Gender specialists are increasingly in demand across multiple sectors within global development, from agriculture to water and sanitation, to climate change, and health. There is no typical day for a gender specialist, and work often depends on the sector and the stage of a program. But for most, the job typically combines office and field work looking at how development challenges impact women and men differently and factoring these differences into programmatic planning and implementation.
Patience Nambo is an independent gender specialist with experience working with organizations including GIZ Côte d’Ivoire, World Cocoa Foundation, VSO Cameroon, International Trade Centre, and others across Europe and West Africa.
Devex spoke with Nambo about working as a gender specialist to hear about her experience and advice she has for others in this role. If you are working in gender or aspire a career in this area, here are her five tips for success.