Senior Technical Advisor – Gender Equity and Justice At CARE Deutschland

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Job Description

Job Title: Senior Technical Advisor, Gender Equity and Justice
Location: Baghdad/Erbil with frequent travel to the field
Reporting line manager: Deputy Country Director – Program Development & Quality (DCD-PDQ)
Supervisory responsibilities: MEAL Officer and Project Coordinator
Contract type: One year International Employment contract (6 Month Probationary Period)Job

CARE International in Iraq
CARE International has worked in Iraq since the beginning of the humanitarian crisis in 1991. CARE International reopened its programming in Iraq in 2014 after a military offensive in Ninewa, which displaced hundreds of thousands of people into the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Together with local partners, CARE delivered humanitarian and development assistance to the most vulnerable populations.

CARE is registered with both the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi Federal Government.Operating in Basra, Ninewa, Duhok, Salahaddin, and Anbar, CARE collaborates with local organizations to strengthen their capacities and implement transformative programs. These efforts align with CARE’s global theory of change, which emphasizes building individual agency, reshaping relationships, and transforming structures to create sustainable and inclusive development outcomes. Through this approach, CARE ensures that its interventions address root causes, empower communities, and promote systemic change for long-term stability and resilience.

CARE Iraq Culture and Staff

CARE Iraq is committed to fostering an environment where staff can grow both personally and professionally. We promote collaboration, diversity, and open communication, ensuring every voice is heard and valued. Our workplace culture recognises the importance of our mission and encourages innovation, creativity, and mutual respect, making it a supportive environment for all.

We are proud of the gender balance within our workforce and are committed to equity and justice by creating a safe, inclusive space where everyone can thrive. Our goal is for CARE Iraq to reflect the diverse communities we serve and to deliver impactful change through the work we do.

Promoting Equality, Justice, and Climate Responsibility

Employees at CARE Iraq are expected to embody the organization’s core values of equality, justice, and climate responsibility. This includes fostering equity between men and women, promoting climate justice, and embedding these principles into the organizational activities and work culture overall. A key focus internally and externally is on empowering women through leadership opportunities, professional growth, and meaningful participation in decision-making, while addressing workforce imbalances and amplifying women’s voices to drive transformative change.

Equally, all employees of CARE Iraq are expected to prioritizes climate responsibility by encouraging sustainable practices, reducing ecological foot print, drive positive environmental impact, and supporting climate-affected communities. Integrating resilience and sustainability into all operations and actions will ensures a just and equitable future.

These principles are central to CARE Iraq’s vision for justice, fairness, and environmental stewardship.

Job Summary

The Senior Technical Advisor for Gender Equity and Justice leads CARE Iraq’s transition from a humanitarian response approach centered on protection and GBV to long-term development programming focused on equity and justice between women and men.

This role emphasizes advancing equity through projects that:
1. Foster individual agency (consciousness, confidence, self-esteem, aspirations, knowledge, and skills),
2. Transform power dynamics to support dignity, and
3. Address discriminatory norms, systems, and practices.

The Advisor will lead the design and implementation of innovative, high-impact programs; provide technical support to mainstream gender across sectors; build and maintain strategic partnerships; and enhance CARE Iraq’s role as a thought leader on gender equity. The role requires integrating global standards such as CARE’s Gender Equity Framework, GBV guidelines, and inclusive programming practices.

Additionally, the role includes donor engagement, capacity strengthening for national staff and partners, leadership in monitoring and learning, and leading advocacy efforts to influence policies and elevate the voices of marginalized communities.

This position requires a dynamic leader with a deep commitment to gender equity, strong technical knowledge, and a collaborative, adaptive approach to driving transformative change in development and humanitarian settings.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

Donor Cultivation, Program Design, and Proposal Development

  • Cultivate relationships with donors, partners, and stakeholders to position CARE Iraq as a leader in gender equity and justice.
  • Lead the design of innovative programs and high-quality proposals rooted in CARE’s Gender Equity Framework.
  • Ensure proposals address intersectional issues like GBV, women’s empowerment, economic inclusion, and leadership.
  • Collaborate with HQ and partners to embed theories of change and evidence-based approaches.
  • Oversee proposal development including budgeting, gender analysis, and quality review.
  • Monitor proposal outcomes and incorporate donor feedback.

Program Implementation Oversight and Technical Support

  • Ensure project implementation aligns with strong theories of change and donor obligations.
  • Champion the integration of gender equity across CARE Iraq’s programs and operations.
  • Operationalize global frameworks on GBV, gender equality, and disability inclusion.
  • Build strategic partnerships and represent CARE in relevant forums.
  • Provide technical guidance using tools like the Gender Marker.
  • Capture learnings to inform future program design and donor engagement.

Capacity Development for CARE Staff and Partners

  • Provide ongoing technical guidance on gender mainstreaming and inclusive practices.
  • Prioritize national staff leadership through mentorship and tailored capacity-building.
  • Promote continuous learning and knowledge sharing.
  • Ensure strong understanding and application of CARE’s Gender Equity Framework, Gender Marker, and Theory of Change.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL)

  • Lead gender justice MEAL processes aligned with CARE’s global indicators.
  • Champion gender-sensitive data collection and analysis.
  • Supervise and mentor MEAL staff working on equity initiatives.
  • Promote learning loops and adaptations based on evidence and feedback.
  • Lead Gender Marker tracking and ensure quality data entry into PIIRS.

Advocacy, Knowledge Sharing, and Learning

  • Develop a strong advocacy strategy to advance gender equity in Iraq and beyond.
  • Document lessons learned and success stories for internal and external sharing.
  • Research socio-cultural and policy barriers to gender justice and inform programming accordingly.
  • Elevate the voices of marginalized communities and integrate their perspectives into CARE’s advocacy and programming.

Key contacts and collaborators:
Internal:

External:

Staff Risk Management Responsibilities

CARE believes that personal risk management is crucial for staff; however, the risk management cannot be achieved unless each staff member fulfills the following responsibilities. Failure to do so can not only endanger their own safety but also compromise the entire team and organization.

  • Maintain Situational Awareness:
    • Staff must maintain a high level of situational awareness at all times. This includes being vigilant about their surroundings, recognizing potential threats, and understanding the local context and culture.
  • Stay Informed:
    • Staff must stay informed about the security situation in their area of operation and avoid complacency. They should promptly read and understand information shared by the organization in relevant communication channels.
  • Comply with Protocols:
    • Staff must strictly adhere to the risk protocols and guidelines established by their organization. This includes following travel advisories, checking in regularly with designated security contacts, and complying with curfews or movement restrictions.
  • Emergency Preparedness:
    • Staff must be well-prepared for emergencies by knowing the location and contact details of local emergency services, the nearest hospital, and their organization’s security focal point. They should carry essential emergency supplies, such as first aid kits, communication devices, and personal identification, and participate in regular safety drills and training sessions.
  • Maintain Reliable Communication:
    • Staff must ensure they have reliable means of communication at all times and keep their phones charged and operational. They should keep the team informed of their whereabouts, especially when traveling or working in the field, and establish check-in routines to confirm their safety regularly.
  • Respect Local Norms:
    • Staff must understand and respect local customs, traditions, and social norms to avoid unnecessary risks and foster good relations with local communities.
  • Additionally, all staff members must:
  • Take Reasonable Care:
    • Staff must take reasonable care for their personal health, safety, and security and ensure that their actions do not harm other staff members.
  • Comply with Instructions and Policies:
    • Staff must comply with the orders/instructions of the Risk focal points as required, and adhere to any workplace policy/procedure aimed at increasing the safety of all staff, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as laid out in the Risk Management Plan.
  • Ensure Equipment Readiness:
    • Staff must ensure that all radios, Track24 units, Satphones, helmets, body armour, trauma/first aid equipment, and any other personal protective equipment and items used in field operations and elsewhere are in a safe and serviceable condition and used in accordance with their operating instructions. All damages must be paid for personally.
  • Supervise and Train:
    • Supervisors of other staff have a Duty of Care to ensure that their staff are not put at risk and are adequately supervised while performing their work. Managers, supervisors, and staff must ensure that before they, or their staff, work in field-based locations, they receive adequate training in security, field health and safety, and risk management.
  • Report Incidents Promptly:
    • Staff must promptly notify the Risk focal point of any field/operational Risk, health, safety, and security incidents that occur.

Qualifications and Skills

  • Master’s degree in Gender Studies, Social Justice, Development Studies, or related field.
  • At least 5 years’ experience in gender equity, GBV, or social justice programming.
  • Strong understanding of Iraq’s gender, legal, and operational context.
  • Proven skills in program design, technical leadership, and donor engagement.
  • Fluency in English required; Arabic is an asset.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Experience with Microsoft Office and collaboration platforms.

Additional Expectations

  • Actively contribute to CARE’s mission, visibility, and advocacy on social media and external platforms.
  • Comply with CARE’s policies including Safeguarding, Safety and Security, and promote gender equity and climate responsibility internally and externally.
  • Serve as a role model for CARE values of courage, ambition, respect, and equality.

Accountability within CARE

A commitment to CARE’s values and integrity framework is critical to working with CARE. Any candidate offered a job with CARE will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability:

• Comply with CARE’s policies and procedures as well as with international standards and best practices with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols.

• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area.

• Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a CARE staff or partner

Safeguarding

At CARE, we recognize our responsibility to promote human dignity and social justice within our organization. At the heart of CARE’s efforts to impact poverty and social justice is our engagement with marginalized communities. We place human dignity at the center of our work. We are aware of the importance of organizational culture and accountability in enabling a safe and supportive environment for programme participants, the communities where we work, our staff, related personnel and our partners.

Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with CARE as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury, and any other harm. One of the ways that CARE shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.

How to apply

How to Apply

Please send your complete application package only in English to application@care.de, no later than 26 July 2025, with “ Senior Technical Advisor – Gender Equity and Justice” as the subject title of your email.

Please include the following information in your application – CV, motivation letter, and Core Skills overview highlighting years of experience in the following areas:

  • Strategic Programme Design and Planning
  • Technical Expertise in Thematic Area
  • Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEAL)
  • Gender Equity and Inclusion Mainstreaming
  • Donor Engagement and Proposal Development

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please note that only shortlisted candidate will be contacted. References will only be contacted after the interview.