Gender Coordinator – South West State

Job Title: Gender Coordinator – South West State

Location: Somalia

Reporting to: Country Director

Type of position: National

Grade and Salary: Somali Country Structure

Contract terms and hours: Contract- 37.5 hours per week

Background:

Saferworld is an independent international organisation working to prevent violent conflict and build safer lives. We work with people affected by conflict to improve their safety and sense of security, and conduct wider research and analysis. We use this evidence and learning to improve local, national and international policies and practices that can help build lasting peace. Our priority is people – we believe in a world where everyone can lead peaceful, fulfilling lives, free from fear and insecurity. We are a notfor-profit organisation operational in 12 countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Saferworld has been working to promote peace, democratisation and good governance in Somalia and Somaliland since 2004. We support civil society’s involvement, particularly women’s and youth groups, in crucial decision-making processes on peace, to identify drivers of conflict within the Somali region and to inform strategies to address them.

About the Programme

Saferworld and Asal Consulting have been selected as to implement the Participatory Public Policy (P3) and Institutional Strengthening component of the Nabadgelinta Soomaaliyaa programme.

The programme’s intended impact is to have Somalis benefit from improved security and access to justice through inclusive approaches that enjoy elite support and public confidence. Although the programme aims to achieve this impact for all Somali citizens, there is a particular emphasis on Somalis in vulnerable groups, including women, members of minority clans and internally displaced persons (IDPs). There is an assumption that if improved security and justice benefits those in vulnerable groups then there will be wider benefits to all Somalis.

Job purpose:

The Gender Coordinator plays a key role in delivering Saferworld’s gender, peace and security programming and analysis. The position will provide technical support and produce analysis using Saferworld’s conflict and gender methodology, support IP1 in implementing Nabadgelinta through gender-responsive approaches, and support advocacy efforts and provide accompaniment and mentoring on gender, peace and security to Saferworld and partner staff. The Coordinator will play an important role in shaping strategic and programmatic planning and decision-making. S/he will help to build and maintain relations and partnerships with a wide range of local and international organisations and individuals.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Enhance gender analysis and responsiveness within the South West State:

• Support project teams to integrate gender into programming and to assess and respond to experiences, needs and priorities of women, men, girls, boys and gender minorities
• Ensure gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) approach is applied across the programme to identify and challenge unequal power relations and discriminatory gender norms,
• Provide regular review of project and strategic documents from a gender mainstreaming perspective and advise team accordingly on adaptations needed
• Lead in the delivery of gender-focused internal capacity strengthening with the team
• With the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Coordinator, support the collection and utilisation of gender and age disaggregated data in project implementation and reporting
• Assist in the production of training and TOT curriculum on gender, community safety and justice for CSOs, authorities (potentially government , community leaders and community members

Build and maintain relations and partnerships

• Build and maintain strong relationships and partnerships with local and national civil society organisations and international organisations to enhance the impact of our work on safety, justice and gender
• Identify and represent Saferworld in working groups or forums exploring innovative approaches to gender, women’s empowerment and peace/conflict in South West State; participate in stakeholder and donor meetings
• Contribute to decision-making about strategic and programme partnerships
• Participate in meetings in project areas to identify and support establishment of partnerships grounded in gender and conflict analysis

Research

• Collaborate with staff to design and conduct high quality research and awareness raising on gender, peace and security (GPS) in South West State;
• Contribute to or lead on the production of research and policy products that examine links between gender and peacebuilding; ensure that other thematic research methodologies, analysis, writeups and dissemination are gender-responsive
• Keep up-to-date with existing research on gender, peace and security in South West State and circulate to staff and provide summaries and presentations
• Analyse security and justice legislation and policies from a gender perspective to support programme activities and learning

Key working relationships

• Internal working relationship with partner staff working with community action forums and government agencies and other stakeholders’ programme
• Internal close working relationship within various Saferworld team for information and experience and work relationships.
• External working relationship with state authorities including, INGOs and improve linkages, networking and collaborations on community security and safety work.
• Programme Staff and Somali Leadership team

Scope and accountability

Decision making and limits of authority

Participate in decisions based on programme planning, organising and implementations.

Financial resources

Contribute to activity budget development and review with partners

Other resources

Overseas Programme budget as delegated

People management

Supervise 4 staff

Legal, regulatory and compliance responsibility

• Ensure compliance with country labour laws
• Adhere to Saferworld policies and procedures
• Follow Saferworld security and safeguarding policies

Person specification

Knowledge, qualifications and experience

• 3-5 years of work experience on gender or women’s rights programming – preferably in contexts of community-led programming for security, justice and/or peace, and a network of contacts in this sector
• A degree (or equivalent qualification), preferably related to gender, conflict, or other social science subject
• Good understanding of current debates around gender, peace and security in the Somali context which may include issues of violence against women, gender equality and empowerment, gendered experiences and causes of conflict, masculinities, and gender minorities, as well as related policies
• Good understanding of the Somali context; experience of working in conflict-affected areas and with civil society organisations in Somali desirable
• Experience of working collaboratively with people in a multi-cultural and multi-functional team
• Experience of developing collaborative, trusted relationships with civil society organisations

Skills and abilities

• Ability to translate technical gender knowledge and analysis into programmatic and communitylevel interventions, work plans, and activities
• Fluency in written and spoken English and knowledge in local language considered an asset
• Excellent person-to-person communication skills when communicating complicated and sensitive topics to different audiences, including authorities, CSOs, community members and leaders, and peer organisations
• Experience in facilitation, training and capacity-building is desirable
• Strong research and analytical skills, and proven ability to contribute to researching for and writing policy papers, briefings and articles.
• Creativity, flexibility, self-motivation and the ability to prioritise workloads to meet deadlines
• Good interpersonal skills and proven ability to work as an effective team player.

Personal qualities

• Commitment to the vision, mission and values of Saferworld • Strong representation and relationship management abilities.
• Good presentation and facilitation skills.
• Team Work and team building
• A positive, problem-solving approach
• Commitment to and compliance with Saferworld’s safeguarding principles
• Commitment to respect and value equality and diversity, and understanding of how this applies to own area of work
• Commitment to own continuing personal and professional development

Other requirements

This role is required to travel and frequently to the field