Poverty, Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist Agriculture

PROGRAM BACKGROUND: 

AMENCA is an Australian aid program initiated in 2005 in the Palestinian Territories. This third phase runs from 2015 to 2021 and has a focus on supporting economic growth in the agricultural sector through market systems development (MSD). 

The program itself is implemented by three Australian non-government organisations (ANGOs) – CARE, Oxfam and APHEDA - and their Consortia. Cardno manages a pool of technical specialists providing advisory services to the ANGOs and to the Australian Representative Office (ARO) of the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) based in Ramallah, Palestinian Territories. 

POSITION BACKGROUND: 

One of the key components of AMENCA 3 and the hybrid MSD model is its ability to empower people; especially farmers and small-to-medium enterprises. Within this concept lies an explicitly strong commitment to youth, gender equality and women’s empowerment and an opportunity to alleviate poverty for marginalised groups who are at a disadvantage in the domestic, regional and global trade market due to attitudinal and structural barriers that impact on their ability to benefit from trade. Issues of inclusion must always be addressed if market systems are to function fairly and effectively. 

Adapting the MSD models to engage or target excluded groups requires an understanding of the specific characteristics of these groups, as well as the limitations to their inclusion in agricultural markets and the range of specific reasons underlying this. With this understanding ANGOs may then be in a position to develop targeted strategies for engagement that reflect each group’s unique circumstances and challenges. 

While gender, exclusion and poverty analysis and integration work is currently being carried out within the program, further on-the-ground support to ANGOs in their implementation is required. 

This is a senior role focussing on gender, social inclusion and poverty analysis in the agricultural sector in Palestinian Territories. In this role, the specialist will support the ANGOs to advance gender, poverty and social inclusion analysis, objectives and coordination of activities.  This support will include mentoring, capacity building, technical support and guidance. 

The specialist will be expected to work from home and use their own equipment and materials to perform the role.

It should be noted that while there are restricted movements in Palestinian Territories due to COVID-19, much of the duties of the role will be carried out at home using telecommunications, and field activities will be limited.

SPECIFIC DUTIES OF THE ROLE:

Under the direction of the Social Inclusion Adviser, and in close collaboration with the advisory team:

1. Provide gender, women’s economic empowerment, social inclusion and poverty analysis information and advice on AMENCA 3 program to the Social Inclusion Adviser and ARO, including:

1. Innovative improvements to the implementation of the AMENCA 3 Social Inclusion Strategy, Theory of Change and M&E Framework. This shall include recommendations pertaining to changing trends and patterns relating to the critical issues, barriers and solutions surrounding women’s economic empowerment, gender, social inclusion and poverty – particularly around how most appropriately to  address cultural / social resistance to change that may exist, and plan, integrate, implement and measure these within an MSD program.
2. Conduct monitoring visits to consortia activities to verify application and impact, and advise on opportunities to strengthen the program’s performance in the empowerment of women, the poor and excluded groups;
3. Participate in AMENCA 3 Annual High Level Dialogue and Technical and Program Advisory Group meetings, providing advice and presentations as required and identifying opportunities for synergy and collaboration; 
4. Retain strong and regular communications with the Social Inclusion Adviser and ARO, including timely raising of concerns and providing recommendations for improvements on ANGO and Consortia activities, interventions and capacity; and
5. Other requirements from the Social Inclusion Adviser and/or ARO upon request.

1. Support ANGOs / Consortia in the implementation of the Poverty, Gender and Exclusion tool and strategy:

1. Work with ANGOs and Consortia on applying the tool, suggest nuanced adaptations to the tool and strategy if necessary, suggest innovative ways to gather data, support comprehensive analysis of the results, and suggest practical ways in which interventions may be adapted and strengthened based on the findings of the analysis;
2. Review ANGO’s analysis to ensure it contains a nuanced understanding of the poverty, exclusion, market access, culture and gender dynamic operating in the Palestinian Territories, including security and access issues; 
3. Ensure all suggestions and advice is in line with MSD principles, the requirements of the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Framework and international good practice; and
4. Coordinate with the Social Inclusion Adviser to ensure the ANGOs are integrating into their activities adequate risk mitigation analysis and activities, especially related to ‘backlash’ and gender based violence.

1. In coordination with the Social Inclusion Adviser, provide other contextualised gender, poverty and social inclusion advice:

1. Discuss new activities to ensure gender, poverty and social inclusion recommended improvements are appropriately contextualised;
2. Support the capacity building of consortia through mentoring, technical advice and training (where relevant);
3. Identify technical assistance and research needs, and identify opportunities for cross-consortia and cross-ANGO collaboration; 
4. Support the development of sustainable intervention exit strategies; and
5. Support the advancement of gender, proverty and social inclusion objectives and strategy, including actively advancing the outcomes from the DFAT Management Response to the Program’s Mid Term Review.

1. Any other reasonable tasks as determined by the Social Inclusion Adviser, ARO and/or Cardno.

DELIVERABLES:

• Provide regular written updates to the Social Inclusion Adviser (dot point monthly report), provide quarterly work plans, and contribute to Cardno program reports.
• Provide feedback on written material upon request from the Social Inclusion Adviser, ARO, ANGOs and/or Cardno.
• Maintain strong and regular communications with Cardno, the Social Inclusion Adviser and the Program Adviser. Actively collaborate with the advisory team and ANGOs to positively progress the program.
• Work in close coordination and consultation with the Program Adviser; including acting in accordance with his direction on approaches and protocols.

جميع الحقوق محفوظة لموقع جوبس.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

Required

• Position is open to locally-based Palestinian citizens or permanent residents only;
• Masters degree in gender, social inclusion, development, poverty research or other relevant discipline; 
• 10 or more years experience in gender, women’s economic empowerment and/or social inclusion;
• 5 or more years experience in the Palestinian agricultural sector from different aspects, including poverty analysis;
• Demonstrated understanding of best practice in gender and social inclusion issues, and addressing poverty;
• Excellent understanding of the poverty, exclusion, market access, culture and gender dynamic operating in the Palestinian Territories, and the related security and access issues;
• Willingness to work collaboratively with stakeholders and the advisory team; and
• Excellent analytical skills, as well as interpersonal and written communication skills in both English and Arabic;

Desirable

• Experience with market systems development (as it relates to gender and social inclusion); 
• Experience working with organisations such as international NGOs; and
• Professional experience working with or on DFAT or other donor programs.

To apply for this position please submit your CV, a letter responding to the selection criteria (maximum 2 pages), and three referee contact details to: [email protected] with "Poverty, Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist (in Agriculture)" in the subject line.

Applications close midnight, Sunday 20 September 2020, Australian Eastern Daylight Time.