AGA KHAN FOUNDATION (Pakistan)
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), is a private, non-denominational, international development agency established in 1967. It seeks sustainable solutions to long-term problems of poverty, hunger, illiteracy and ill-health with special emphasis on the needs of rural communities in mountainous and other resource poor regions, primarily in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Its main areas of focus are education, health, rural development, environment and strengthening civil society.
GENDER AND SOCIAL PROTECTION OFFICER (GSPO)
The Aga Khan Foundation (Pakistan) [AKF(P)] is seeking a highly qualified candidate to fill the position of Gender and Social Protection Officer (GSPO) under the project Promoting Integrated Mountain Safety in Northern Pakistan (PIMSNP) based in Islamabad, Pakistan. The PIMSNP project is an integrated, multi-input program which will help to ensure that people living in vulnerable areas of northern Pakistan are at reduced exposure to risks posed by natural hazards and are better prepared to respond to and cope with disaster situations. AKF(P) will implement the PIMSNP project in partnership with the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat, Pakistan (AKAH,P). The Project Support Unit (PSU) at AKF(P) will oversee the implementation of the project. This is a project based position with project ending date February 1, 2021.
Overall Objectives
The GSPO will report to Director Rural Development Civil Society and Habitat and will be a core member of the Project Support Unit (PSU). He/she will serve as a technical advisor for the project, providing targeted expertise to the PSU and implementing partners to ensure that gender equality and social safeguards needs are considered and addressed throughout project implementation in a disaster risk management context. He/she will be responsible to hold project staff and leadership to the standards set forth in the Gender Action Plan of the project.
Main Duties & Responsibilities:
- Develop and implement the Gender Action Plan (GAP) of PIMSNP.
- Review key project documentation for gender and social protection characteristics to identify specific gaps; conduct a gender analysis (taking into account gender issues, especially during disaster situations, in regions of intervention); provide regular analysis on gender and social protection issues as they affect the project to ensure gender and protection-responsive programming.
- Build capacity of staff and stakeholders through relevant trainings. Support in updating and sharing with staff recent developments and knowledge tools in the areas of interventions. Contribute as a resource person during inception and final technical workshops for capacity building and information dissemination with stakeholders.
- Coordinate with PIMSNP/AKAH,P’s Gender and Social Projection Coordinator, MERL staff and PSU members to review and develop data collection tools for gender and protection specific activities; ensure all data collected on reach and impact is disaggregated by gender, and where possible, disability status; and integrate gender mainstreaming and social protection measures within PIMNSP’s M&E systems and reporting.
- Monitor, analyze and report against the project’s GAP on the gender and social safeguards for communities especially women, children and people with disabilities in coordination with relevant PSU and AKAH, P staff.
- Contribute to overall effective management of the project by synthesizing lessons, challenges, and risks for PIMSNP; applying key learnings to project implementation; and review project plans and budgets to ensure that adequate attention is paid to gender and social protection measures.
- Implement outreach activities by visiting project areas regularly to ensure that gender and social project perspectives are brought to bear. Ensure that the grievance redressal mechanism for targeted communities is known and applied; and supporting PSU to respond to and ensure timely case management for aggrieved community members (which will include follow-ups on outcomes of assistance provided).
Additional Roles:
- Support overall efforts of AKF(P)/Rural Development Unit to improve gender and social safeguarding practices internally and in programmes.
- To facilitate Human Resources, Operations & Safeguarding Focal Point in implementation of AKF(P) safeguarding protocols, monitor the effectiveness and impact of the protocol both internally and externally and recommend and implement improvements where needed.
- To facilitate data collection about safeguarding children and adults’ activity in a way that supports AKF(P)’s statutory and regulatory roles.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
The incumbent must have a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline such as Gender, Social Sciences, International Development or Humanitarian Studies. A minimum of five (5) years of experience in mainstreaming gender and social protection in a developing country context is required. Experience with mainstreaming gender and social safeguards in disaster risk management projects would be an asset.
Technical knowledge of gender and social protection approaches, knowledge and experience of results-based monitoring and evaluation particularly with respect to assessing gender equality results and good understanding of government and development partner policies and priorities and familiarity with broad objectives of the AKDN and the development sector; cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity and ability to work in a diverse environment.
Candidates with good written & spoken English, excellent interpersonal skills & knowledge of MS Office, flexibility to travel costly and ability to work in a diversified team environment are encouraged to apply.
AKF(P) offers a competitive remuneration package and conducive working environment. We are an equal opportunity employer - females are encouraged to apply.
The deadline for applications is September 11, 2019. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
For more information about AKDN, please visit www.akdn.org