Junior Consultant - Gender Engagement

About the project

• The project is part of the larger Initiative for Sustainable Landscapes (ISLA) Programme implemented by IDH and its partners in the South Western Mau region, aiming to restore and conserve 60,000 hectares of the Mau Forest by 2030 through interventions such as:
• Forest conservation;
• Improvement of water flow and access;
• Sustainable energy;
• Alternative livelihoods for communities.
• The project was born out of the realisation that livestock over-grazing and browsing is one of the main causes of forest loss in the South Western Mau Forest Reserve, which is an important water source, vital for local and downstream communities, businesses, and wildlife reserves alike. This is in addition to the fact that for the surrounding communities, livestock is an important source of income and livelihood.
• SNV developed an alternative livestock production and intensification model which helps in reducing grazing pressure on the forest while raising the income of livestock farmers and communities. The model also focuses on establishing input and output markets that enable the community members to access reliable inputs and markets for their livestock produce.
• The project has established five dairy cooperatives in the area that provide a stable market for milk, as well as 25 demonstration farms that farmers can access for continued learning and development. The project also set up a rotation system for grazing and encouraged farmers to practice semi-zero-grazing by providing high-quality feed to their livestock on their farms. These interventions have led to reduced livestock dependence on forests and at the same time increased opportunities for cattle farming communities by generating income through the intensification of dairy farming.
• To sustainably improve the income levels of the surrounding communities, there is a need to strengthen these dairy cooperatives to increase their capacity and to effectively bulk and market dairy products. This will be achieved through enhancing milk production at the farm level, strengthening the governance and leadership at the cooperatives, and creating linkages with other stakeholders within the value chain.

For more information on the ISLA partnership, please visit: https://www.idhsustainabletrade.com/landscapes/south-west-mau-forest-kenya/

Job Description

• Conduct gender/youth analysis to identify constraints and opportunities to identify project gender gaps, inequalities, and opportunities for gender-responsive programming.
• Assist in developing training materials and courses for the gender advisory network and the cooperative personnel on integrating gender perspective in the ISLA4 project.
• Provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to dairy cooperative staff, SPEs, and members on gender equality and women's empowerment issues.
• Assist in developing awareness-raising materials related to gender mainstreaming in the project Action Plan commitments, and other project strategic documents.
• Assist in organizing and executing events (training, strategic sessions, etc.) related to GE in the dairy sector.
• Exercise quality assurance oversight on products related to gender mainstreaming in the dairy sector and advise corrective measures, if necessary.
• Develop and support positive working relations with a wide network of partners around gender equality, including government officials, gender focal points for development partners, and relevant civil society organizations.
• Develop a draft framework (outline) of the policy on gender in agriculture, including a vision, mission, goals, objectives, and strategies, based on the findings from ISLA Study groups.
• Develop an implementation plan, including a monitoring and evaluation framework. The implementation plan should include the goals, time frame, key actions, and indicators, as well as the key stakeholders and partners for its implementation.
• Assist in the preparation of gender-focused reports, case studies, and knowledge products to showcase best practices and lessons learned.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the project manager.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s qualifications in gender equality, sociology, political science, public administration, or a relevant domain.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in gender equality and women’s empowerment
• Broad and innovative perspective on the integration of gender equality and women’s empowerment into project components.
• Exceptional analytical capacity and policy formulation skills
• Strong facilitation and consultation skills, including the ability to work with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrable organizational and interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with gender analysis tools and methodologies.
• Strong facilitation and consultation skills, including the ability to work with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Excellent oral communication and writing skills in English and Kiswahili; the local language being an added advantage.

Additional Information

• Contract Type: Consulting Contract
• Contract Duration: 6 months
• Expected Start Date: April 2024
• Duty Station: Kericho & Nakuru counties, Kenya with travels in-county