GENDER, YOUTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION ADVISOR (1 POST)

ABOUT MESPT

Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT) was established in 2002 by the Government of Kenya and European Union. EU later relinquished their position to the Royal Danish Embassy in Kenya, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (DANIDA) through a Trust Deed of 2013.

The Trust is a development organization with a purpose to grow small holder farmers and Agri SMEs to increase productivity, incomes and enhance competitiveness for job creation especially for youth and women. This is achieved through capacity building which includes skills development, technical support, business advisory, financial and market linkages.

Our focus is to facilitate support and provision of integrated financial and business development services for small holder farmers and Agri SMEs in Kenya. This is aimed at enabling beneficiaries to access finance, increase agricultural productivity, agro-processing, and access markets/ trade opportunities. For over a decade, MESPT has partnered with development agencies, donors, and investors to build the capacity of the business services sector and the agricultural sector in Kenya through a unique tripartite business model that links Farmers, Agri- SMEs, and Financial Institutions – creating linkages along value chains.

We pride ourselves for successfully implementing 12 agriculture-based Programmes that have seen us facilitate creation of 70,000 decent jobs at various levels of the agriculture market systems. We have also cumulatively disbursed KES 6.4 billion to financial institutions and over 250,000 end users have accessed finance.

For further information kindly visit our website www.mespt.org

VACANT POSITION

As part of its development programme, MESPT is seeking to engage a highly committed, results-oriented, self-driven professional to drive gender, youth, and social dimensions with an objective of reducing the inclusion gap.

Department: Programmes

Position Reports to: CEO

Duty Station: Nairobi

Grade: Grade 3

Benefits: 25 days annual leave, Medical Insurance, 20% Gratuity and 7.5% leave allowance

Restrictions: 3 Month probation period, 3 years fixed contract and 1-month notice period

Expected Travel: Significant nationwide travel

Job Purpose

The Gender Youth & Social Inclusion Advisor will be responsible for providing leadership and technical oversight to ensure that gender, youth, and social dimensions are effectively integrated across all interventions at programmes and corporate level. S/he will work towards reducing the gender and social inclusion gap in MESPT programming by enhancing opportunities for women, youth and vulnerable people in Agri enterprise and market development, financial inclusion, agricultural productivity, food safety and green transformation. Summary of key functions:

1. Ensures provision of consistent and high-quality strategic policy advice on Gender, Youth and Social Inclusion to all MESPT Programmes and Projects
2. Provide effective programme development and management advice on Gender, Youth and Social Inclusion
3. Ensures strategic partnership building, advice on gender, youth and social inclusion.
4. Facilitate knowledge building, management and sharing on Gender, Youth and Social Inclusion.

Key Responsibilities

Ensures provision of consistent and high-quality strategic policy advice on Gender, Youth and Social Inclusion to all MESPT Programmes and projects focusing on the achievement of the following results;

• Ensures effective results and related data indicators on Gender Youth and Social Inclusion issues are integrated in programme designs and implementation models / strategies through participation by all programme leads.
• Ensures issues of gender equality, youth and social inclusion are effectively mainstreamed into the MESPT strategic plan, implementation model and result framework.
• Ensure issues of gender equality, youth and social inclusion are effectively mainstreamed into local institutional diagnostic assessments on planning, governance, revenue, and service delivery.
• Identifies policy and capacity gaps in the mainstreaming of gender, youth and social inclusion across MESPT thematic areas and develops and implements training programmes to build capacity in these areas.
• Reviews loan applications and ensures that they effectively promote gender, youth, and social inclusion.
• Works with project committees to ensure voices of women, youth and social inclusion are reflected in programme decisions.
• Keeps abreast with national, regional, and global gender, youth, and social inclusion issues.
• Follows up on trends in areas of responsibility and contributes to submissions on possible planning and policy recommendations on gender, youth, and social inclusion issues.
• Provides sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on gender, youth, and social inclusion issues.
• Coordinate and conduct gender, youth and social inclusion analysis of data, case evidence and research findings to distill relevant lessons from projects and programmes to inform policy formulation and guidance in programming.

Provides effective programme development and management advice, focusing on quality assurance and the achievement of the following results;

• Provides guidance to MESPT programmes to ensure that a sound gender, youth, and social inclusion analysis informs programme design and implementation, identifies strategic actions to be undertaken to improve the quality of programme implementation and ensures achievement of related results.
• Ensures gender, youth and social inclusion focus within MESPT is well articulated, communicated, and supported by all spheres of operations and programming
• Ensures the effective application of Results Based Management tools, establishment of management targets and monitoring achievement of results.
• Ensures constant monitoring and analysis of gender, youth and social inclusion issues in programme implementation and advises on timely readjustments needed.
• Ensures regular reporting on activities, outputs and outcomes related to gender, youth and social inclusion concerning all MESPT programmes and project activities.
• Contribute technical expertise that feeds into a dynamic community of practice of MESPT staff and partners; sharing best practices across all MESPTI areas and work streams, while seeking opportunities to build MESPT staff’s capabilities in gender, youth and social inclusion.
• Identifies opportunities and lead the conceptualization of strategic programme interventions that responds to the issues of gender, youth and social inclusion.
• Organizes and participates in periodic technical reviews as well as programme evaluation exercises.
• Monitors the follow up of relevant evaluation recommendations, document and provide feedback on, and disseminate lessons learned.
• Build capacity of MESPT Staff and its partners on gender mainstreaming and result measurement.
• Ensure Human rights-based approach and PANT principles are embedded across all programmes and MESPT strategic plan.

Ensures strategic partnership building, advice on gender, youth, and social inclusion, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Develops and strengthens partnerships with UN Agencies, International Financing Institutions, central and local government institutions, bilateral and multi-lateral actors, private sector, civil society in gender, youth and social inclusion based on strategic goals of MESPT, country needs and donor priorities.
• Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall MESPT effort in resource mobilization.
• Review of concept notes and proposals to ensure gender, youth, social inclusion mainstreaming for each programme/project.
• Facilitate the development of MESPT youth and women engagement strategy.
• Facilitate development of gender and inclusion guidelines aligned with PANTs principles.
• Work on youth mainstreaming as well as identifying entry points for youth engagement and youth-led innovation.
• Undertake any other task as directed by MESPT management.

Facilitate knowledge building, management and sharing advice on gender, youth and social inclusion, focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Helps develop and review communication materials for gender, youth and social inclusive sensitivity and use of appropriate language reflecting MESPT branding and visibility guidelines.
• Lead on gathering inputs and information required for the production of relevant learning products, including online and digital products, as well as coordinate dissemination of these products.
• Identify storylines and drafting of substantive articles on Gender, Youth and Social inclusion.
• Ensures a smooth flow of gender, youth and social inclusion related success/human interest stories and communication materials to feed into situation reports, updates, newsletters, website, and other communication channels, through coordination with partners.
• Works closely with other staff to ensure effective communication of appropriate gender, youth, and social inclusion results to partners and public.

Any other duties as assigned by the Supervisor from time to time

Key Relationships

Internal

• Head of Finance and Administration
• Programme Managers
• MEAL Team
• ICT Manager
• HR Officer
• Corporate Communication Officer

External

• The Board pf Trustees
• Partner organisations,
• Stakeholders including government, research institutions, financial institutions, external auditors, donors, and private companies

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

A minimum six (6) years (with Masters degree), or minimum ten (10) years (with Bachelor’s degree) of extensive working experience in gender, women, youth, social inclusion and human rights related issues, is required;

• Proven experience on developing systems, procedures, guidelines, manuals, models and templates for reporting and verification practices on gender programming;
• Proven experience and knowledge in Development Effectiveness and cooperation, gender equality and its related issues.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.
• Experience in Kenya and an in-depth understanding of gender, youth and social inclusion in the context of Agricultural value chain development and Market Systems
• Ability to self-manage and succeed in an integrated management model, with demonstrated proactive and flexible nature in resolving problems and finding innovative solutions.
• Skills in participatory learning and action and facilitating collaborative problem solving.

Qualifications/Other Requirements:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Gender studies, Youth, Social Inclusion, Humanities, Social Development, International Development or a related field.
• Certification in Gender Based Analysis+ will be an added advantage

Role Competencies:

• Good managerial and leading skills.
• Demonstrates strong coordination and organizational skills.
• Ability to work as a part of a team, sharing information and coordinating efforts within the team.
• Consistently approaches to work with energy and a positive and constructive attitude.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Good communication skill both in writing and oral including networking and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to persuade and influence others to cooperate.
• Proven ability to build strong relations with partners, clients for positive feedback.
• Ability to undertake and apply gender analysis to ensure gender equitable solutions.
• Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter;

Behaviour

• Accountable: Taking responsibility for appropriate decisions that you make, and the actions and behaviour you demonstrate
• Embracing Change: Openness to embracing change within the organisation and being able to adjust plans/activities accordingly.
• Team Player: with excellent interpersonal skills, motivated by cooperating with a diverse mix of professionals and different cultures. Ability to build and maintain networks.
• Innovative: Thinking creatively and outside of the box so that ideas generated create a positive outcome

This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available and MESPT reserves the right to make necessary changes.