Gender Specialist

Organizational Setting

The FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (FAORNE) is responsible for leading FAO's response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the region. Through a wide range of sectoral expertise, the Regional Office ensures a multi-disciplinary approach to field and regional interventions for Member countries and staff. The expertise offered includes food security, water and natural resources, crop production, protection fisheries, forestry, nutrition, food processing, agro-industries and gender. In particular, the Office is committed to assisting Members in closing the existing gender gaps in agri-food systems through knowledge generation, capacity development, policy and technical support. 

The Gender Team works under the umbrella of FAO’s Policy on Gender Equality (2020-2030) and the FAORNE Gender Strategy and Action Plan (2024-2027) to achieve equality between women and men in sustainable agricultural production and rural development for the elimination of hunger and poverty. To mainstream gender in all technical areas, the Gender Team supports staff to achieve gender equality objectives and implementation of gender minimum standards through capacity development, technical advice, knowledge products, and direct implementation of projects and programmes. Advancing gender equality in agrifood systems is carried out through generating and disseminating evidence about rural women and the gender gaps in food systems; promoting policy dialogue and providing technical advice to the formulation of gender-responsive policies and programmes in agriculture-related sectors; raising awareness and disseminating knowledge on gender-transformative approaches and methodologies for agricultural and rural development interventions; providing capacity development on how to effectively mainstream gender in key thematic areas of work.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Assistant Director General/Regional Representative, and the direct supervision of the Gender Officer, the Gender Specialist will support the work on gender equality and women empowerment at the regional level and provide technical assistance to the gender work undertaken by the FAO country offices, in alignment with the Strategic Framework, the regional priorities, the objectives of the Gender Equality Policy and the FAORNE Gender Equality and Action Plan.

Technical Focus 

Support and contribute to (i) Implementation of the FAORNE gender strategy and action plan and the FAO gender policy (ii) Technical support to facilitate gender mainstreaming  in the formulation and implementation of FAO regional and country-level projects and programmes, (iii) Developing data, knowledge and information on gender gaps and dynamics in the agrifood systems in the region, (iv) Capacity strengthening through trainings, information sharing for FAO staff, government counterparts and implementing partners to address gender equality and women empowerment in their respective areas of work.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Provide technical support to FAO regional and country offices, technical officers, project staff, governments, and partners in formulating and implementing gender-transformative interventions, women empowerment and mainstreaming gender.  
•    Conduct and provide support to countries on conducting gender assessments, including to collection and analysis of primary data, and produce data, knowledge and information on the gender gaps and dynamics relevant to FAO’s key priority areas in the region, including food security and nutrition, rural transformation, climate change, and resilience building.
•    Provide technical review of publications, research products, success stories, E-newsletters and other documentation on gender and rural women’s empowerment in the agrifood systems
•    Contribute to the preparation of clear and concise technical reports, website updates, and other communication products in line with the requirements of FAO.
•    Provide technical support to the development, contextualization and implementation of gender-transformative approaches applicable to agricultural and rural development projects and programmes.
•    Support the coordination, sharing of information and capacity building for the gender focal points in different countries 
•    Monitor and report on gender-related work and results and contributing to FAO’s annual reporting on the Policy on Gender Equality 
•    Conduct needs assessment, and training of staff, implementing partners and government counterparts to improve capacities to address gender in their respective work areas.
•    Support the production of awareness-raising and capacity development materials to enhance the skills of FAO staff, government counterparts and implementing partners on gender issues relevant to agrifood systems and rural transformation.
•    Participate in regional networks and collaborations related to gender and women’s empowerment
•    Organize webinars/events, workshops, and learning events to raise awareness on specific gender-related topics on the interlinkages between gender and FAO’s main areas of work in the Near East and North Africa.
•    Perform any other related duties, as required

FAO Standards and guidelines:

Liaison with the OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, 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: 
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 in gender, social sciences, rural sociology, agriculture economics, anthropology, rural development or other relevant disciplines. A Bachelor’s level degree and 2 years of relevant experience may be considered equivalent in certain circumstances
•    One to four years of relevant experience for category C; five to nine years for category B in gender equality, gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment especially in development contexts such as agriculture, climate change, or food security.
•    Full proficiency/Working knowledge of English (level C).

FAO Core 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 
•    Extent and relevance of experience in gender Mainstreaming and Analysis
•    Extent and relevance of experience in capacity Building and Training
•    Familiarity with monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting; and Knowledge Management
•    Extent and relevance of experience effective Communication
•    Familiarity with Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy

Selection Criteria

 
•    Limited knowledge (level B) of Arabic or French is an asset.
•    Experience working within the NENA region.
•    Experience in gender data analysis, research and documentation.