Organization: Aga Khan Foundation (AKF)
Duty Station: Arua, Uganda
Reports to: Program Coordinator, Strengthening Educational
Systems in East Africa (SESEA)
Aga
Khan Foundation (AKF) is a private, non-denominational, development agency
promoting creative solutions to problems that impede social development. AKF
(East Africa) seeks sustainable solutions to long-term problems of poverty,
hunger, literacy and health, with a special emphasis on the needs of rural
communities in coastal and other resource-poor areas. AKF (EA) works in five
sectors including Health, Education, Early Childhood Development, Rural
Development and Civil Society enhancement. Over the last several years, AKF
(EA)’s programs have evolved and expanded in response to government policies,
beneficiary demand and assessment of needs. In order to optimize AKF (EA)’s
efficiency and effectiveness as a development actor in the region, it seeks to
support and improve innovations that create viable solutions to community
problems that impede development.
SESEA
is a five-year project co-funded by Global Affairs Canada and the Aga Khan
Foundation, Canada that aims to sustainably improve learning outcomes, with a
particular focus on literacy and numeracy, for pre-primary and primary children
in target areas of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The project aims to leverage
assets of Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) institutions to achieve broad,
systematic, and distinctive impact on the quality of teaching in the region in
both public and private education systems. Specifically, the project builds on
the experience and gains made by various AKDN institutions working in the
education sector in East Africa, including Aga Khan University-Institute for
Educational Development, Aga Khan Academies, Aga Khan Education Services, and
Aga Khan Foundation.
Job Summary: The Gender Support Officer will be the lead person
responsible for gender within the SESEA educational project. The incumbent will
offer technical support to explicitly and systematically integrate gender equality
considerations (activities, outputs, and results) at all stages of the project,
including budgetary provisions where possible. The GSO will ensure effective
implementation of the SESEA Gender Equality Strategy by AKDN SESEA implementing
agencies and partners. The GSO will be responsible for providing targeted
expertise to ensure gender is integrated into all aspects of SESEA project
implementation. The GSO will also strengthen the capacity of AKDN implementing
agencies, to address gender barriers and identify specific opportunities for
improving and mainstreaming gender equality through project activities. The GSO
will work with SESEA project teams and partners to support gender integration
into project activities, including monitoring and evaluation tools.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Coordinating gender
mainstreaming:
- Set priorities, and develop and implement a
clear and comprehensive gender action plan to redress gender concerns
within respective SESEA implementing agencies. - Provide input and comments on development of
project/program plans, budgets, reports and agency policies, and make
recommendations for improvement. - Regularly review, edit, and comment on gender
achievements contained in the agency monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and
annual progress reports as appropriate.
2. Offering technical
support to the project team:
- Provide technical support to project staff,
managers, and partners on the SESEA Gender Equality Strategy and
implementation of key gender components across all activities - Keenly analyze and ensure interventions are
sensitive and responsive to gender issues in education, within respective
project locations. - Offer technical support the updating and
sharing of recent developments and knowledge tools in the areas of interventions. - Actively participate in program team
meetings, campaigns, and civil society forums and ensure gender topics are
considered and discussed.
3. Knowledge Management
and Sharing:
- Render support in the data collection,
compiling lessons learned, and establishing indicators to support
knowledge sharing. - Render support in the development of concept
notes and project documents on gender issues, as directed by the
supervisor. - Take part in the gender-related community of
practice in the region. - Support the writing of stories related to
program and project developments, as they relate to gender equality
issues. - Provide support to different partners/civil
society organizations in all SESEA project activities.
4. Monitor and report on
gender issues:
- Work closely with teams to review training
resources, and monitor and report on project-related gender issues. - Guide development and/or review of M&E
tools – specifically the verification, indicators, and analyses matrix to
monitor implementation of gender mainstreaming. - Provide feedback to the project team to
ensure practical implementation of activities related to the SESEA Gender
Integration Guidelines and Gender Equality Strategy. - Prepare timely and quality monthly,
quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports to share with the Program
Manager and SESEA Program Coordinator at the Project Coordinating Unit
(PCU) PCU. - Perform any additional duties assigned by the
Program Manager or Program Coordinator, as required.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The ideal candidate for the Gender Support Officers should hold a Bachelor’s
degree in a relevant discipline, particularly gender studies, education,
or the social sciences. - Additional training in project planning,
management, and Monitoring and Evaluation is an added asset. - At least three years’ of relevant experience
in gender mainstreaming into projects/programs. - Prior exposure and experience working with
NGOs, government agencies, and donor-funded projects. - Previous experience in conducting gender
reviews, gender integration, and implementing gender equality activities
in international development projects, particularly in the education
sector. - Broad working knowledge of and in experience
of results-based monitoring and evaluation, with particular attention to
assessing gender equality results. - Excellent analytical, organizational,
interpersonal, negotiation, and problem-solving skills. - Proven ability to meet strict reporting
deadlines and produce results. - Excellent written and oral communication
skills in English. - Demonstrated ability to multi-task, work
independently, take initiative, and manage a variety of activities
simultaneously. - Flexible, innovative, and dynamic team player
with strong facilitation and coordination skills. - Prior exposure and experience in the East
African development context is an asset. - Previous experience with Global Affairs,
Canada and other bilateral donors is an asset. - Willingness to travel to project locations
within the respective project implementation sites. - Language proficiency in Swahili (Kenya and
Tanzania) and one local language in West Nile Region (Uganda) is strongly
recommended.
All
suitably qualified and interested candidates should send their applications
with updated CVs including desired project location, cover letter explaining
why they are best suited for the position and names and contact information of
three referees to the Human Resource Officer, Aga Khan Foundation (East Africa)
by e-mail to: recruitment@akfea.org.
Deadline: 7th February 2016
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