Transforming Lives Phase 3 Gender Research Manager, Kenya At Helen Keller International

Guided by the remarkable legacy of its co-founder, Helen Keller, Helen Keller Intl partners with communities that are striving to overcome longstanding cycles of poverty. By delivering the essential building blocks of good health, sound nutrition, and clear vision, we help millions of people create lasting change in their own lives. Working in 20 countries – across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States – and together with a global community of supporters, we ensure every person has the opportunity – as Helen did – to reach their true potential.

In Kenya, Helen Keller Intl in collaboration with the County Government of Kilifi is implementing the Transforming Lives Project which aims to deliver five (5) lifesaving nutrition interventions targeting the first 1,000 days window period of life, from conception to a child’s second birthday, a period crucial for protecting women’s health and establishing a solid foundation for the long-term health, growth, and development of children.

We are seeking a Gender Research Manager in Kenya to support the global Gender Research Lead design and oversee the implementation of a mixed-method participatory research study in Kilifi County to understand the range of barriers women face in seeking and accessing the five lifesaving nutrition interventions from the health system (prenatal supplements, counseling and support for optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding, vitamin A supplementation of children 6-59 months, and the early detection and treatment of acute malnutrition in children under five) to inform improved delivery models. This research will be implemented as part of a three-country study as part of a larger 12-country initiative known as Transforming Lives Through Nutrition.

Following the conduct of the research and analysis of the findings, the Gender Research Manager will consolidate and share learnings with colleagues within the Ministry of Health and collaborate to apply the findings to identify solutions to these gender-driven barriers to strengthen access to and delivery of these five nutrition services by the health systems of Kenya. They will entail engaging with government and communities to reflect on the implications of key findings and determine how best to apply them to inform policies and learning materials to overcome the barriers identified by the research. In addition, the Gender Research Manager will provide expert support to other projects in the Kenya office portfolio as feasible and appropriate.

Functional Relationships

The Gender Research Manager and Gender Research Lead will liaise with the Transforming Project Director, the Kenya Country Director, the National Programs Coordinator, and the Transforming Lives Project Manager and their teams to facilitate the integration of learnings from the research with the common goal of ensuring that project objectives are met.

Helen Keller’s programs require close working relations with the national and county governments, partner NGOs, and donors, including UN agencies, and, of course, communities. The Research Manager will contribute to nurturing and overseeing these cooperative relationships.

Position One (1) Gender Research Manager

Where Kilifi County (This is a local position therefore No Relocation support will be required)

Level of responsibility: Reports to National Nutrition Coordinator

Key Responsibilities:

1. Collaborate with relevant colleagues to develop and guide high-quality research planning, management, execution, and analysis
2. Building capacity of staff and stakeholders on gender mainstreaming and gender-responsive approaches
3. Support other programs in the Kenya portfolio to strengthen their gender
4. Coordinate community engagement to apply research findings in ways that promote gender equality and address gender disparities affecting women’s and children’s nutrition wellbeing
5. Contribute to resource mobilization through the identification of funding opportunities and supporting proposal development

Specific Objectives

1. Gender Formative Research and Gender Mainstreaming

• Support the development and design of gender formative research in the Transforming Lives Program, including data collection tools and protocols
• Draft the application for ethical approval and oversight to the appropriate Kenyan ethical review board
• Coordinate with NARCOSTI, ERC, and technical working groups in conducting the study.
• Oversee and assure the quality of data collection for the gender formative research, and contribute to the analysis of the research data to understand the different barriers faced by men, women, boys, and girls in seeking nutrition services, generating insights for improvements to the delivery of these health services

1. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Develop gender-sensitive indicators for monitoring and evaluating the Transforming Lives Program aligned with donor requirements
• Analyze monitoring data to identify gender-related disparities and advise on ways to adjust programs accordingly.
• Contribute to the development of statistical analysis plans for program monitoring data.

1. Capacity Building

• Train staff and stakeholders to understand and apply concepts such as gender sensitivity and gender mainstreaming.
• Integrate approaches to increase gender equality, men’s involvement, and social inclusion within Helen Keller Kenya’s current nutrition interventions.

1. Community Engagement

• Engage and support communities in applying research findings to identify gender-related challenges and develop community-led solutions to promote gender equality in nutrition practices during the implementation of the Transforming Lives Through Nutrition Program.
• Support initiatives that empower women and girls in nutrition-related activities.

1. Policy Advocacy

• Advocate for gender-responsive policies at local and national levels.
• Collaborate with policymakers to ensure that gender issues are addressed in nutrition policies and frameworks.
• Represent Helen Keller Intl in gender and nutrition stakeholder meetings at county and/or sub-county levels.

1. Others

• Support the Kenya country office to identify funding opportunities and write grant proposals for research projects.
• In liaison with the Transforming Lives Program Manager, ensure monthly tracking of project expenditure and manage work plans and budgets
• Ensure the integration of gender-sensitive project plans in the County health and nutrition annual work plans (AWPs).
• Actively participate in county planning and coordination meetings, advocating for gender equality and inclusion.

Qualifications

• A Master’s degree in Gender and Development Studies, Sociology, Public Health, Nutrition, Epidemiology, Statistics or a related field.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in gender analysis and gender-responsive programming, and research design and management, preferably in the context of nutrition or public health, with at least 2 years in gender-focused nutrition and health programs.
• Strong understanding of gender empowerment and social inclusion (GESI) approaches, gender models, and health systems in nutrition and health programming.
• Knowledge of the Ministry of Gender and Social Services, nutrition standards, and health structures at county and national levels.
• Familiarity with national gender, health, and nutrition policies and advocacy.
• Experience in health and nutrition community resilience programming.
• Significant experience working with community groups and state institutions.

Competencies

• Demonstrated experience designing and conducting operational research (both qualitative and quantitative methods); implementing surveys and research protocols that integrate safeguarding measures, and training and supervising survey and/or research teams; conducting gender analyses, participatory methods, and utilizing data for program improvement; developing and implementing gender-responsive strategies and interventions; and undertaking high-level representation and advocacy to strengthen the delivery of services within health systems.
• Ability to analyze data and produce quality reports.
• Able to priorities, oversee multiple tasks, and set clear objectives to be achieved.
• Highly computer literate including knowledge of Microsoft Office suite or equivalent; strong Excel skills, including pivot tables; and proficiency in statistical analysis using STATA.
• Creative, open-minded, flexible, and self-learner.
• Team Player with good communication and interpersonal skills

In the spirit of our founder and namesake, Helen Keller is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where diversity in all its forms is fully valued.