Sustainable Livelihoods, Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist

SNV
Location: Nepal
Salary:As Per Organization's Rule
Posted Date: 2019-03-27 Deadline: 2019-04-14
  • Location : Nepal
  • Qualification Degree : Masters degree in related field
  • Salary : As Per Organization's Rule
  • Category : NGO / INGO / Social work
  • Nature : Full Time
Job Description

Sustainable Livelihoods, Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist

  • Kathmandu 44600, Nepal

  • Full-time

  • Contract type: National employment contract

Company Description

SNV Netherlands Development Organisation is a not-for-profit international development organisation. Founded in the Netherlands in 1965, we have built a long-term, local presence in countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Our global team of local and international advisors work with local partners to equip communities, businesses and organisations with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to increase their incomes and gain access to basic services – empowering them to break the cycle of poverty and guide their own development. SNV has been working in Nepal since 1980 and is active in Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.

SNV is seeking qualified Nepalese for Sustainable Livelihoods, Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist for the USAID Paani Program, also known as the पानी परियोजना, is a 5 year, $25 million project in Nepal. Water is the single most important natural resource underpinning Nepal’s economy and livelihoods. The sustainable management of water resources in Nepal depends on addressing climate change and protecting healthy, biodiverse ecosystems. Paani aims to enhance Nepal’s ability to manage water resources for multiple uses and users through climate change adaptation and the conservation of freshwater biodiversity. Paani focuses at the watershed, basin, and national scales. The project has approximately $5 million in grants and activity procurements. Its goal will be reached by meeting the following objectives:

  • Reduce threats to freshwater biodiversity in the Karnali, Mahakali, and Rapti river basins.

  • Increase the ability of targeted human and ecological communities to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change through improved water management.

These objectives will be accomplished through 11 strategic approaches and supporting activities, as defined in Section C, Statement of Work (SOW) of the Paani Contract and annual work plans, which provide the framework and overall guidance for all Paani team members.   

At the watershed level, watershed profiles/health reports will provide the basis for action plans that define objectives, actions, roles and responsibilities for the Paani team, its partners, and collaborating stakeholders.  They will also serve as the basis for refining monitoring and evaluation indicators and milestones to assess progress. The essential element in the profiling process is participation and ownership by each watershed’s communities and the stakeholders active in each watershed.  This “ownership” ensures stakeholder commitment to attaining Paani’s above-noted biodiversity and climate change objectives. 

Based on Paani’s GESI Assessment findings, the candidate will integrate GESI strategies into Paani’s focus areas, specifically: fisheries management, conservation management plans, building ecological and human resilience, sustainable infrastructure development on river systems, and planning tools.

Position Overview

The Sustainable Livelihoods Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist is the primary team member responsible for ensuring effective participation, or engagement of communities in the sustainable management of freshwater biodiversity conservation also devising livelihood options for communities dependent on river resources. The Specialist will focus on the unique role of women and marginalized groups play in freshwater biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, and the need to address livelihoods, inclusion and social issues in response to resource depletion and environmental pressures. The Specialist will help ensure livelihood security (food, water, economic and social) for communities living near river systems and help reduce pressures on the freshwater natural resources they depend on. A significant amount of work has been done already through short term assignments which has resulted in clear recommendations. The Specialist will build on these recommendations and further develop livelihood options, especially through the promotion of “green jobs” including but not limited to: ecotourism, sustainable capture fisheries, aquaculture and value-add markets, sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, promotion of non-timber forest products, etc.  The Specialist will have extensive experience on Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) issues, especially understanding the unique livelihoods needs of marginalized groups, and is responsible for increasing the understanding of GESI issues with respect to water resources management in the Nepal context. 

Further, previous studies shave been undertaken in identifying power imbalances and understand  marginalized groups’ needs, interests, and vulnerabilities and recommendations have been provided to address these through Paani’s outreach and communication products. The main responsibility of the Specialist will be to effectively implement the project’s GESI strategy and ensure women and socially excluded groups will meaningfully benefit from the project. The candidate will help Paani balance conservation initiatives against the socio-economic needs of natural resource-dependent marginalized groups in rural communities.

In addition, as the primary GESI focal point on the project, the Specialist will ensure a GESI perspective and GESI tools are applied in Paani’s approach and throughout Paani management and staffing, annual work-planning, interventions, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E).  Under the overall guidance of the Chief of Party (COP), or her designee the Specialist is responsible for building the team’s capacity to take responsibility for implementing gender sensitive and responsive livelihoods activities and interventions, including those set forth in the Paani GESI Strategic and Action Plan (pp.  50-52 of the Contract SOW) and other related documents. 

The Specialist will be based in Kathmandu, with frequent travel to and throughout priority watersheds across Karnali, Mahakali, and Rapti River basins and will be supported by a GESI Field Officer, based in Nepalgunj Paani office.

Job Description

Responsibilities

The Specialist’s specific responsibilities will be carried out in consultation and/or collaboration with other team members and stakeholders as needed. They may change as project needs are defined during the contract period.  Responsibilities include but are not limited to, the following:

Sustainable Livelihoods

  • Develop capacity of local entrepreneurs and community groups  to develop sustainable enterprises (eg. tourism, non-timber forest products, capture fisheries and aquaculture, sustainable hydropower, solid waste management, among others);

  • Link community enterprises with marketing opportunities;

  • Prepare and conduct skills training programs for pilot communities to develop sustainable enterprises with a focus on marginalized groups;

  • Develop institutional capacity for local governments, community groups, private operators, and service professionals along appropriate livelihoods value chains;

  • Foster private sector partnerships with communities on livelihoods development opportunities;

  • Ensure equitable benefits sharing intentionally targeting increased benefits for marginalized communities;

Gender and Social Inclusion

  • Support activities to improve inclusion, accountability and transparency of implementation of environmental and social safeguards to mitigate environmental impacts of infrastructure investments (eg. rural roads, irrigation, hydropower, etc.);

  • Based on GESI issues informed by the Paani watershed profile activity, cause and impact analysis of gender and caste-based access to and use of water resources, as per Task 4.1.8, the Specialist will lead and further inform Paani targeted GESI interventions as identified in December 2018;

  • Design and deliver training and build capacity among staff, government partners and sub-grantees so that all staff members take responsibility for implementing gender sensitive activities and interventions.  In particular, working with the GESI Field Officer, design and carry out training on how to ensure that resources are being distributed equitably in order to reach all project participants.  Strengthen awareness of gender and caste dynamics that may occur within the Paani team and its relationships with stakeholders. 

  • Guide annual work planning to ensure that men, women, and vulnerable social groups’ relationships and livelihoods are examined and considered. Review all activity plans before they are submitted to USAID.

  • Work with project personnel, government, gender and livelihood working groups, partners and community groups to sensitize and engage men and boys in promoting leadership of women and marginalized groups in the home and in the community.

  • support series and numbers of group meetings, events, roundtable discussions and training sessions at times and locations in which women and vulnerable social groups of people will be able to attend to surface the problems and potential solutions to accessing the eco-services they need.

  • Coordinate with the Paani Capacity Building and Higher Education Specialist to identify opportunities for training, outreach, wider dissemination of findings, and soliciting feedback with due consideration to women and vulnerable social groups.

  • Work with the Paani Communications Specialist to identify opportunities to use radio programs, newspaper advertisement, and pictorial forms for education and communication materials with emphasis to women and vulnerable social groups.

The Sustainable Livelihoods Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist will coordinate closely with the Gender Field Officer based in Nepalganj.

Qualifications

Education Qualifications

  • Masters degree in related field

Experience and Skills

  • Minimum of 10 years of experience of working in relevant field

  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience (minimum of 5 years) of Sustainable Livelihood, GESI and environmental issues

  • Strong Sustainable Livelihood, GESI and environmental program design and implementation, and community interaction skills

  • Knowledge and skills in planning, monitoring, training, organising and leading workshops,

  • Adequate IT skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office to be able to complete project monitoring and reporting requirements

  • Ability to lead and synergize the efforts of a multi- disciplinary team

  • Excellent facilitation and communication skills in multi- stakeholder environment

  • Experience of working with local partners, including government agencies, development partners and civil society organisations

  • Aspiring for good service delivery with strong people centred skills, interpersonal skills, committed, proactive and dynamic.

  • Professional level English proficiency, Verbal and Written.

Additional Information

Contract Type: Employment Contract

Period of Performance : up to December 2020

Expected Start Date : As soon as possible

Duty Station : Paani Program office, Baluwatar, Kathmandu, Nepal

How to Apply: If you are interested, we invite you to apply by uploading your CV and motivation letter by 14 April 2019.

ONLY SHORTLIST CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED.

For more information on SNV, please refer to our website: www.snv.org

This Job is expired. The Company is no longer accepting applications for this position.

Organization Summary

Starting from 2011, SNV has designed scalable and impact oriented programmes within four sectors that are aligned with the Government of Nepal’s development priorities.

The three key sectors SNV works in are Agricultural and Forest Products; Renewable Energy; and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.

We explicitly emphasise institutional development and local ownership of programmes. In order to enhance our impacts, we actively seek partnerships for funding, joint programme implementation and knowledge sharing.

Industry Type NGO / INGO / Social Work
Location Jawlakhel, Lalitpur P.O. Box 1966 Kathmandu, Nepal
Organization Size 1-10