Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor At Heifer International

About Us

Heifer has worked in Nepal since 1957 and has had a permanent corporate office in the country for the past 25 years. Heifer’s economic growth work in Nepal has been funded by its own funding from private donations and work with all donors from USAID, European donors, multi-lateral banks, foundations, private sector partners and the Nepali national and local governments. Our technical assistance projects cover everything from small holder farmers, cooperatives, to women empowerment, local government development, environment, youth employment, entrepreneurship, SME development and value addition for livestock and agriculture products (everything from post- harvest handling, packaging to market linkages).

In addition to our Nepal work, Heifer is currently implementing similar projects throughout 20 offices around world. Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with some form of specially-abled.

Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor – Proposal

Heifer International is currently seeking an Agricultural Private Sector Technical Director for the upcoming 5-year USAID-funded Nepal Agricultural Transformation activity. The position is contingent upon award, with an anticipated total value of $25-30 million.

The fulltime Nepal-based Advisor will lead one of the four project components focused on enhancing climate and economic resilience of women, youth, and marginalized communities. Under her/is leadership, the Advisor will assist in integrating marginalized communities through literacy, life skills, and entrepreneurial training that enables women, youth, disadvantaged castes, and ethnic minorities to access agricultural and nutrition interventions. The Advisor will also advise the technical program team in building economic empowerment by removing barriers to livelihood diversification, and enhance climate adaptation and mitigation through the promotion of climate smart agriculture, and by supporting planning processes to protect selected value chains.

Overall areas of technical responsibility:

• Enhancing literacy and business skills of targeted beneficiaries.
• Facilitating Economic empowerment for women and socially marginalized groups;
• Promoting Climate Smart Agricultural Practices; and
• Promoting resilience to shocks and stresses.

Roles and Responsibilities:

The roles and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Take a lead role in developing and managing the project component’s intervention strategy, work planning, and activity design.
• Providing support to project beneficiaries and stakeholders that include private sector umbrella groups, farmer groups, lead firms, local government representatives.
• Overseeing project delivery team that will consist of both long-term technical assistance and short-term technical assistance staff
• Ensuring climate and economic resilience of women, youth, and marginalized communities are thoroughly adopted throughout the project through best practices coaching of other programmatic Component Lead Directors/Advisors, field-based advisors, local partners, and other local stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least ten (10) years of experience in international development work managing all integrated aspects of complex programs of similar scale, with a particular emphasis on agriculture programming
• Undergraduate degree in Gender /Women studies, Agricultural Economics, International Development or other related field is required
• Extensive knowledge and experience in gender and youth components for a large award
• Experience in gender-based programming with substantial understanding of and commitment to equality and equity issues and mainstreaming.
• At least 5 years of supervisory experience in building and effectively supervising a diverse team.
• Prior experience working in Nepal, Asia or developing country context
• Demonstrated management, leadership, decision making and interpersonal skills with host country government staff, local and donor counterparts, and other implementing partners.
• Experience in gender-based programming with substantial understanding of and commitment to equality and equity issues and mainstreaming.
• Experience working on similar USAID or other donor-funded programs; familiarity with USAID regulations and policies preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Full professional proficiency in English is required

Competencies

· Promotes sharing of knowledge and experience, and actively works towards continued personal learning and development.

· Good practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;

· Ability to go beyond established procedures and models, propose new approaches which expand the range of projects;

· Builds strong relationships with all partner, focuses on impact and results and responds positively to critical feedback;

· Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;

· Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;

· Proven networking, team building, organizational and communication skills;

· Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

· Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.