Regional Gender Advisor at Mennonite Central Committee (MCC): (Deadline 20 January 2024)

Regional Gender Advisor at Mennonite Central Committee (MCC): (Deadline 20 January 2024)

Job Description 

Job title: Regional Gender Advisor

Reports to: Area Directors for SCAN

Location: Global with a willingness to work within countries covered by the SCAN Region (Rwanda and Burundi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi, DRC, Nigeria).

Duration: 1 year (renewable upon satisfactory performance)

Organization Overview

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is a global non-profit organization that operates within Anabaptist churches worldwide. Dedicated to sharing God’s love through relief, development, and peace efforts, MCC prioritizes building meaningful relationships with local partners and churches, guided by Anabaptist principles, MCC strives to integrate peacebuilding into all its endeavors.

Position Overview

The Regional Gender Advisor for the Southern Central Africa and Nigeria (SCAN) region will resource the “Locally Led Indigenous Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation in Zimbabwe” (LINCZ) project in Zimbabwe (15%) and the SCAN region (85%). The Gender Advisor will be responsible for developing and implementing the gender equality strategy for the region, with a particular focus on supporting the gender strategy for the LINCZ project in Zimbabwe. The Gender Advisor will champion gender equality in the region, empowering women and girls while challenging entrenched norms and roles. The Advisor will advise and lead gender mainstreaming efforts, oversee gender equality outcomes, and develop capacity building strategies for MCC staff. They will also have a crucial role in implementing the regional gender strategy and facilitating knowledge sharing across projects within the region.

Zimbabwe – LINCZ Project Roles (15%):

Gender Mainstreaming and Equality:

• Support the Gender and Social Inclusion Officer in the comprehensive integration of gender and social inclusion considerations into all stages of the LINCZ project, including assessment, design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation.
• In collaboration with the Gender and Social Inclusion Officer, coordinate and facilitate context-specific analysis of gendered dynamics and inequalities, supporting implementing partners to identify interventions and approaches that actively contribute to gender equality and empowerment outcomes.
• Advise and support capacity strengthening efforts to ensure stakeholders and implementing partners are empowered to eliminate barriers that hinder gender equality, promoting better opportunities and empowerment for women and girls, and engage men and boys in transformative ways that challenge harmful gender norms.

Project Implementation:

• Support the development and management of the Gender Equality Strategy (GES) for the LINCZ project based on results from the gender analysis and baseline studies, and support the operationalization of the strategy in collaboration with Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) Officer and implementing partner gender leads.
• Oversee capacity strengthening activities and technical support for implementing partners in advancing gender equity and social inclusion outcomes at organization and programming levels.
• Ensure that gender equality commitments, including MCC policy and donor gender commitments, permeate all aspects of program delivery.
• Deliver training on gender equality and PSEA capacity building for MCC Staff and at MCC organized workshops at the invitation of the country reps or in line with the regional strategy.

Monitoring, Reporting and Learning:

• Provide back up support when requested to the GESI Officer who is responsible for tracking and reporting on gender equality outcomes, in collaboration with MEAL Officer.
• Provide support and guidance in the development and implementation of MEAL system and processes to ensure alignment with gender equality objectives.
• Contribute to LINCZ knowledge and research hub by identifying gender related insights and lessons-learned and promote application of learning for more effective programming.

SCAN Region Responsibilities (85%)

Regional Gender Strategy:

• Lead the implementation of the regional gender strategy, ensuring its alignment with the regional goals and priorities.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing, ensuring lessons from LINCZ are disseminated to other country programs and vice versa.
• Provide training and mentoring for MCC SCAN staff and partners related to PMER and Safeguarding/Reporting mechanisms, as needs are identified. Share learning across the region from the strengths of diverse partners.
• Participate in MCC committees and working groups as assigned.

Qualifications, skills, and desired experience:

• Degree in gender studies, international development, social sciences, or a related field. Masters or PhD preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in gender programming and safeguarding with a strong emphasis on climate change adaptation and sustainable development.
• Deep familiarity with national and international gender equality policies, standards, and best practices, including GAC’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and Gender Equality Policy.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present evidence-based success stories, lessons learned, and case studies.
• Culturally sensitive and able to navigate, advocate for, and promote gender equality in projects involving locally led indigenous knowledge systems.
• Strong familiarity with gender analysis methodologies and tools, including the Gender Equality Mainstreaming (GEM) tool.
• Expertise in designing and operationalizing gender equality strategies and conducting gender-based analyses.
• Experience in developing and delivering gender equality training programs.
• Proven ability to track, analyze, and report on gender equality outcomes using sex and age disaggregated data.

Application Process:

To apply for this position, submit a CV and a motivation letter (1page max, each), all combined in a single PDF document. That document with “Regional Gender Advisor” in subject of email should be sent by email to: scanrecruitment@mcc.org  by 20^th January 2024 and fill this FORM.

MCC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to employment equity. All Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) workers are expected to exhibit a commitment to a personal Christian faith and discipleship; active church membership; and nonviolent peacemaking. MCC values diversity and invites all qualified and female candidates to apply.

Note that applications not following these instructions will not be considered and only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.