Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Uganda is seeking to fill the position of Gender Advisor – Rooted in Diversity (RiD): Partnership for food security and Livelihoods project at the Country Secretariat Office in Kampala – Uganda.
As part of a strong Regional Network of over 220 civil Society organizations spread out in 12 countries in East, Central and Southern Africa PELUM Uganda works to improve the livelihoods of small holder farmers and the sustainability of farming communities by fostering ecological land use management. Since 1995, PELUM Uganda has been sharing skills and knowledge about ecological Land use practices and techniques working with a broad network of likeminded organizations; undertaking research and demonstration projects and advocating for policies that better support small holder farmers with a vision of empowering communities in Uganda to sustainably utilize their natural resources.
About the RiD Project.
RiD is a 5-year project formed by a consortium of farmer associations, Civil Society Organisations and Agricultural Research Organizations across 3 Country Implementing partners of Uganda, Malawi and Niger with funding from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), Department of Climate Change and Environment; Section for food.
The project is intended to enhance local knowledge, skills and capacities of small-scale food producers to improve food production and consumption in highly variable and poorly predictable agroecologies premised on the understanding that agrobiodiversity is the best way to promote food and nutrition security and adapt to the unpredictable weather conditions. The project will also work towards positively impacting systemic change towards appreciation of the roles of small-scale food producers and their organisations in combating food insecurity in the context of climate change by challenging power structures and relationships that underlie policies and practices around seed and food systems through sharing proven methodologies, previous experiences and linkages, documentation of learning processes and successful approaches for policy advice towards agrobiodiversity, seed and farmer’s rights.
The project focus and impact areas include; Local biodiversity management intended to build research agendas and capacities on participatory plant breeding while improving food storage and stimulating demand for marketing, Local value chains of agrobiodiverse products through dissemination of high quality seed of locally adapted varieties and support local value chains for agrobiodiverse products for stronger market linkages and access for farmer organisations; Innovative Farmer-researcher partnerships to build new ways of farmer-researcher collaboration for increased seed and food systems research and Collaborative environment for policy change to influence policy reforms through evidence based advocacy.
The project will be implemented in arid and semi-arid zones across Niger (Maradi, Dosso and Tillaberi regions), Malawi (Dowa and Nkhotakota districts) and Uganda (Pader, Gulu, Serere, Katakwi, Lamwo and Amuria districts) due the similar agroecosystems and crops, vulnerability to climate shocks largely increased by reliance on subsistence agriculture. Suitable Candidates who possess the credentials below are therefore encouraged to apply.
Job Title: Gender Advisor – Rooted in Diversity (RiD): Partnership for food security and Livelihoods project
Reports to: Programme Manager – Agroecology & Sustainable Natural Resources Management (ASNRM)
Responsible for: None
Other key relationships:
Support: Head of Programmes – PELUM Uganda, MEAL officer, Project Management Unit, Project Outcome Delivery Groups (ODGs), Country implementing Teams (CITs), Project partners, Collaborating National Agriculture Research Institutes (NARIs), Project beneficiaries and other stakeholders for RiD project.
External relations: Members, Civil Society/ Private Sector, Development Partners and Government
Job Purpose
To provide technical and strategic support to RiD project teams, partner organisations and stakeholders in the design and delivery of actions and commitments for integrating gender and inclusion aspects in project implementation, monitoring, accountability and reporting at all levels for the project.
Job Summary
The job holder will be responsible for developing and delivering the RiD Project Gender Equality Strategy, through policy, programmes, reporting and capacity building of core function teams. The job holder will also
provide thought leadership and oversight in developing and implementing policies, practice and programming on gender and equitable approaches to project implementation.
Main Tasks and Responsibilities
1.0 Leadership on gender equality
1.1 Lead in the implementation and monitoring of the Gender Equality Strategy.
1.2 Provide technical support to teams in the implementation of the strategy across the project, including developing implementation and tracking/measuring tools and leading the internal communications around it.
1.3 Lead in identifying where knowledge gaps exist, and work with the project communications team and relevant partners to find innovative ways to learn and adapt the project work to a mutually acceptable gender perspective across board, creating linkages across the multiple project implementation areas.
1.4 Influence and inform project decision-making through a gender lens, using formal and informal engagements with leadership teams across the project CITs, PMU and partners.
1.5 Actively support and advise on internal efforts and initiatives on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
1.6 Facilitate and establish strategic linkages with other initiatives nationally, regionally and globally that can enhance effective delivery of gender outcomes in project implementation and beyond.
2.0 Capacity Building on Gender programming and inclusion
2.1 Develop programmatic approaches, tools and learning materials in relation to the project gender requirements and team-specific gender strategic priorities.
2.2 Provide technical and thought leadership on the project gender equality strategies and policies
2.3 Execute capacity building interventions to strengthen team and partners’ technical capacities for meaningfully integrating gender across research, policy and advocacy, communications and project implementation activities.
2.4 Embed learnings from project implementation work and research into future policies, programming priorities and approaches.
3.0 Gender Monitoring, evaluation and timely reporting
3.1 Support the PMU, CITs and partners to gather, consolidate, and to submit required gender related project data in line with established donor requirements.
3.2 Work with the MEAL officer to ensure data quality control and assurance by reviewing Country Implementing Teams reports and ensuring their compliance with contractual requirements. Ensure that reports submitted to the Consortium Steering Group (SG) and PMU are of good quality and reflect the gendered project goals and objectives.
3.3 Collaboratively work with Country Implementing Teams and Thematic Working Groups to capture best practices and learning experiences ensuring that learnings are documented, shared, and utilized in line with donor data usage and reporting requirements.
4.0 Support to the Project Management.
4.1 Provide strategic support to the project Steering Group and PMU by collaboratively working with the Project Manager, Unit teams, project partners and other stakeholders to ensure that the project gender aspirations are achieved and effectively reported.
4.2 Participate in networking events and other relevant fora, making use of all presented opportunities to identify funding opportunities and support project resource mobilisation.
4.3 Perform any other duties as required by your supervisor that are within the scope of the project.
5.0 General Duties
• Attend regular PMU meetings and provide feedback especially from other meetings and other key issues and events that impact on the work of the project.
• Actively participate in planning, budgeting, M&E and reporting on PELUM Uganda activities.
• Represent the project and PELUM Uganda in other strategic partner events
• Advising staff, board, PELUM members on any Gender related issues.
• Support resource mobilisation activities for the institution.
In addition to individual respective tasks, all PELUM employees are expected:
• To adhere to our organizational values and to actively promote their application amongst colleagues.
• To undertake tasks in a creative, self-driven and innovative fashion.
• Participate in relevant organisational, meetings and fora.
• Participate in raising resources for building PELUM’s reserves.
• Ensure that all activities are implemented in a gender sensitive manner.
• Adhere to PELUM’s policies, procedures, and performance expectations in all functions.
• To identify and implement additional tasks/ ideas of benefit to the organization (whether directly linked to one’s job or not).
The attainment of the above will be reflected in the employee’s appraisal, as well as the achievement of outputs, as described in above key responsibilities.
Person specifications
Education
Bachelor’s in social sciences, Development Studies, Community Development or a related field of study with a Post graduate qualification/training in Gender studies preferably at Master’s level.
Industry experience
5 years’ Minimum experience working with gender inclusion programming and strategy development and implementation in agriculture sector.
Extensive experience of providing practical advice with expertise in developing gender-transformative programmes related to agriculture and food security.
Technical skills
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills in English. Working knowledge of the French language is an added advantage
• Experience in training, mentoring, peer support and/or other capacity-strengthening techniques
• Ability to ensure that research is designed and produced/packaged in the most efficient way to influence policy and practitioner audiences.
• Knowledge of policy-making processes and of interacting with government policymakers.
• Good organizational and planning skills.
Personal qualities
Having the respect and value for equality and diversity, and understanding how this applies to own area of work Paying attention to details with critical reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
Ability to work under pressure in a complex organization, proactive.
Ability to work in a non-partisan and impartial manner and to appreciate gender, cultural and ethnic diversity
Communication and interpersonal relationship
Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently and to articulate and relay information professionally and respectfully.
Applications Procedure:
If you believe you have the requisite qualifications for the position, please tender in your application cover letter highlighting your suitability for the position, CV, Copies of relevant certificates, testimonials, National ID and contacts of 3 referees addressed to:
The Country Coordinator
PELUM Uganda,
Plot 37/37A Martyrs Way Ntinda
P.O Box, 35804, Kampala.
Applications should also be sent via email to [email protected] and copied to [email protected] . The Deadline for submission is 12th July 2024 at 05:00pm EAT.
Please Note: Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.
PELUM Uganda is an equal opportunities employer, all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply irrespective of gender, race, religious affiliation, ethnic background or physical abilities.
