GGW Gender & Risk Management Consultant

Result of ServiceProgress in the implementation of the ESEGGWI Project. Work LocationRemote Expected duration12 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesBackground The objective of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is to combat desertification and land degradation, and to mitigate the effects of drought (DLDD) in affected countries around the world, particularly in Africa, through effective action at all levels. Established in 1994, the UNCCD is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Global Mechanism (GM) is an institution of the UNCCD, mandated to assist countries in the mobilization of financial resources from the public and private sector for activities that prevent, control or reverse desertification, land degradation and drought. The Global Mechanism is currently steering several activities related to the Green Great Wall Initiative, notably a project entitled “Strengthening Coordination and Implementation of the Great Green Wall Initiative – Phase 2: Enhancing Sustainability and Expansion of the Great Green Wall Initiative’’ (ESEGGWI), funded by ADA, the Austrian Development Agency. The Great Green Wall (GGW) was launched in 2007 under the leadership of the African Union and Pan-African Agency of the GGW. It aims to restore Africa’s degraded landscapes and transform millions of lives in one of the world’s poorest regions, the Sahel. In recent years, the GGW vision has evolved into an integrated ecosystem management approach, striving for a mosaic of different land use and production systems. Hence the GGW should be understood as a strategic comprehensive national and regional development plan focusing not only on environmental protection but also combining economic and social dimensions and ensuring synergies among the various existing policies and programs that contribute to its strategy and goals. UNCCD is seeking to hire a GGW Gender Consultant to support the implementation of the ESEGGWI Project in its efforts to contribute towards combatting desertification, land degradation, and drought while strengthening regional cooperation and ensuring security and prosperity in the region. The consultant will provide technical support to the team, which will consist of both UNCCD and GGWI staff, as well as relevant stakeholders in the region. Duties and Responsibilities: Under the direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer (PMO) of the Great Green Wall Accelerator of UNCCD’s Global Mechanism, the GGW Gender consultant will support gender mainstreaming of GGW activities, as described below: 1. Gender Analysis and Strategy Development: Conduct an intersectional gender analysis during the project’s inception phase, focusing on the Sahel context and GGW communities. Identify key gender-related challenges and opportunities within the project’s framework, particularly in agribusiness and resource mobilization. Develop a gender strategy and action plan to address identified risks, including SEAH, gender inequalities, and discriminatory practices. Provide input into the design and management of scale-up interventions to ensure gender-specific actions are integrated effectively. 2. Integration of Gender in Project Activities: Design gender-responsive initiatives for the scale-up projects, targeting young women and men in agribusiness value chains. Ensure that young women’s voices are central to decision-making processes across all project components. Collaborate with technical teams to integrate gender considerations into capacity-building programs, workshops, and training sessions. Contribute to the groundwork for the transboundary water resources strategy’s action plan, ensuring gender dimensions are addressed. 3. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting: Establish gender-sensitive indicators to measure the project’s impact on gender equality. Regularly monitor and evaluate the implementation of gender-specific actions, ensuring alignment with the project’s objectives. Support the development of an M&E plan during the inception phase to provide a concrete roadmap for incoming staff and consultants. Assist in refining the logical framework matrix based on data collected during the first year of the project. 4. Stakeholder Engagement: Facilitate partnerships with women’s organizations, youth groups, and other stakeholders to promote gender equality within the project. Collaborate with regional transboundary water management commissions (River Basin Organizations or RBOs) to establish a timeline and roadmap for the Sahel Land and Water Framework, ensuring gender considerations are integrated. Support the establishment of functional working relationships between regional bodies, national agencies, and national coalitions. 5. Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing: Provide training and mentorship to project staff and community stakeholders on gender mainstreaming and intersectionality. Document and share best practices and lessons learned in advancing gender equality within the GGW initiative. Support ongoing work in building partnerships and efforts towards mobilizing innovative finance for the GGW with gender-specific findings, including identifying and facilitating collaboration with relevant ongoing projects such as the GEF and GCF funded GGW Umbrella Projects. Update and maintain distribution lists; assembles documents, reports and other materials for dissemination, where possible using electronic formats; coordinates courier services. 6. Assist with publications and other information materials management. 7. Performs other duties as assigned. Qualifications/special skillsAdvanced degree (Master's or PhD) in a relevant field such as Gender Studies, Social Sciences, Sustainable Development Studies international management, political science, management, Disaster Risk Reduction or environmental science At least 7 years of professional experience in gender analysis, gender mainstreaming, risk management and program design, preferably in the Sahel region or similar contexts. Demonstrated expertise in project preparation, and programme support; Proven experience in conducting intersectional gender analyses and developing gender strategies for large-scale development projects. Proven experience in conducting risk management strategies and assessments for large-scale development projects. Expertise in working with youth and women’s empowerment programs, particularly in agribusiness value chains and rural communities. Strong analytical and writing skills; Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; LanguagesFluency in English and French is required. Additional InformationUNCCD does not provide health insurance to consultant and individual contractors. Incumbents selected for the consultancy are fully responsible for arranging, at their own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the period of their services as they consider appropriate. Proof of valid health insurance will be required before signing of the contract. All products resulting from this contractual arrangement are the exclusive property of the UNCCD. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.