E frameworks and annual reporting.
•     Document lessons learned and best practices in gender mainstreaming.
•     Support the implementation of the project’s grievance redress mechanism (GRM), including SEAH protocols.
•     Identify and monitor gender-related risks and support mitigation strategies.
•     Ensure survivor-centered approaches in all grievance and redress processes.
•     Promote visibility of women’s roles in fisheries value chains and resource management.
•     Attend occasional work or team building meetings to be held at the Fisheries Department offices of in Castries, when requested.
•     Perform other project-related tasks as required

In close collaboration with Office of Communications (OCC) branches and appropriate Communication focal points, the incumbent will:

•     Produce communication materials and key messages promoting gender equity in fisheries, in coordination with the communications consultant for the project.

FAO Standards and guidelines:
Liaison with OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, aligned messaging, and appropriate review and clearance processes.
All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en 
FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia  
Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en
FAOSTYLE(https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en
FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm
FAO Names Of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en
Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff).

Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in Social Sciences, Sociology, Anthropology, Community Development, Biology or related field; Consultants with bachelor`s degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience. 
•     At least 5 years of relevant experience in development projects or programmes with gender equity and inclusion. 
•     Working knowledge of English (level C).

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Excellent knowledge of gender equality and women’s empowerment concepts. 
•     Ability to conduct focus groups and gender-equitable meetings
•     Capacity for personal and inter-institutional relations in the community, public and private spheres, and with multiple stakeholders.
•     Familiarity with grievance mechanisms, and gender-sensitive programming 
•     Strong analytical, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
•     Strong communication and reporting skills in English 
•     Sensitivity to working with organizations, communities, and local authorities
•     Basic computer skills.
•     Ability to always act with extreme discretion regarding documents, information, and materials.

Selection criteria:

•     Advanced university degree in social and/or gender related studies is an advantage.
•     Experience in fisheries projects, especially with coastal communities, is considered an asset
•     Experience working with FAO or other UN organizations is desirable