Review and Update of National Draft Gender Policy in Dominica - EnGenDER

Through the funding support provided by Global Affairs Canada and the UK Government, the Enabling Gender-Responsive Disaster Recovery, Climate and Environmental Resilience in the Caribbean (EnGenDER) Project seeks to further integrate gender equality and human-rights based approaches into disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change (CC) adaptation and mitigation, environmental management frameworks and interventions. EnGenDER will also identify and address some of the gaps to ensure equal access to DRR and climate change and environmental solutions for both men, women, boys, and girls in nine Caribbean countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname). In this regard, the EnGenDER project is providing support to the Government of Dominica, through its Bureau of Gender Affairs in the review and updating of the country’s National Draft Gender Policy.

The National Policy and Action Plan for Gender Equity and Equality was first formulated in 2006 by the Government of Dominica. Following the need to make the National Policy more action oriented as well as to support its review and updating, the Government undertook to develop the country’s second Gender Policy and Action Plan. Now in its final draft stage, the Bureau of Gender is seeking to undertake a final review and update of the Policy to identify additional gaps and data requirements to support the revision and update process as well as to strategically integrate climate resilience within the country’s national Gender Policy. Support for this action, is closely aligned to the Enhanced Lima Work Programme on Gender and the Gender Action Plan.

Under Output 1112 “Gender responsive and inclusive NAP and NAMA priority interventions implemented in target sectors in collaboration with state and non-state actors”, EnGenDER (Activity 1112.1) is implementing the “Working Towards a Gender Responsive Climate Resilient Dominica Project”. This sub-project will further contribute to the pursuit of gender responsive climate change resiliency through data collection, capacity building, implementation of diverse climate adaptation actions based on national adaptive gaps ad needs. Additionally, it will undertake these efforts looking at these issues through a gender lens.

This sub-project is in alignment with Dominica’s national priorities and was selected from among the concept notes included with the country’s Sectoral Adaptation Strategies and Action Plans (SASAPs) through a multi-criteria assessment of the NAP concept notes

The objectives of the Working Towards a Gender Responsive Climate Resilient Dominica Project are as follows:

Increase capacity specific to gender responsive data collection and the strengthening of national gender -based violence registry.
Support and implement Value Chain Strategies to enhance livelihoods and prompt sustainability.
Support the review and update of the National Gender Policy.
Strengthen Disaster Risk Management Planning.

The technical support being provided, in the review and updating of the National Draft Gender Policy, is directly related to objective 3 under the Working Towards a Gender Responsive Climate Resilient Dominica Project

Duties and Responsibilities

1.1Review and Analysis of the Draft Gender Policy

Review the draft policy to identify gaps and missing data per changes in the current national context since the policy was drafted. Special attention should be given to but not limited to specific areas including:
Dominica’s Situational Analysis,
Policy Target areas:
Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction,
Agriculture and Food Security,
Climate Change, Natural Disasters and Natural Resource Management,
Education and Human Resource Development (update statistics),
Labour and Employment (update statistics),
Health and Well-being,
Gender Based Violence and Crime,
Family, Socialisation and Culture.

The review should be undertaken using the following national policy instruments:
Dominica’s Climate Resilience and Recovery Plan 2020-2030
Dominica’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) Gender Mainstreaming Roadmap
Dominica’s Gender Baseline Climate Resilience Analysis (GBCRA)
Dominica’s Gender Responsive Budgeted (GRB) Sectoral Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan (SASAPs).

Evaluate the policy targets within the context of national development priorities and plans and assess whether these targets are clear, practical, and feasible. Determine or identify areas within the policy that require policy changes including information gaps related to the areas highlighted above and specifically to Dominica’s movement to achieve climate resilience. Analyse any relevant information which will include but may not be limited to data analysis, literature review and best practice.
Review the relevance of the draft policy tools and strategies and assess whether it provides the most effective route towards expected/intended results. The analysis can be based on relevance, design and delivery, effectiveness, and efficiency etc. using a comprehensive criterion. The table below is a simple guide and does not limit the analysis conducted to the questions listed below.

QUESTIONS

RELEVANCE

How is the policy contributing to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion within the context of climate resilience?
Were the vulnerable population groups appropriately identified?
Is the policy equally relevant to different population groups?
Does the policy align with or contribute to the achievement of government-wide priorities on gender equality and climate resilience?
Does it align with or duplicate the objectives of other policies, programs or services?
Are there lessons learned from comparable policies that could be applied?

DESIGN AND DELIVERY

Does the policy or program create or perpetuate barriers for certain vulnerable population groups?
How could the policy be improved to foster inclusion of vulnerable population groups?
Are there particular vulnerable population groups that are not being reached with this policy?
Is there evidence that the policy will expand women's access to opportunities?
To what extent is the policy promoting positive changes in gender?

EFFECTIVENESS

To what extent, and in what ways, are the expected outcomes to impact different vulnerable population groups?
Are results related to equality and diversity likely to be sustained?

EFFICIENCY

To what extent are effective and efficient means being used to ensure that vulnerable population groups are included when implementing this policy?
What are the costs of the policy, for each vulnerable population group?
How is the policy contributing to the progress on international and regional commitments on gender equality?

Competencies

Sound understanding of national and local development planning processes in the Caribbean.
Previous work experience in a UN organisation is desirable.
Previous work in any of the beneficiary countries and in a similar project is highly desirable.

Ability to transfer analytical results into simple and actionable solutions (based on job experience/field work). Excellent conceptual, analytical, writing and communication skills

Required Skills and Experience

Master’s in Development Studies, Socio-economic and Gender Studies, Governance, Public Administration and Policy, Sustainable Livelihoods, Sustainable Development or a related field.

At minimum, 5 years’ experience in developing, reviewing and assessing gender and socio-economic policies.

At least 3 years of experience in policy analysis in relevant areas such as gender responsive policy analysis and inter-sectoral approaches; strategic planning and gender equality advocacy to national and other partners, strengthening institutional capacities