Re advert-Country Gender Equality, Diversity and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) adviser

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004. In partnership with civil society organizations, private sector, and the government, Mercy Corps Ethiopia has reached more than five million Ethiopians with interventions to save lives and build secure livelihoods. Our programs emphasize market-driven solutions, reinforce social bonds, and help communities build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Currently in six regional states – Afar, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Amhara and South Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR) – Mercy Corps Ethiopia is driven by the mission to contribute the emergence of a peaceful, resilient, and prosperous Ethiopia which is inclusive of youth and women. Our strategic directions focus in promoting inclusive and dynamic markets; promoting peace and social cohesion through strengthening formal/informal governance structures and citizen engagement; improved natural resource governance; and integrated humanitarian response.

Position Title:COUNTRY GENDER EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION (GEDSI) ADVISER

Duty Station: Addis Ababa

Open Position:  1

The program

The Program Performance and Quality (PaQ) department of Mercy Corps is committed to developing and applying consistent standards, processes, and practices of program management to enhance the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of Mercy Corps’ programs. The PaQ department serves as a link between various programs and teams and covers the following workstreams: proposal development, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), quality assurance of program management standards, research and learning, gender equality and social inclusion, internal and external communications, and community accountability.

General Position Summary

The Country Gender Equality, Diversity and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) adviser is a key position in Mercy Corps Ethiopia that leads and coordinates the integration of gender, diversity, and inclusion (GDI) perspectives into Mercy Corps Ethiopia operations and promotes gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) transformative programming. S/He is overseeing the technical quality, implementation and delivery and documentation of GESI transformation or mainstreaming across different market based and humanitarian programs. S/He will be leading organizational and staff transformation on GDI through facilitating reflections and promoting an inclusive workplace environment. The GEDSI advisor is an active member of country PaQ team, country senior management and country leadership team.

Essential Job Responsibilities

 STRATEGY & VISION

Participate in the Mercy Corps teams vision, strategic planning, and execution thereof for GESI as well as GDI strongly considered and reflected as key area of commitments.

• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
• Ensure gender integration social inclusion are incorporated into mission level strategic and annual planning efforts.
• Support proactive GESI integration   across all the programs in the country.
• Support and supervise the GDI and GESI working groups that will be held regularly in compliance with the GDI Terms of Reference (ToR)
• Support research initiatives which advance the agency’s learning on innovative approaches to GESI work and contribute to efforts to GESI organizational policies and procedures and to build staff capacity through training and the strengthening of GESI transformative M&E systems, using established agency tools and protocol.
• Support internal and external communication efforts (articles, case studies, conferences, and forums) to highlight to Mercy Corps’ GEDSI work in Ethiopia.
• Provide on-going assistance with the implementation of GESI integration and women and girls’ focused activities under and other gender focused programs across the country.
• Introduce new innovations and strategies to promote GESI in programming and lead organizational transformation.

GENDER DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

• Ensure that GDI principles and approaches are integrated into accountability, quality assurance and HR systems.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Provide country teams with technical support, coaching and capacity building to ensure high quality gender integration in programs and the GDI initiative.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Provide team members with information, tools, and other resources to improve GDI performance and reach objectives.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, training program and department staff on gender integration mainstreaming.
• Work closely with team members and partners, to support capacity-building and gender integration into all the components of the programs.

GENDER, EQUALITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION (GESI)

• Advocate for adherence of GESI minimum standards by all program team members and leaders
• Conduct periodic mission-level GESI audits to ensure effective GESI integration.
• Advocate for budget allocation for GESI related activities and staff capacity building on GESI
• Support program team to make sure GESI issues are properly reflected during program management.
• Lead the organization’s commitment to age and gender inclusive team building process.
• Support Staff Capacity Building on Increase staff knowledge of GESI
• Coordinate with all MEAL technical Team to improve gender-responsiveness of program /Project MEAL system.
• Increased commitment to Gender Equality Diversity and Social inclusion

PROGRAM AND PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT 

• Contribute to or lead proposal development efforts to ensure GESI and protection issues are incorporated into the design of new programs with proper budget allocation.
• Provide country teams with technical support, coaching and capacity building to ensure high quality gender integration in programs.
• Gather/analyse data and complete assessments to determine community needs and priorities, identify partnership opportunities and Mercy Corps competitive advantage for funding.
• Provide support for prepositioning and new program strategy design efforts.
• Cultivate and nurture donor relationships and strategic partnerships that may result in stronger or more impactful program development efforts.

LEARNING AND IMPACT 

• Work closely with all the Departments to establish assessment, monitoring, and evaluation frameworks to measure and improve upon program quality and impact, specific to GESI and GDI.
• Contribute to the set-up and implementation of a lessons learnt system capture learnings on GESI integration across the mission and programs.
• Ensure gender is integrated across tools, theory of change, indicators, and log frames.
• Contribute to country-level initiatives such as research agendas and internal learning exercises.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

• Represent Mercy Corps at relevant internal and external coordination mechanisms and meetings.
• Identify and nurture strategic partnerships with other organizations, donors, institutions, and local actors.
• Present concepts and ideas to donors, partners, and peer organizations that influence their decisions.
• Support internal and external communication efforts (articles, case studies, conferences, and forums) to highlight to Mercy Corps’ gender work in Ethiopia.
• Contribute to agency-wide gender integration efforts and communities of practice as appropriate.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

The position holder will directly supervise the gender equality and protection adviser and has a technical supervisory role of all GEDSI team across the different programs.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Reports Directly To:Program Performance and Quality (PaQ) Director

SECURITY 

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

Knowledge and Experience

• MA in international development, women’s studies, gender, or a comparable area of study
• At least five years of experience in international development work, with a minimum of three years in field postings. Minimum of three years of experience in GESI technical work.
• Substantial background in GESI and development work including experience conducting gender training, gender mainstreaming and engaging in gender advocacy.
• Experience working in East Africa preferred.
• Strong writing skills required.
• Strong public speaking skills required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required.

 Success Factors:

The GEDSI Advisor will demonstrate experience-managing programs in the field, further enhancing their ability to adjust technical theories to meet real world complexities. The individual should have the proven ability to influence donors, partners, and peer organizations. The role requires strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, and a level of emotional intelligence proficiency that quickly builds and maintains productive relationships across teams. Being aware and sensitive to international development issues and diverse cultures is critical.

LIVING CONDITIONS / ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The position is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and it requires up to 30% travel to field locations.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps’ policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues. Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for the position advertised.  All applications submitted to the Mercy Corps office or electronically include a CV, three references, and all relevant official documents.

Only candidates that are short-listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.

“Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity and    diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empower women and youth.”

DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 22 July 2023/ 4:00 PM