Gender Specialist

KEY INFORMATION
Job Title: Gender Specialist
Position Type: Part-time
Duration/Level of Effort: Long term
Position Location: Yangon, Myanmar
SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT
Field Support Services Project (FSSP) is a five-year project (March 2021–March 2026) funded by the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and managed by Cowater International. FSSP provides administrative, financial, procurement, and logistical services as well as support to the in-country development programming for the Government of Canada through the provision of technical and assisting GAC in procuring and managing local development initiatives in Myanmar.
Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) seeks to eradicate poverty and build a more peaceful, more inclusive, and more prosperous world. Canada firmly believes that promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls is the most effective approach to achieving this goal. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls (SDG 5) is central to all its international assistance efforts because it will drive progress toward achieving the other SDGs.
In line with FIAP, Canada works in Myanmar with women’s rights organizations to increase women’s and girls’ voices and leadership in democratic and economic processes, strengthen their control over and access to productive resources, as well as advance and protect their rights, notably their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
Currently, Canada supports both technical and financial resources to promote gender equality and women empowerment through many projects, including: Women Voice and Leadership, a project on women’s empowerment in Rakhine State and an SGBV initiative.
SUMMARY OF THE POSITION
Global Affairs Canada (GAC) requires the services of a Gender Specialist to provide technical assistance, analytical, and monitoring services about gender equality to GAC programs.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Working under the direction of GAC’s Sector Team Lead and in close coordination with the GAC HQ specialists, the expected services of the Gender Specialist will include, but not be limited to:
1. Provide advice and support to GAC management, programs and projects aiming to ensure effective management of the GAC program and gender specific portfolio prioritizing the quality control of entire programming cycle from formulation to implementation including close monitoring achieving the following results:

• Compilation, analysis and interpretation of gender and gender-based violence/family sexual violence issues and statistical data, thorough research and preparation of qualified analysis and reports;
• Provision of gender analysis and substantive inputs to GAC and other strategic documents including but not limited to workplans, annual and semi-annual reports, proposals and concept notes, and project implementation plans;
• Production and launch of gender reports;
• Effective implementation of Results Based Management tools, establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of results;
• Design and formulation of GAC program within the area of responsibility, translating GAC priorities into national interventions. Coordinate program implementation with the executing agencies;
• Effective monitoring in measuring the impact of GAC program and evaluation. Constant monitoring and analysis of the program’s environment from gender perspective, carry out timely readjustment of program in collaboration with the dedicated officer and the program team; and
• Provide regular monthly reports on activities, outputs and outcomes; and contribution to national, regional, and inter-agency initiatives related to gender issues.
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2. Provide policy advice as well as facilitate knowledge building and management by aiming on achieving the following results:

• Facilitate the development of knowledge and the mainstreaming of gender within GAC programs and projects as well as participate actively in corporate GAC knowledge creation;
• Provide policy options and high-quality advisory inputs to GAC programs and projects, ensuring the latter are responsive to national policies, priorities and strategic plans as well as GAC's advanced corporate goals;
• Contribute actively to knowledge networks and communities (formal and informal) through the identification of best practices and lessons learned to develop and deepen innovative approaches to gender integration, gender equality, and inclusive development;
• Conduct assessments of the country's gender policies and their impact on poverty reduction, growth, equity, democracy, federalism etc.; and
• Provide training and capacity-development support on gender issues to GAC staff, and partner organization where necessary.

3. Ensure the creation of strategic partnerships and provide support in mobilizing resources aiming to achieve the following results:

• Development of partnerships with bilateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society based on strategic goals of GAC, country needs and donors' priorities;
• Perform analysis and research on donors, prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation;
• Undertaking of selected gender studies/research on emerging development concerns that feed into government/development partners processes, advocacy and promotion of awareness of GAC’s mandate and mission focusing on achievement;
• Public and policy advocacy for GAC gender policies, the SDGs, pro-poor and equitable economic growth, democracy, federalism by participating in relevant forums, conferences and trainings;
• Support in monitoring progress and in the formulation of strategies operating towards the achievement of the SDGs;
• Represent GAC in different working groups, interagency working groups, seminars, or workshops as required upon the request by the program with reports/meeting minutes; and
• Organize or contribute in meetings and networking events related to gender issues with reports/meeting minutes.  

4. Program/project monitoring support. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Provide technical assistance and support in areas such as designing and conducting gender analyses and assessments, and developing toolkits, resource guides, and other technical resources;
• Design and conduct gender analysis and gender assessments; as well as provide recommendation for program/project adjustment;
• In collaboration with implementing partners, ensure gender mainstreaming and rights integration checklists are translated into actions in all programs at both national and regional level;
• In collaboration with implementing partners, design and facilitate gender related meetings, trainings, and workshops, using utilization-focused, appreciative, participatory methodologies and approaches;
• Participate in monitoring visits of GAC as required and contributing to field visit reports from gender perspective; and
• Prepare gender checklist for GAC monitoring visits.

5. Providing general support for the operation of GAC’s field office activities in Myanmar. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Database support and data collection; and
• Documents review and editorial support.

6. Providing oral and written briefings on any of the above services through ad-hoc and regular meetings/conference calls with GAC’s Myanmar Program sector lead, GAC HQ specialists, and team.
7. Any other relevant tasks as assigned by the GAC.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Education:

• The Graduate degree (Masters degree required, PhD or equivalent would be an asset) in Gender/Women’s Studies, Gender and Development, Statistics, Political/Social Science, International Development Studies, or relevant discipline.

 
Minimum Experience:

• Minimum 8 years of professional experience as senior specialist or in senior program management positions in gender targeted programming, gender mainstreaming, and women’s empowerment in Myanmar;
• Proven experience in conducting gender impact analysis, capacity and vulnerability analysis, gender analysis, development of strategies for both gender mainstreaming as well as targeted gender initiatives, development and execution of needs assessment; and
• Substantial experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of gender projects and ensuring gender issues are mainstreamed through all programs.

 
Essential Skills:

• Strong understanding of gender equality concepts and demonstrated experience in applying gender-based analytical tools and conceptual frameworks to programming;
• Demonstrated strong understanding of gender equality and women’s empowerment issues;
• Demonstrated ability (through previous similar assignments) to analyse, compile and synthesize information in coherent and succinct formats;
• Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects;
• A drive for results, including a proven track record of high standards/accountability for work products, meeting deadlines, an ability to prioritize tasks within his/her work program and strategies for working collectively with others on the team to deliver products of the highest caliber;
• Strong interpersonal, cross-cultural and communication skills;
• Commitment to team work and ability to build constructive and effective relationships.
• Client oriented; and
• Demonstrated ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and a professional commitment to promote a culture of gender equality and social inclusion.

 
Language Proficiency: Professional level fluency in English is required as most of the reporting will be in English.
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
Working Arrangements:

• The Consultant will work from his/her home base or consulting company/firm office with virtual meetings/interviews with GAC colleagues and external experts. The Consultant is expected to rely on his/her expertise, conduct an extensive literature review, and perform triangulation by interviewing experts. The drafts produced by the Consultant will be peer reviewed by experts, the result of which should be incorporated by the Consultant. The consultant / consulting company/firm may need to travel within Myanmar and between Myanmar and neighbouring countries.
• The Consultant will report to GAC’s Sector Team Lead. Payment is conditional upon satisfactory delivery of the assignments. In the event that travel to other regions or cities is necessary, all necessary costs will be borne by GAC, through the field Support Services Project (FSSP).

Ownership of Intellectual Property:

• Documentation produced by the Specialist in the performance of the work under the contract shall remain the property of the Embassy of Canada to Myanmar.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested individual consultant/consulting company/firm must include the following documents when submitting the applications to recruitment@fssp-myanmar.org latest by 25 February 2024.
 

1. CV indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
2. Brief statement as to why the individual / consulting company/firm considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment.
3. Financial Proposal shall be submitted in the following format:
   • The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily rate for up to 90 working days;
   • The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee and when applicable any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract, not including travel expenses.

 
Qualified women, people with disabilities, people from diverse backgrounds, are strongly encouraged to apply.
We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.
Evaluation of Applications:
The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (70% - Comprising of 15% technical qualifications desk review, 25% written test, and 30% scores of interviews) and financial score (30%). The proposals that achieve a minimum of 70% in the technical desk review shall be further considered for interviews and written tests. The Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received for the assignment.
Technical Score (70%)
Financial Score (30%)
1. Technical qualifications desk review (based on the criteria and
points listed below) (15%)
2. Written test (25%)
3. Interview (30%)
a)                 Technical Desk Review
The technical desk review will be based on the following:
Criteria Points
1. Academic qualifications of the Consultant- 10 points
2. Minimum 8 years of professional experience at a senior level in one or more of the following areas in Myanmar: gender equality programming, gender mainstreaming, women’s empowerment in Myanmar. - 30 points
3. Strong understanding of designing projects and strategies that target and integrate gender equality. - 20 points
4. Strong knowledge of current gender equality issues and actors in Myanmar. -35 points
5. Consultant’s knowledge of other areas relevant to the assignment. -5 points
Total points- 100 points
NB: Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points (70% of the desk technical review) will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
ABOUT US
Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements, and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since 2017.
We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow.