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Barbados: Gender Specialist

Jun 13, 2021 | UN Development Programme
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The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It promotes technical and investment cooperation among nations and advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life for themselves.

Background

Grenada’s biodiversity is being threatened by unsafe agricultural practices and encroachment from human settlements, resulting in habitat loss and fragmentation, overexploitation of biological resources, and pollution. The presence of invasive alien species and climate change are also drivers of biodiversity loss in the country. Land degradation has affected approximately 50% of land resources in Grenada; deforestation and fragmentation of forests in the form of forest clearance to allow for residential and commercial development, non-sustainable agriculture, forest fires, and coastal tourism development are the main forces behind land degradation in Grenada. Integrated agroecosystem management, which incorporates Sustainable Land Management (SLM) and biodiversity conservation into production landscapes, may provide a solution to biodiversity loss and land degradation in the country.

SLM and biodiversity conservation objectives need to be mainstreamed into national land use planning, sectoral policies, and legal frameworks. Incorporated into SLM are climate smart agriculture (CSA) practices that can contribute to ensuring the long-term sustainability of agricultural production at the community and producer levels. However, there are several barriers that hinder the advancement of long-term and effective implementation of SLM and CSA practices and the mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation into landscapes in Grenada. These include:

  • insufficient systemic and institutional capacity for integrated SLM and biodiversity conservation landscape-level planning;
  • lack of access to financial mechanisms and technical and information services, thereby limiting investment in sustainable agricultural planning and practices; and
  • limited awareness, understanding, and knowledge of CSA and SLM techniques and practices integrated with biodiversity conservation.

The project’s objective is to operationalize integrated agroecosystem management through mainstreaming biodiversity conservation in productive landscapes and increasing the resilience of agricultural systems. The project will use an integrated landscape management approach that will allow combining resilient agricultural and conservation practices in productive landscapes.

This strategy will contribute to reducing the loss of biodiversity of global and local importance and the degradation of land in Grenada.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will have proficiency and experience in issues related to sustainable development. The ideal candidate will have a nuanced understanding of interconnected issues of natural resources management, climate change, vulnerability, gender equality and can quickly and effectively provide technical expertise to advance project objectives in Grenada.

Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Project Coordinator, the Gender Specialist will have the responsibility for the implementation of the Gender Action Plan. The Gender Specialist will work closely with the Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist and Communications Coordination Assistant on related aspects of project implementation, reporting, monitoring, evaluation, and communication.

Gender Mainstreaming:

  • Monitor progress in implementation of the project Gender Action Plan ensuring that targets are fully met, and the reporting requirements are fulfilled
  • Oversee/develop/coordinate implementation of all gender-related work
  • Review the Gender Action Plan, update and revise corresponding management plans as necessary
  • Establish and update specific and clear gender markers and indicators within the project’s Monitoring & Evaluation Framework
  • Monitor the project’s progress in meeting the gender markers and indicators set and establish efficient reporting mechanisms for collation of this data
  • Work with the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist to ensure reporting, monitoring and evaluation fully addresses the gender issues of the project

Other activities:

  • Undertake any other activities required for the fulfilment of the mandate of the post

Competencies

Years of experience:

  • At least five (5) years of practical working experience in gender mainstreaming, women’s; empowerment, and sustainable development in Grenada and/or the Caribbean region;
  • Demonstratable experience in gender issues/gender responsive capacity building in Grenada and/or the Caribbean region;
  • Demonstratable experience with project development and results-based management methodologies;
  • Demonstratable experience working with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) or other United Nations (UN) agency
  • Knowledge and working experience on gender mainstreaming in international projects will be an asset;
  • Knowledge on gender equality and main trends in the region will be an asset.

Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UN;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Demonstrated experience working on projects or assignments related to issues of gender and sustainable development;
  • Demonstrated experience in addressing the relationship between sustainable development, social and gender issues;
  • Demonstrated experience in working with global, regional, and country partners and other agencies, experts, and host country staff in gender mainstreaming;
  • Ability to organize and lead project-wide activities;
  • Ability to advocate and provide advice;
  • Excellent analytical, writing, advocacy, presentation, and communications skills adaptability;
  • Effective time management and ability to work within tight deadlines.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

  • Master’s Degree in the Gender Studies, Gender and Development, Environment, Sustainable Development, Social Sciences, or a related field with a minimum of five (5) years relevant working experience
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Gender Studies, Gender and Development, Environment, Sustainable Development, Social Sciences, or a related field with a minimum of seven (7) years relevant working experience