Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Advisor

SCOPE OF WORK

PROJECT BACKGROUND:

The USAID/Nepal Karnali Water Activity will create healthy, resilient, and water secure communities at the watershed level through strengthened water and sanitation governance that improves water resource management (including water for more resilient and biodiverse ecosystems), enhances sustainable access to drinking water, improves agriculture water management, and reduces the fecal pathogen burden in the environment from poorly managed non-sewered sanitation through fecal sludge management. The program team will methodically integrate WRM, watershed biodiversity conservation, and water and sanitation service delivery by mapping and strengthening the roles, connections, capacities of key actors and stakeholders system-wide. 

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The GESI Advisor will provide technical assistance and capacity building support to ensure that issues of gender, caste, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and disabilities are meaningfully considered in program activities. Moreover, the GESI Advisor will ensure women and representatives of other marginalized groups are able to actively and meaningfully participate in Karnali Water Activity. In close coordination with team members, the GESI Advisor will build the capacity of project partners, including national and local stakeholders and implementing partners, in this area.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Work with the team to implement the Karnali Water Activity’s GESI Action Plan and produce regular reports on GESI integration.
• Strengthen GESI integration by proposing required adaptation based on analysis of disaggregated MEL data (qualitative and quantitative), recommendations and inputs gathered from the GESI team, other team members, and key stakeholders.
• Support the development and implementation of GESI-related trainings to build capacity of Karnali Water staff, municipal staff, communities, and partners. 
• Coordinate closely with the Karnali Water Activity’s Capacity Building and Training Specialist to ensure capacity building initiatives incorporate GESI sensitivity.
• Identify opportunities to integrate GESI considerations and principles in local government structures, performance measurement processes, policies, plans, enforcement and oversight mechanisms, and budget allocations.
• Design interventions that address GESI disparities and create opportunities for women and other marginalized groups’ meaningful leadership and participation in WASH and WRM sectors. 
• Work with field staff to track GESI performance in participating municipalities and with service providers and grantees to track GESI performance in implementation.
• Participate in periodic reviews of progress under the Work Plan and adapt plans and activities as appropriate in collaboration with other team members. 
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with donor agencies, local implementing partners (including grant recipients), and other stakeholders.
• Contribute to good, frequent, and direct communications between the project’s Kathmandu office and the regional office in Surkhet/watershed-based offices. 
• Coordinate closely with communication team to make sure GESI initiatives are promoted and highlighted. Coordinate closely with SBC and Outreach Specialist to make sure key messages are GESI sensitive and GESI issues are addressed in project campaigns and messages.
• Participate in periodic reviews of progress under the Work Plan and adapt plans and activities as appropriate in collaboration with other team members. 
• Other duties assigned by the GESI Director, DCOP or COP.

 QUALIFICATIONS:

• A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. 
• At least 10 years/bachelor’s degree and 6 years/master’s degree of relevant experience working to address gender, youth, and/or social inclusion. issues, in the WASH sector is preferred. (For excluded group at least 9 years with bachelor’s degree and 5 years with master’s degree)
• Two or more years of experience working on a USAID-funded project is highly desirable.
• Preferred experience/knowledge of USAID’s “work-around approach” for social change that can counter social norms and practices that perpetuate exclusion (chhaupadi).
• Experience working on GESI issues within the WASH and/or WRM sectors, with an emphasis on ensuring equitable water resource access, distribution and service provision.
• Demonstrated experience conducting gender integration programming. 
• Experience conducting and synthesizing information from key informant interviews and focus discussion groups to enhance GESI performance in donor-funded programs. 
• Experience developing and delivering GESI training and capacity development packages, preferred. 
• Ability to write coherent and analytical reports. 
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• An energetic, forward-thinking and creative individual with high ethical standards and appropriate professional image.
• An extremely well organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus.
• Strong ethics and experience dealing with sensitive community dynamics and conflict. 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, and fluency in English.

Application link: 

https://fs23.formsite.com/OLJTgx/nlourz0pp3/index

Application instructions:

Select the position in which you are interested in applying for, fill out the required information and upload CV. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as interviews will be conducted soon. Please note, due to the volume of applications that we receive and the urgency to fill-up positions only shortlisted applicants will receive notifications on next steps. 

Interested candidates should submit their application no later than December 06, 2024

DAI promotes workforce diversity and considers excluded groups to include women, Dalits, indigenous ethnic groups, Madhesi, Muslim, persons with disabilities, people living in remote areas, and sexual and gender minorities. 

ABOUT DAI

DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world.

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work.  DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner.

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All of our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.

This SOW is only a summary of the typical functions of the job, and not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all responsibilities, tasks, and duties.