Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action - helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.
PROGRAM/ DEPARTMENT SUMMARY
Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, oppression by building secure, productive, and just communities. Mercy Corps has been present in Zimbabwe since 2002 focusing its interventions on a multi sectoral market systems development portfolio mobilizing communities to promote small scale agriculture and revive local economies. Its current operations focus on helping smallholder farmers increase their incomes and harvests through the power of technology and increasing urban household access to quality, reliable water, sanitation and hygiene services. Zimbabwe continues to experience recurrent environmental, economic and social shocks affecting the well being of its communities and undermining development investments. Mercy Corps puts resilience at core of its strategy to contribute to the well-being of Zimbabweans by building communitiesโ capacities and strengthening systems and institutions.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY
The Gender Specialist for the Resilience Knowledge Hub under the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF) will be responsible for leading gender and resilience context analyses, proposing practical contextualized implementation plans, designing the training programmes, developing guides, learning methods and delivering all the required training's and workshops in line with the ZRBF gender strategy. S/he will work closely with ZRBF implementing partners across the country to develop, coordinate, implement and monitor a gender strategy and action plan. S/he will also support the programโs adherence to Mercy Corps Gender Minimum Standards in accordance with our Program Management Minimum Standards, and work to build a supportive team culture.
The goal of this Resilience Knowledge Hub project is to strengthen the capacity of ZRBF partners (i.e. government and ZRBF consortia partners) in understanding and applying resilience and landscape concepts, tools, approaches and methodologies in their work to drive the resilience agenda as outlined in the Zimbabwe Resilience Strategic Framework. The intervention will also play an advisory role in supporting ZRBF consortia partners to conduct context, gender and resilience analysis and reporting; improve scenario planning, early warning systems and anticipatory action mechanism to inform ZRBF planning and implementation processes. By doing so the intervention will inform decisions on the Crisis Modifier funding system to strategically sequence, layer, and coordinate ZRBF investments and adapt them it to the rapidly changing environment. For the system to function, RKH must serve as a catalyst for generating evidence through strategic resilience measurement and translating it into actionable programme recommendations.
ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
KEY PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead gender and resilience context analyses.
- Develop a gender strategy that is informed by the results of the context analyses.
- Develop gender action plans to support the implementation of the gender strategy by ZRBF consortia partners and other stakeholders.
- Provide guidance and technical support to all ZRBF implementing partners on gender considerations and best practices.
- Work closely with the gender focal points of consortium members to identify and address gender-related gaps in ZRBF programming.
- Design and deliver customized gender trainings to partners and relevant stakeholders.
- Develop and maintain a gender-related research and knowledge databaseand tools relevant to the program.
- Compile content for and develop innovative gender and resilience-related learning and communication tools and materials that can be shared at events, meetings and national platforms and with government ministries and counterparts in the public and private sectors to disseminate knowledge.
- Initiate knowledge generation on gender and resilience themes and dissemination of best practices and lessons learned.
- Support the Team Leader to report on gender and resilience program activities and lessons learned and produce internal documentation as requested/needed.
- Support Mercy Corpsโ gender organizational change initiative to create an enabling environment for program workโ including a female staffing initiative, mentors-hip program and policy reform.
Organizational Learning
- As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to PARTICIPANTS
- Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging participant communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our projects.
SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES
- Actively learns safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigation related to their area of work.
- Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
- Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Reports Directly To: RKH Team Leader
Works Directly With: Regional Resilience Senior Director, Director of Programs, Global Gender Team and partner organizations.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
- University degree in gender/women studies, social sciences, rural development/sociology, agricultural economics, anthropology, development studies, or other closely related fields.
- At least 5 to 7 years of experience in gender equality, gender mainstreaming, or related role.
- Experience designing and facilitating training on gender issues and gender integration processes and techniques.
- Solid experience in designing, monitoring and evaluating gender components in projects.
- Experience in gender mainstreaming in resilience programs would be an added advantage.
- Ability to handle multiple issues at one time, including emergency situations.
- Must be adaptable to and comfortable with shifting priorities.
- Experience in the Zimbabwean context is an advantage.
SUCCESS FACTORS
The successful Gender Specialist will take a leading role in gender mainstreaming across two consortia implementing programs under the ZRBF2 in Zimbabwe. S/he will be a strong advocate for gender issues among partners and in national forums. S/he will be passionate about learning and adaptive management techniques as fundamental strategies to improve program impact. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail as well as strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
SAFEGUARDING AND ETHICS
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme
By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employerโs sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times.
Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e- learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis. As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected])
- Actively learns safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigation related to their area of work.
- Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging participant communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our projects.
- As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.