Gender and Agriculture Expert

Location:occupied Palestinian territory
Type of Contract:SSA
Languages Required:Arabic,English
Starting Date:May 1, 2011
Duration of Contract:1 May 2011 - 31 December 2011
 

The Joint Programme (JP) on Culture and Development in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) aims to promote Palestinian cultural diversity as a means to foster social cohesion and economic growth.  The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN WOMEN), and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will work jointly in the oPt with relevant ministries of the PA, in particular the Ministry of Planning and Development (MoPAD), the Ministry of Culture (MoC), the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA), the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and the  Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA), as well as the Ministry of Local Government (MoLG), Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) – local authorities, community based organizations, universities and research institutes, private sector and civil society at large.

The Programme activities have been structured in order to achieve two integrated outcomes:

1)Institutional development: policies and practices for safeguarding cultural heritage are established as a contribution to the updating of the national development plans and implemented in the selected areas; and,
2)Socio-economic development: the potential of cultural and eco-tourism as well as of creative industries for inclusive economic growth and social cohesion is identified and enhanced.

In consideration of the above, and in order to support MoA’s endeavors to bring gender dimensions into its policies, strategies, plans and programmes, UN WOMEN, in close cooperation with MoA, will select a (local) expert in gender and agriculture. More specifically, the expert, within his/her Terms of Reference, will be responsible for providing the MoA with sound support in developing women’s entrepreneurial capacities linked to the cultural tourism industries as a means to access domestic and world markets. In addition, he/she will support MoA’s Gender Unit in monitoring progress at output and outcome level of how marketing interventions of local agro-biodiversity products contribute to gender equality and women’s empowerment. Lastly, he/she will support MoA’s Gender Unit and ministry staff related to planning in coordination with UN WOMEN’s MDG Culture Program Gender Expert.
The gender and agriculture expert will be responsible for:

Capacity development and technical advice:
-Ensure gender responsive design and implementation in all agriculture related activities under the JP on Culture and Development in close coordination with MoA and FAO;
-Provide MoA’s with sound support in developing  women’s entrepreneurial capacities linked to the cultural tourism industries as a means to access domestic and world markets;
-Support MoA’s Rural Development Unit in monitoring progress at output and outcome level of how marketing interventions of local agro-biodiversity products contribute to gender equality and women’s empowerment;
-Guide MoA in the roll out of the National Agriculture Sector Strategy (SVAS) to ensure that the related actions and programmes address the main concerns related to gender and agriculture in the oPt and mainstream gender to the best extent possible;
-Implement recommendations identified regarding key challenges and entry points for integrating gender equality dimensions  into the agriculture sector action plan and associated programmes;
-Liaise and closely work with MoWA National Development Plan team in order to secure that the National Gender Equality Strategy 2011- 2013 and the recommendations to integrate gender dimensions into the agriculture and rural development sector are incorporated in the proposed intended measures; and
-Work, specifically, in the framework and for the achievement of outcome one of the MDG – Culture and Development Programme related to socio-economic development.

Knowledge sharing:
-Document how marketing interventions of local agro-biodiversity products contribute to gender equality and women’s empowerment;
-Ensure gender equality has been mainstreamed within MoA strategy, action plan and associated programmes in the context of the Programme; and
-Contribute to developing women’s entrepreneurial capacities linked to the cultural tourism industries as a means to access domestic and world markets. Support MoA Gender Unit in monitoring and evaluation the SVASD roll out from a gender perspective.

Coordinating/ networking:
-Work in coordination with the MDG-F Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Programme to ensure synergy in approaches, especially in support to line ministries;
-Work in close coordination and partnership with MoWA’s Gender Unit; and
-Facilitate the process of MoA engagement with key partners and stakeholders in gender-based and women’s empowerment programming within the context of the Programme.

Requirements:
-Advanced university degree in agriculture and/or development studies.
-Advanced university degree in gender studies or related field.
-Thorough, proven understanding of gender issues.
-A minimum of 3 years of working experience in the field of women’s empowerment and gender equality.
-Demonstrated leadership, communication, facilitation and networking skills.
-Ability to work under tight deadlines.
-Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
-Excellent communication and writing skills in both English and Arabic.

Interested candidates meeting the requirements can send their CV to the UN WOMEN Office in Jerusalem or by e-mail: [email protected] or by fax # 026280661, indicating the post title and no later than 10 April 2011.