GEDSI and Safeguarding Advisor at Cowater International: (Deadline 3 March 2023)

GEDSI and Safeguarding Advisor at Cowater International: (Deadline 3 March 2023)

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GEDSI And Safeguarding Advisor

KEY INFORMATION
Job Title: GEDSI And Safeguarding Advisor
Sector: Social Protection; Governance; International Development
Position Type: Fixed term
Duration/Level of Effort: March 2023 – March 2025
Position Location: Kigali, Rwanda (Hybrid)

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT

FCDO’s Exiting Poverty in Rwanda (EPR) Technical Assistance Facility
The FCDO has been a key partner in developing Rwanda’s social protection sector since the inception of the Vision 2020 Umurenge Programme (VUP) in 2008. The first phase of support to the social protection in Rwanda (2009-2014, £34m) focused on supporting the Government of Rwanda (GoR) to set up VUP. The second phase (2013-2018, £62.4m) focused on expanding the VUP, both in terms of geographical reach and in terms of reaching the most vulnerable and excluded in Rwanda.

The Exiting Poverty in Rwanda (EPR) Programme is the third phase of support and aims support people to exit poverty at the same time as protecting Rwanda’s poorest and most vulnerable citizens in the future. This is likely to be the last UK-funded programme supporting Rwanda’s social protection sector that involves financial resource transfer at this scale so greater focus will be on influencing the wider policy context for social protection (SP), strengthening systems and building capacity and building long-term sustainability.

FCDO’s support in this phase will go beyond the VUP programme to provide essential financial and technical assistance to support Rwanda to establish a robust, domestically financed, inclusive and comprehensive SP sector. The Technical Assistance (TA) Facility is therefore designed to support the effective implementation of its Social Protection Sector Strategic Plan (SP-SSP) and ultimately a strengthened national social protection system. To do so, the TA Facility provides technical expertise and capacity building to the Government of Rwanda, specifically the Ministry of Local Governments (MINALOC) and the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA) and supports the delivery of FCDO’s EPR programme.

The intended outcome of EPR is to enhance the resilience of vulnerable men, women and children and of the social protection system that helps sustain them. To achieve this outcome, the EPR TA facility will contribute towards the following outputs:

• Developing institutional capacity and strengthening systems for evidence-based planning, strategic sector management, and effective SP service delivery enhanced.

• Improving access to more effective core social protection programmes for selected vulnerable groups to more effective core social security instruments.

• Design of a shock-responsive social protection (SR-SP) component together with operational guidelines and a system for implementing SR-SP established.

• Strengthening linkages between SP and complementary services that enable sustainable graduation from extreme poverty strengthened.

As service provider to FCDO for the effective delivery of the EPR TA Facility, Cowater will implement the TA programme under four components as follows:

• Design and manage a TA Facility to support implementation of the Government of Rwanda’s SP-SSP and FCDO’s EPR programme;

• Deliver capacity building interventions through technical inputs and advice, training and workshops, mentoring and coaching of government technical personnel and undertake studies and research;

• Drive forward the design, piloting and scale up of innovations within the Social Protection sector as set out in the SP-SSP and EPR Business Case, which includes work on graduation, shock responsive SP and categorical grants (moving towards universal coverage as per SP-SSP and Vision 2050).

• Manage a TA Strategic Fund in close collaboration with GOR and FCDO.

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION

Based in Kigali, Rwanda, the GEDSI AND SAFEGUARDING ADVISOR will provide technical support to MINALOC (and for some interventions, to LODA, ensuring that MINALOC and LODA are moving together) in collaboration with the EPR TA team.

The GEDSI AND SAFEGUARDING ADVISOR will work with Government counterparts:

1. To ensure that the social protection programmes in Rwanda mainstream the inclusion of marginal groups (including women and people with disability.)

2. To help Government build a safeguarding framework to protect vulnerable groups from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The GEDSI and Safeguarding Expert will work collaboratively with the Cowater’s HQ-based GEDSI Specialist, engaging them regularly to review and input into deliverables.

The HQ-based GEDSI Specialist will provide the GEDSI and Safeguarding Expert with technical support throughout the project, bringing international best practice to complement the Advisor’s nuanced contextual knowledge and experience.

The GEDSI and Safeguarding Expert will develop procedures to ensure (i) equity within that the social protection sector and that (ii) vulnerable groups within the social protection sector are protected from SEAH and that there are procedures in place to report and manage such abuse.

Technical

• Develop and maintain a GEDSI strategy and plan for the project and socialise it with the EPR team to ensure all team members are aware of their respective responsibilities to integrating GEDSI into EPR activities.

• Lead the design of GEDSI related activities to assess and recommend improvements in the equality of social protection programmes in Rwanda.

• Conduct rapid capacity needs assessments with key Government counterparts to ensure that improvements inequality are evidence-based.

• Provide technical assistance and capacity building to key counterparts on applying GEDSI to their respective work plans and strategies.

• Support Government counterparts in MINALOC and LODA in the development of GEDSI-responsive strategies, policies and programs.

• Building on the FATE Ltd GEDSI and Safeguarding Review, develop a safeguarding framework for social protection programmes which can be rolled out across Local Government.

• Work collaboratively with government counterparts to institute recommended changes to safeguarding systems and mechanisms.

• Develop and deliver training in safeguarding to selected individuals in MINALOC and LODA.

• Where necessary, prepare training materials conduct training for a variety of stakeholders on GEDSI and the safeguarding framework, including subjects, such as gender-based violence, (SEAH), and disability inclusion.

Operational

• Work in collaboration with the HQ-based GEDSI Specialist.

• Contribute to project reporting as directed by the Team Leader.

• Participate in regular project meetings and team discussions of various issues, offering a GEDSI perspective.

• Participate in project planning and budgeting processes to ensure that adequate time and resources are allocated to GEDSI activities and mainstreaming.

• Other project-related support to enhance GEDSI, as required.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Degree in a relevant field, including gender studies, political science, development, or another relevant discipline.

Minimum Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of experience working on donor-funded development projects in Rwanda in a role focused on integrating GEDSI.

Essential Skills:

• Demonstrated knowledge of GEDSI issues in Rwanda.

• Demonstrated knowledge of safeguarding against SEAH and practical experience designing systems and/or procedures to address safeguarding risks.

• Experience developing project-level GEDSI strategies, plans and processes.

• Experience developing and providing training on GEDSI and related topics.

• Ability to deal with complex and sometimes stressful situations, while maintaining a professional and solutions-oriented attitude.

• Excellent presentation skills

• Excellent report writing skills

• Ability and desire to work as part of a team.

• Knowledge of the Rwandan social protection system an asset.

Language Proficiency:

• Strong communication and diplomacy skills with the ability to speak/read/write in English and Kinyarwanda (French also an asset).

APPLICATION PROCESS

Candidates are encouraged to apply by 3 March 2023.

For your application to be considered, please upload your documents as followed: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.
We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.