Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Expert at Expertise France: (Deadline 21 February 2025)

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Expert at Expertise France: (Deadline 21 February 2025)

Terms of Reference / Job Description

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Expert for Expertise France

“TVET Agri – Ubuhinzi Skills+” project

Job title: Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Expert

Reports to: Project Manager

Location: Kigali, Rwanda, with regular travel to other regions in Rwanda

Type of contract: full-time, fixed-term contract

Contract duration: 1 year, with possibility of renewal (local contract)

Job Level: senior level

Overview

Expertise France is the French agency for international cooperation, under the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance. The agency develops and implements projects that sustainably strengthen public policies in low- and middle-income countries and focuses on four priority areas:

• Democratic, economic and financial governance;
• Stability of countries in crisis/post-crisis situations and security;
• Combating climate change and favouring sustainable urban development;
• Strengthening health systems, social protection and employment.

In these areas, Expertise France engineers and implements capacity-building projects, mobilises technical expertise and acts as a project coordinator, bringing together public expertise and private know-how. With an annual business volume of 390 million euros and over 400 projects in 145 countries, Expertise France’s activities are part of France’s international cooperation policy and official development assistance.

Project description

The “TVET Agri – Ubuhinzi Skills+” project aims to contribute to the National Strategy for Transformation and Vision 2050 established by the Government of Rwanda to guide the socio-economic development of the country towards a prosperous and high-income economy by 2050. Representing 25% of GDP and 70% of Rwanda’s active population, agriculture is a key sector targeted in order to boost the country’s economy and create jobs. The development of agricultural skills is one of the priorities for the sector’s transformation, with the national objective of establishing Centres of Vocational Excellence for technical and vocational education and training in agriculture. These centres will help develop a new generation of qualified workforce, capable of stimulating sustainable agricultural development, contributing to food security, economic growth and improved livelihoods for rural communities in Rwanda.

The “TVET Agri – Ubuhinzi Skills+” project is implemented by Expertise France to support the national agency Rwanda TVET Board (RTB) in the establishment of Centres of Excellence in agriculture. In line with national priorities, the project aims to increase the sustainability, climate resilience and inclusion of agricultural practices by strengthening the skills of women and youth in Rwanda.

The project is structured around two specific objectives:

1. Improve access of women and youth to quality skills and formal certification in agricultural practices.
2. Improve the effectiveness of mechanisms for integrating women and young people into the agricultural labour market, with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture.

In Rwanda, 77% of farmers are women, mainly in subsistence agriculture, vulnerable to climate change. Gender is a key cross-cutting theme for the project which aims to implement transformative and sustainable actions for women, young girls and their communities.

The project will be implemented over a period of five years, with a budget of +16 million euros financed by the EU and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. It will include technical assistance at the national level in support of RTB, and two TVET schools will also be supported with technical assistance, infrastructure rehabilitation and procurement of equipment. The project will be implemented in collaboration with the beneficiary partner RTB, as well as with donors and project partners, such as LuxDev.

The project will be led by the Project Manager, with direct support from the Deputy Project Manager, and the team will consist of 4 Technical Experts, a MEAL Officer, and 2 Project Advisors based in targeted TVET schools. The team will be supported by Expertise France’s Kigali-based Project Support Unit (PSU) for admin, finance, HR and procurement, as well as Paris-based HQ.

The role

The GESI Specialist will be based within the project team in Kigali, under the direct supervision of the Project Manager. He/she will be responsible for the full implementation of a package of activities and will provide gender and social inclusion (GESI) expertise to the project team, RTB, and other stakeholders, ensuring that all project components and activities are gender-responsive and inclusive. He/she will contribute to the review and/or development of policy frameworks, strategies, methodologies, and operational processes that foster the participation of disadvantaged groups in TVET and promote the principle of “leaving no one behind.” The GESI Expert will play a pivotal role in ensuring the successful and inclusive implementation of the project.

The main responsibilities of the GESI Expert will be:

To provide strategic and technical advice in TVET

• Integrate GESI principles in TVET policies and curricula. Advise on the development and review of TVET curriculum, policy frameworks, and pedagogical approaches, ensuring that gender and social inclusion (GESI) considerations are embedded at every stage.
• Strengthen institutional capacity. Support RP, RTB, and other implementing institutions in analyzing existing practices, identifying gaps, and proposing actionable measures to improve gender responsiveness and social inclusion across all TVET activities.
• Contribute to strategic planning. Collaborate with project leadership and stakeholders to align GESI strategies with broader TVET reform objectives, offering expertise on how to make TVET systems more equitable and accessible.

To lead the project’s GESI activities

• Develop and implement GESI Action Plans. Draft, review, and regularly update GESI action plans in collaboration with RP and RTB. Ensure they are effectively integrated into project workplans, budgets, and timelines.
• Coordinate and oversee GESI initiatives. Provide operational leadership for GESI-related activities, including capacity building, awareness sessions, and the development of tools and frameworks. Support the recruitment and coordination of national/international experts to address specific GESI needs.
• Monitor, evaluate, and report on GESI outcomes. Work closely with the project’s M&E teams to track progress on GESI indicators, gather lessons learned, and report on successes or challenges to donors and partners. Ensure continuous learning and adaptation of GESI strategies throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure compliance and coherence. Oversee administrative and logistical processes related to GESI interventions, making sure they meet donor and organizational procedures (such as Expertise France’s guidelines).

To support targeted TVET schools’ transition to Centres of Vocational Excellence

• Promote inclusive campus environments. Provide inputs during the design, construction, and renovation phases to ensure that TVET schools accommodate the needs of all learners (including women, persons with disabilities, and other disadvantaged groups).
• Develop inclusive policies and mechanisms. Collaborate with TVET institutions to create or refine policies and processes (e.g., GBV/SEAH mechanisms) that foster safe and equitable learning environments, essential for achieving Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) status.
• Foster capacity building at institution and school level. Conduct training needs assessments and organize capacity-building sessions to strengthen the skills of staff in integrating GESI principles into teaching, management, and day-to-day operations.
• Facilitate best practices sharing. Encourage dialogue and exchange of successful GESI initiatives among TVET schools, enabling the adoption of best practices and the scaling-up of effective approaches in their transition to CoVEs.

Profile

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Gender Studies, Development studies or Sociology with a Gender and Social Inclusion major, or another relevant field.

Professional experience

• At least 5 years of experience in Gender and Social Inclusion or related fields.
• Working experience with at least one donor-funded project.
• Experience in strategic advisory roles, providing technical support to stakeholders in TVET or related sectors.
• Experience coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives, including collaboration with government institutions, private sector actors, and academic institutions.
• Project management experience, including planning, budgeting, monitoring, and evaluation of GESI initiatives.

Skills

• Demonstrated experience in implementing GESI-related activities and trainings/capacity building;
• Good understanding of the challenges in TVET and/or agriculture sectors, labour market dynamics, and skills development strategies, especially for women and youth.
• Demonstrated experience in GESI assessments and strategies;
• Demonstrated experience in supporting gender mainstreaming within institutions;
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with an excellent capacity to translate technical concepts to a wide variety of audiences.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and advocacy for GESI initiatives;
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills, including government, NGOs, and community organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Initiative-taking and sense of responsibility.
• Having conducted or been involved in a gender participatory audit is a plus;
• Proficiency in office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Perfect command of English and Kinyarwanda; fluency in French is an asset.

Additional information

Desired start date: April 2025

Application deadline: February 21, 2025

Remuneration: competitive remuneration will be offered according to Expertise France’s salary scale and the candidate’s qualification and experience.

Please upload your CV and cover letter (no longer than 2 pages each), photocopies of diplomas and certificates of employment, as well as three professional references with contact details on this link only:

https://expertise-france.gestmax.fr/apply/12629/1

Candidates are invited to submit their application as soon as possible. Expertise France reserves the right to pre-select candidates before the application deadline.

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