MPTF Gender Specialist

Organizational Setting

In April 2025, the Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) for the Sustainable Development of the Brazilian Legal Amazon approved the project UNJP/BRA/097/UNJ “Environmental Regularization Project through Land Governance and Territorial Planning, as a Pillar for Sustainable Development / Land for Women Project”. The intervention was conceived by the Colonization and Land Institute of Maranhão (ITERMA) and will have the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as the implementation agency. 
The \"Land for Women\" project aims to promote land and environmental regularization in settlement areas and rural communities in Maranhão with a priority focus on women heads of household. Seeking to reduce social inequalities, expand territorial governance and promote sustainable agricultural practices, the intervention will combine land titling actions, training in sustainable practices and entrepreneurship, access to credit and environmental monitoring, with a view to guaranteeing land security, promoting access to public policies and strengthening economic autonomy. 
The project is organized into three components/project outcomes, namely:
•    Formalization of women's land in rural and traditional communities.
•    Training in bioeconomy practices, sustainable management and female entrepreneurship.
•    Technical capacity of the governments of Maranhão and Pará for land monitoring and environmental enforcement strengthened.

Reporting Lines

The Gender Specialist works under the general supervision of the Assistant to the Representative / Programme of FAO in Brazil and under the technical guidance of the Better Life Technical Area Coordinator of FAO in Brazil and of the Project Coordinator

Technical Focus

The MPTF Gender Specialist will play a pivotal role in providing high-level strategic and technical guidance to project implementation. The specialist will analyze the socio-economic environment of the target territories, design and monitor gender-informed interventions that promote women’s economic empowerment, in alignment with FAO’s and the donor’s specific gender policies. Key responsibilities include providing technical advisory support, developing capacity-building initiatives, enhancing partnerships with stakeholders, and advocating for gender equality. The specialist will also ensure gender mainstreaming across all project activities, support project monitoring, and contribute to create an enabling environment for women entrepreneurs. This role requires a strong commitment to gender equality, land tenure and governance, and inclusion.

Tasks and Responsibilities

•    Review and improve the project's Gender Plan, during the project life cycle, including mechanisms for gender-focused monitoring and evaluation, and reporting. Additionally, identify gaps and opportunities to strengthen gender mainstreaming.
•    Assist the MPTF Project Coordinator with the planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and closure of the project. 
•    Support and provide technical guidance for the mapping/identification of beneficiary communities defined by ITERMA and FAO, ensuring the inclusion of gender variables.
•    Conduct a gender gap assessment in the project intervention areas and propose strategies to address identified inequalities.
•    Review, propose, and adapt participatory methodologies for workshops, meetings, and community activities, guaranteeing a safe and effective participation of women.
•    Propose and facilitate capacity-building activities for technical teams, project beneficiaries, and institutional partners, using accessible tools and mechanisms.
•    Provide ongoing technical support to integrate the gender perspective into training and communication materials, technical documents, platforms, and reports.
•    Participate in planning, monitoring, and evaluation meetings of the project, contributing with technical analyses and recommendations.
•    Liaise with project stakeholders jointly with the project coordinator in order to advance the project implementation strategy.
•    Prepare technical reports, analytical notes, and systematizations to support decision-making by project coordination and partner institutions.
•    Support and carry out field missions to target territories in accordance with the project workplan. 

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING: 

Minimum Requirements  

•    Postgraduate degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Gender Studies, Social Sciences, Rural Development, Agrarian Studies, Human Rights or related fields.
•    Minimum professional experience of five (5) years in the integration of gender perspectives in rural development, land governance or public policy projects in Brazil, working with rural communities and/or traditional peoples and communities.
•    Working knowledge (level C) of Spanish and/or English.and working knowledge of Portuguese (level C) 
•    Brazilian nationality.

FAO Core Competencies 

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Experience in the development and application of gender-sensitive approaches, tools and indicators in field projects in the areas of land access, bioeconomy, environmental governance or territorial development.
•    Previous work experience in the State of Maranhão, with knowledge of socio-territorial dynamics, rural populations and local challenges related to gender equality.
•    Previous work experience with rural women economic empowerment 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION