Job Vacancy For Gender & Influencing Specialist



The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Plan International Ghana, is looking for a dynamic and results-oriented person to fill the position of Gender and Influencing Specialist for the Rural Water and Sanitation (R-WASH) project. The position is located at the Eastern Programme Unit Office Koforidua, and reports to the Project Manager.

Project Duration: Three (3) Years Fixed Term Contract

Dimension of Role:

• Coordinates robust analysis and understanding of WASH policy and political contexts in which R-WASH will work.
• Develops Gender and Influencing objectives and strategies that aim to change and/or strengthen the WASH formal and informal systems and structures in target regions.
• Leads the implementation of R-WASH Gender Equality and Influencing Strategy which aim at ensuring Plan staff and key partners have the tools, skills and capacities to fulfil core WASH gender standards across the beneficiary regions.
• Coordinates the preparation and submission of progress reports relating to the implementation of the Gender and Influencing strategy.
• Leads the Gender Equality Self-Assessment on R-WASH project.
• Rolls out R-WASH’s Gender Equality and Influencing Capacity Building Programme in Central, Eastern and Volta Regions.
• Collaborates to the development, implementation and review of other Plan International Ghana Gender Equality and Influencing,
• Performs any other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

Typical Responsibilities:

Policy:

• Works closely with Local NGOs, CSOs, CONIWAS, in analysing internal and external evidence and data to build R-WASH thought leadership, establish clear policy positions and use these to identify opportunities to challenge and strengthen policy and legal frameworks at national, regional and international levels.

Advocacy:

• Analyses political environments and stakeholders in order to identify the most strategic targets who can bring about the change, including government, civil society, and local/religious leaders.

Partnerships:

• Works with the R-WASH team to identify and develop strategic collaborations with civil society, government, private sector, UN bodies, and others at the local, national and global level.

Public mobilisation:

• Identifies how the general public, including children and young people especially girls with whom we work, can be mobilised effectively to contribute to influencing objectives of the R-WASH project.
• Mobilisation should be deployed nationally to influence local and national decision-makers, but can also be multi-country to build collective pressure to influence decision-makers nationally and internationally.

Strategic communications:

• Identifies strategic communications channels and outlets that can best influence R-WASH targets and bring wider attention to chosen issues.
• Works with the R-WASH team to use Plan International’s expert voice, evidence-based positions, and illustrations of successful programme interventions to inform and engage policy makers via key media and social media outlets.

Support performance on Gender Equality

• The R-WASH project has a Gender training/induction plan;
• All staff on R-WASH are trained on WASH Gender Programming;
• All staff know and utilize Plan’s gender analysis tools;
• The R-WASH team identifies and shares experiences on gender programming;
• Supports staff in defining SMART gender performance objectives for the purpose of gender sensitivity assessment.

Gender& Influencing Network

• The R-WASH team actively participates in the regional and national WASH gender network;
• The R-WASH documents gender programming and shares lessons learnt;
• The R-WASH is part of, and participates and is known in the national WASH networks that are pertinent.

Dealing with problems:

• Strategic thinking, listening and negotiation,
• Informs, motivates and advises staff on gender issues,
• Be a champion for gender equality practice and effective programming among staff

External

• Partners at national level: Gender Specialists/points persons within other INGOs;
• Governmental structures mainly Ministry of Children, Gender and Social Protection to share best practices and to identify/implement opportunities for collaboration e.g. advocacy, research, etc.
• National technical networks.

Others

• Fulfills Plan’s Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy at all times to protect children from all forms of abuse.
• Performs any other duties to be assigned by Supervisor to support the achievement of organizational goals Knowledge, Skills, Behaviors, and Experience Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:

Qualification Required & Experience

• A Masters degree in Gender Studies, Development Studies, Sociology
• Ideally minimum of 5 years solid experience in gender issues in the NGO/voluntary sector
• Experience of developing and implementing Gender strategies
• Experience in influencing and advocacy
• Understanding of contemporary WASH issues in Ghana
• Understanding of the Convention of the Rights of the Child, Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and other human rights instruments.

Knowledge

• Good knowledge of women rights issues at country level and globally, and instruments
• Good knowledge of children rights, the CRC and other relating right instruments,
• Knowledge and Understanding of the links between gender equality and children rights
• Knowledge of Gender analysis programme frameworks and their applications to child rights programming

Skills

• Good training and presentation skills
• Technical and research skills in gender equality with a focus on girls human rights,
• Good gender analysis skills,
• Ability to provide guidance to research and policy development
• Good English and French, written and verbal skills
• Ability to build internal and external networks
• Good organisational and project management skills

Behaviours

• Provides strategic leadership in the country
• Promotes innovation and learning
• Communicates effectively and enthusiastically
• Behaves consistently in his/her approach to work and decision-making

Physical Environment and Demands:

Travel requirements

• This position entails a minimum of 60% travel both within and outside the country

Location: Koforidua

How To Apply For The Job

Interested applicants should submit the following documents to the LINK provided in the advert. To submit your application, click on the link below and complete all relevant fields on the online application form.

Click Here To Apply Online

• Detailed Curriculum Vitae, stating current and latest posts (WITH DATES) as well as summary of job responsibilities,
• cover letter, indicating preferred Region;
• Names, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers of three (3) Referees (work-related);
• Personal contact telephone numbers and e-mail addresses.
• Certified photocopies of relevant certificates of highest academic qualification, as well as national service certificate (if applicable).

Closing Date: 24 August, 2018

Only shortlisted candidates would be contacted.

Qualified Ghanaian nationals, especially female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Plan International is an equal opportunities employer, committed to the protection of children and gender equality and our recruitment procedure reflects this. Selected applicants will be expected to comply with the child