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Kenya: Gender Policy And Strategy Expert – Aquatic Environmental Management

Nov 25, 2025 (Deadline: 2025-12-18) | African Union - InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources
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The African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), a specialized technical office of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (DARBE) of the African Union Commission (AUC), is mandated to support and coordinate the utilization of livestock, fisheries, aquaculture and wildlife as resources for both human wellbeing and economic development in the Member States of the African Union. The Vision of the AU-IBAR Strategic Plan 2024-2028 is an Africa in which animal resources contribute significantly to integration, prosperity and peace. AU-IBAR’s intervention in the fisheries and aquaculture sector is guided by the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for fisheries and aquaculture in Africa (PFRS) which is aimed at improving governance of the sector for increased sustainable contribution to food security, livelihoods and wealth creation. Also within the framework of the African Union 2063, the Africa Blue Economy Strategy envisioned an inclusive and sustainable blue economy that significantly contributes to Africa’s transformation and growth.

The Africa Blue Economy Strategy is endorsed at the highest political level of the continent. The Strategy incorporates key critical vectors for promoting blue economy development of the continent, including fisheries, aquaculture and ecosystem conservation; shipping, maritime safety and trade; climate change, environmental sustainability and ecotourism; sustainable energy and extractive mineral resources; governance, institutions and job creation.

AU-IBAR, with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), is implementing a project on “Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in African Blue Economy", for the last four years (from October 2021 to December 2025). The overall objective of the project is to enhance the policy environment, regulatory frameworks and institutional capacities of AU member states and regional economic communities to sustainably utilize and conserve aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems. The overall objective of the project is to enhance the policy environment, regulatory frameworks and institutional capacities of AU member states and regional economic communities to sustainably utilize and conserve aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems.

The specific objectives of the project are as follows:

  1. Ratify and/or align relevant international/regional instruments related to blue economy themes (with specific reference to protecting and conserving biodiversity).
  2. Optimizing conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity while minimizing conflicts among blue economy sub-themes.
  3. Strengthening measures for mitigating the negative impacts of coastal and marine tourism, oil, gas, deep sea mining and climate change on aquatic biodiversity and environment.
  4. Strengthening gender inclusivity in aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental management.

The project developed a continental strategy for mainstreaming gender in aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental management which was endorsed by African Union Heads of State and Government. On the basis of this endorsed strategy, significant achievements have been made on providing support to AU Member States to integrate gender considerations in institutional frameworks as well as strengthening gender dimension, climate change and environmental considerations in community-led actions, notably, as relevant to this consultany:

  1. Piloting the continental gender strategy in 5 AU Member States, across the 5 regions of Africa;
  2. Empowering women and youth in ecosystems restorations among selected coastal communities;
  3. Strengthening gender dimensions, climate change mitigation and environmental consideration along regional blue value chains in identified coastal fisheries.

The current phase of the Project expires in December 2025. However, AU-IBAR has received notification for extension of the Project by SIDA. The extension will allow support to be given to additional communities and regions to strengthen gender issues, advanced mechanisms for mitigating climate change and strengthening regional value chains, noting in particular the role of women, youth and the private sector.

Therefore, during the extension phase, AU-IBAR seeks the services of a Gender Policy and Strategy Expert - Aquatic Environmental Management, for a short-term consultancy, to strengthen the role and participation of women in the conservation of aquatic biodiversity and the environment as well as enhanced community led action for ecosystems restoration and aquatic biodiversity conservation.

Job Description Summary

Under the direct supervision of the Project Team Leader at AU-IBAR, the incumbent will undertake the following targeted areas of work so as to achieve the objectives of the Project ‘Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in African Blue Economy’:

  1. Contribute to the identification and mainstreaming of gender related issues across the project’s activities relevant to aquatic biodiversity and environmental management.
  2. Participate in analysis of, from a gender perspective, existing national, regional and local policies, strategies and action plans and elaborate on the added value of gender mainstreaming into national and regional conservation policies.
  3. Support the operationalization of the AU endorsed continental strategy for gender mainstreaming in aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental management in the continent.
  4. Contribute to the implementation of the Continental strategy on Nature-based solutions for sustainable aquatic biodiversity conservation, and environment management - ensuring effective community, private sector, women and youth, participation in climate change mitigation efforts, conserving and restoring aquatic ecosystems and fish stocks.
  5. Strengthen inclusive Regional Blue Value Chains in selected fisheries and aquaculture undertaken: including actors, enablers, drivers and develop mechanisms for enhancing effective private sector, women and youth engagement.
  6. Promote the operationalization of WION-SOF (West Indian Ocean Network for Small-scale Octopus Fisheries (development of strategic plan and annual workplan; and to coordinate support to stakeholders along the value to enhance capacity for improved market access for Octopus).
  7. Enhance mechanisms to promote the Private sector and Women’s representation in climate change decision-making institutions at national, regional and continental levels.
  8. Identify partners (including NGOs, regional and national institutions) for collaboration to support gender and climate actions in coastal communities.
  9. Any other duty as may be assigned by the Project Team Leader.