Sierra Leone: National Gender and Social Inclusion Expert

Feb 13, 2021 | Pact
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At the heart of Pact is the promise of a better tomorrow. A nonprofit international development organization founded in 1971, Pact works on the ground in nearly 40 countries to improve the lives of those who are challenged by poverty and marginalization. We serve these communities because we envision a world where everyone owns their future. To do this, we build systemic solutions in partnership with local organizations, businesses, and governments that create sustainable and resilient communities where those we serve are heard, capable, and vibrant. Pact is a recognized global leader in international development. Our staff have a range of expertise in areas including public health, capacity development, governance and civil society, natural resource management, poverty, fragile states, monitoring and evaluation, small-scale and artisanal mining, microfinance and more. This expertise is combined in Pact’s unique integrated approach, which focuses on systemic changes needed to improve people’s lives.

Department

Mines to Markets (M2M) - Pact’s Mines to Markets Signature Initiative assists mineral-dependent communities to gain lasting benefits from the more sustainable use of the natural resources around them. Pact takes an integrated approach to its work in the mining sector: we link mining to livelihoods, governance, health, environment, and the strengthening of local, regional and national institutions. The M2M program is currently active in eleven countries, working with all scales of mining from large scale industrial operations (LSMs) to individual Artisanal and Small-scale Miners (ASMs) and their communities, in remote areas. For more information on current and some past projects at www.pactworld.org/mining.

Position Overview

Period of Performance: 08 February 2021 – 31 December 2021

Contract Type: Fixed Price

Location: Freetown, Sierra Leone

Reports to: Jorden de Haan, Project Manager, Pact Mines to Market (M2M)

Expected LOE: 60 Days 

Background

Sierra Leone’s burgeoning artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector provides critical livelihoods for women, men and youth, but is largely informal and associated with a range of social and environmental challenges, including mercury use. In response to this, the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) developed a National Action Plan (NAP) for the country, which was recently endorsed (by the President), and outlines strategies for supporting reduction in mercury usage in the ASGM sector, through introducing better mining practices, formalizing the sector, and advancing gender equality in ASGM communities. Beyond mercury, the NAP aims to support the broader professionalization of ASGM, in line with national development priorities as outlined in Sierra Leone’s Medium-term National Development Plan 2019-2023.

Funded by GIZ, Pact’s work in Sierra Leone’s ASGM sector focuses on supporting stakeholders to “kick-start” implementation of Sierra Leone’s NAP. The Project aims to accomplish this by supporting responsible gold production and trade and improved formal market access for ASGM miners and gold traders. Interventions will target Sierra Leone’s Tonkolili district, where significant ASGM activity takes place with increasing mercury use, and little support has been provided to ASGM communities to date.

Key Responsibilities

Summary of Role

Pact is seeking a part-time local consultant to assist with this project. The National Gender and Social Inclusion Expert will work report to and work closely together with Pact M2M’s Project Manager (Jorden de Haan), alongside two other national consultants. The consultant will support a rapid gold supply chain assessment, trainings with community members, and Project workshops. She or he will also review the Project’s training materials, reports and other outputs to ensure gender and other social inclusion considerations (e.g. regarding youth, disadvantaged ethnic groups, etc.) are mainstreamed. The consultant will work for a period of performance up to 50 days’ LOE starting on February 8, 2021. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The position will support the Project Manager and National Coordinator and collaborate other project staff to ensure that all project activities and outputs related to women, youth and socio-economic development are technically sound and appropriate to the local ASGM context. Moreover, he or she will support selected project activities related to data collection, training and stakeholder engagement. 

Specific responsibilities include:

• Weekly coordination (‘check-ins’) with the Project Manager and National Coordinator about the project status and national ASM context, and responding to (small) ad hoc requests for advice and inputs within this consultancy’s technical scope of work.
• Review of the Project’s Technical Proposal and Implementation Workplan; Sierra Leone’s National Action Plan and ASGM Overview; and UNITAR’s Socio-economic ASGM Research Methodology.
• Regular monitoring of developments in Sierra Leone’s ASGM sector, especially in Tonkolili district; and sharing of relevant (research) findings with Project staff.
• Participating in inception meetings with the GIZ office in Freetown, the National Minerals Agency (NMA), Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and other project stakeholders.
• Participating in a field study to assess socio-cultural, socio-economic and gender dynamics, the role, challenges, opportunities and needs of women and children, and occupational health and safety considerations in targeted ASGM communities.
• Co-design and review of training, workshop and communications materials related to organizational strengthening, formalization, business management and gender equality.
• Co-facilitation of workshop and training events, with a leading role in issues of gender, social inclusion, socio-economic development, and other areas as appropriate to the Expert’s expertise and interest.
• Review of Mine Plans developed with selected ASGM communities, with a focus on issues pertaining to gender, social inclusion, socio-economic development and occupational health and safety.

Basic Requirements

Requirements

• MSc or higher degree in public policy, international development, or related discipline in social sciences.
• At least four years of professional experience on gender dynamics in artisanal mining, and broader expertise on women’s (in)access to justice and women’s participation and leadership in Sierra Leone;
• Experience conducting field work in Sierra Leonian ASM communities and facilitating trainings and workshops in rural communities;
• Demonstrated expertise on the subject matter, evidenced by multiple publications on the topic;
• Proficiency in English and Creole, both in speaking and writing;
• Sierra Leonian citizen/resident, or existing work permit to carry out this work in Sierra Leone.

Application Requirements

• CV
• Daily rate
• Writing sample
• Cover Letter

Physical Effort

• This is a remote, home-based consultancy
• The consultant is expected to travel within Sierra Leone, especially in Tonkolili district

Deliverables

The following deliverables should be completed by the end of the consultancy and the quality and timely delivery of tasks/outcomes will be used to determine if the assignment was successfully completed:

Deliverables/Payment Schedule/Level of Effort