Senior Gender Advisor - Ethiopia

Job Description

The purpose of the upcoming Reading for Ethiopia’s Achievement Developed (READ II) Activity is to demonstrate interventions that can meaningfully and measurably prepare a range of vulnerable students for learning and contribute to the implementation of a structured gender approach to increase boys’ and girls’ grade retention and grade progression at key grades in key regions and zones.

Anticipated Proposal Award Date: Late September / Early October 2017

Proposal Position Description

The Senior Gender Advisor will provide high level technical expertise on gender, including direct technical support to curriculum and materials revision, policy advocacy, and policy and intervention development. S/he will be responsible for overseeing the design, implementation and evaluation of pilot activities to define a gendered approach to improving girls’ and boys’ learning outcomes. S/he will work with pre- and in-service teams to ensure that gender is incorporated into all training programs. S/he will work with key stakeholders to identify and implement strategies to increase the number of female role models for adolescent and young girls and to transform what happens in the classroom. This will include drafting strategy and action plans for provision of the technical assistance. The Senior Gender Advisor will play a key role in building technical capacity of government and CSO partners, as well as project staff. Additional duties include:

• Ensure the effective implementation of project activities as required under the work plan and contract with USAID
• Coordinate activities between result areas to ensure that they are integrated and synergistic
• Work with the COP and Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor to track the Performance Monitoring Plan
• Coordinate with the home office Gender Specialist to ensure that project activities reflect best practice, are consistent with EDC’s gender approach, and align with its gender strategy
• Oversee all gender activities within the context of the overall project, and participate in the senior management team

Education: Master’s Degree (or foreign equivalent) in gender/women’s studies, international development, education, or similar relevant field required.

Skills and Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years of experience in analyzing gender issues in East Africa required;
• Experience in conducting gender assessments;
• Proven ability to apply gender-sensitive and gender-transformative approaches to issues on education;
• Demonstrated ability to work with host government and partners in implementing a complex project in the field under challenging circumstances;
• Significant knowledge of gender principles as they relate to education and early grade reading for community-based programs is highly preferred;
• 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;
• Experience with technical and/or operational issues related to a mix of primary education, girls’ education, literacy, women’s empowerment and leadership, and community engagement is preferred;
• Experience providing sound recommendations on strategies and tools to integrate gender in project design and implementation;
• Knowledge of international best practices on gender programing, project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, as well as excellent interpersonal, writing and presentation skills;
• Strong understanding of issues related to girls’ education and gender equality in East Africa and familiarity with health and GBV prevention and response is preferred; and
• Familiarity with USAID programming, rules, and regulations.

Language: Fluency in English is required.

Additional Information:

Due to the volume of applications submitted, only finalists will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

About the Organization

About Us:

Education Development Center (EDC) is one of the world’s leading nonprofit research and development firms. Established in 1958, EDC designs, delivers and evaluates innovative programs to address some of the world’s most urgent challenges in education, health, and economic opportunity.

Our International Development Division collaborates with local partners in more than 35 countries across five continents. We work at the preschool, primary, and secondary levels, and with youth, adults, and out-of-school learners. Whether helping youth build job skills in Haiti, teaching HIV/AIDS orphans in Zambia, or helping Yemeni teachers use technology to improve their skills, EDC is committed to building human capacity and ensuring our partners can sustain their own programs.

EDC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V) and has Affirmative Action Plans for Women and Minorities and for Disabled Workers and Veterans. EDC is a smoke-free workplace.