Gender, Youth, and Social Inclusion Lead - Niger Resilience Food Security Activity

Position is contingent on new funding

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To create a better world, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long-term impact.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps began work in Niger in 2005 in response to the severe food crisis at that time.

Our programming has since expanded to include a focus on early recovery, food security, resilient

livelihoods, peace and good governance, financial inclusion, and youth economic opportunity, along with continued humanitarian response. Drawing on a skilled team of more than 135 colleagues, Mercy Corps has assisted more than one million vulnerable Nigeriens as well as Malian and Nigerian refugees over the years. We currently work in the regions of Niamey, Tahoua, Tillaberi, and Maradi, and implement cross-border programming with Mali and Burkina Faso.

Mercy Corps is seeking a qualified Gender, Youth, and Social Inclusion (GYSI) Lead for an anticipated, five-year USAID Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) in Niger. The Activity will contribute to food and nutrition security for households and communities in vulnerable areas of Niger.

General Position Summary

The GYSI Lead will ensure that the social dimensions of Food, Nutrition, and Economic Security (FNES) are effectively addressed across all Activity components and at all levels throughout award implementation. The GYSI Lead must have an in-depth understanding of gender, age, and other locally significant, socio-cultural, and inclusion factors in the context of FNES programming, and a demonstrated capacity to lead the collection, analysis, and utilization of information from a broad range of sources. The GYSI Lead must have experience with FNES programming; participatory learning and action; and facilitating collaborative problem-solving. The GYSI Lead must also have the ability to foster commitment and build capacity among Activity staff and in-country actors to ensure gender and youth integration, empowerment, and social inclusion. During the first year of the program, in alignment with Mercy Corps’ best practices and USAID requirements, the GYSI Lead will conduct a gender analysis to inform and guide implementation and ensure that women, men, girls, and boys have equitable opportunities to engage in and benefit from program activities. S/he will work to ensure vulnerable and marginalized populations are considered in targeting approaches, and will promote innovative initiatives for inclusion in accordance with donor and Mercy Corps’ policies.

Essential Job Responsibilities

STRATEGY & VISION

●        Organize and conduct the donor-required gender analysis during the first year of the Activity and serve as the lead for any program-related GYSI-related assessments.

●        Work closely with Activity management and technical staff to integrate the findings from the gender analysis into the work plan and milestones.

●        Ensure a gender-based violence risk analysis is completed and incorporate findings into implementation plans.

●        Develop a GYSI strategy for the overall Activity, and oversee the implementation of the strategy, leading adaptations and improvements, as required.

●        Coordinate closely, work with, and support Activity leadership and partners to promote GYSI integration across all technical areas of the program.

●        Work closely with the relevant team members to develop strategies for encouraging youth participation and leadership in program activities and community decision making.

●        Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team to integrate GYSI considerations in data collection and analysis tools. Also with the MEL team, provide technical backstopping in the collection and use of sex-disaggregated statistical data and other research findings to support GYSI analysis and integration in program design. 

●        Contribute to any other program-related research to ensure that relevant GYSI aspects are incorporated.

●        Work closely with the Human Resources team to ensure GYSI accountability is incorporated into the position descriptions of Activity team members.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

●        Develop targeted GYSI capacity building interventions for Activity staff.

●        Support staff in the delivery of training and capacity building on key gender and social inclusion topics to Activity participants.

●        Conduct periodic monitoring of field activities; ensure quality delivery of GYSI interventions; and provide coaching/mentoring to staff.

●        Document processes and achievements to ensure impact and best practices are captured and disseminated. This will include the continual re-evaluation of program activities and information, with resulting adjustments based on new insight and learning.

INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION

●        Develop relationships and linkages with organizations implementing other donor-funded programs focused on GYSI in Niger.

●        Conduct regular community consultations to ensure programming remains GYSI sensitive.

●        Collect and share learnings and best practices from the Activity both internally and externally.

●        Identify, build, and manage collaborative partnerships with key stakeholders including consortium partners, donor representatives, and local government officials.

●        Communicate effectively to ensure overall Activity targets and donor requirements are met.

SECURITY

●        Work closely with the Country Team security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.

●        Ensure that activities are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.

Supervisory Responsibility

Expected to supervise GYSI Officers. The number of direct and indirect reports will be determined at a later stage.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Chief of Party

Works Directly With: Activity team members; Mercy Corps’ Country MEL team; Mercy Corps’ HQ Regional Program Team; Mercy Corps’ HQ Technical Resources and Quality Unit; and partner organizations.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our projects.

Knowledge and Experience / Qualification and Transferable Skills

●        MA/S or equivalent experience in a social science discipline, such as development studies, international relations, gender studies, or related field.

●        At least five years (or at least seven years with a BA/S) of experience in GYSI programming, with at least five years based in country programs that included community-level GYSI activities.

●        Experience developing and conducting gender training, gender/youth/social dynamics mainstreaming, and gender advocacy. Preference for experience with programs addressing resilience, agriculture, natural resources management, agribusiness, peacebuilding, and conflict management.

●        Demonstrated capacity to lead the collection, analysis, and utilization of information from a broad range of sources to ensure effective integration of gender and youth concerns throughout the program’s duration.

●        In-depth understanding of gender, age, and other locally significant socio-cultural factors in the context of food and nutrition security and resilience programming.

●        Skills in participatory learning and facilitating collaborative problem-solving.

●        Knowledge of USAID rules and program administration, management, and reporting procedures and systems is preferred.

●        Prior humanitarian and/or development experience working in a context similar to Niger.

●        Fluent oral and written French.

●        Strong oral and written English language skills are highly desired.

●        Excellent computer skills (especially MS Office applications) and ability to use information technology as a tool and resource.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will have excellent team and interpersonal relationship skills, with demonstrated ability to work effectively in complex environments. S/he will combine strong communication skills, creativity, initiative, participatory leadership, and tactful decisiveness to assist in Activity implementation. Multi­tasking, prioritizing, problem solving, and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. S/he must have the confidence and humility to work effectively with a diverse group of people – as well as be sensitive to political and cultural nuance. S/he must be able to consistently apply excellent judgment to a variety of demanding and fast-changing situations while working as part of a team and coordinating with program personnel.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The GYSI Lead will be based in Niamey with regular travel within Niger. Staff in Niamey have good access to essential services, such as medical care, electricity, and water. This position requires up to 50% of travel by road or air to field locations with potential security considerations and/ or in climatically harsh conditions. The position is not accompanied but is eligible for R&R and hardship pay. This position requires obtaining medical clearance through the successful completion of a medical assessment by an external third party prior to deployment and following any medical evacuation if applicable. If you are not medically cleared and Mercy Corps cannot reasonably accommodate a medical condition if required, you may not be able to deploy for/return to this position. This position requires for non-Nigerien, obtaining an entrance visa from the GoN before any deployment in country.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps' policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. 

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. 

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.