Gender Policy and Strategy Expert – Aquatic Environmental Management

CONTEXT

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 2018-2023 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 three year’s period. 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

For the implementation of this project, 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.

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 identification of gender issues relevant to conservation highlighting the socio-political, economic and cultural aspects of conservation:
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 to development of a continental strategy for inclusion of gender in aquatic biodiversity and environmental management
4. Contribute to identification and mainstreaming of gender related issues across project’s activities relevant to aquatic biodiversity and environmental management
5. Enhance continental awareness and promote the implementation of nature-based solutions to minimizing impacts of climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity
6. Enhance mechanism to promote Private sector and Women’s representation in climate change decision-making institutions at national, regional levels and continental levels
7. Facilitate mapping of main stakeholders (private sector, NGOs etc.) involved in environmental and biodiversity conservation, including women´s networks or groups, and analyze institutional structure and capacities for gender mainstreaming in their activities
8. Ensuring mainstreaming of human rights-based approaches to aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental management
9. Support the integration of social inclusion aspects, including community engagement and adequate participation of vulnerable groups;
10. Contribute to the identification and capturing of best practices and lessons learnt on social and gender equality,
11. Any other duty as may be assigned by the Project Team Leader

Academic Requirements The incumbent should have a Minimum of a Master’s degree in the field of Gender Studies and/or Life sciences, Environmental sciences, Social science, Policy Development studies with focus on Gender considerations.

General Experience

• A minimum of 5 years of combined relevant work experience in development oriented institutions, NGOs, AU member states or related international development aid projects in Africa
• A Minimum of 3 years of experience in at least one of the sectors (e.g., gender and climate change mitigation programmes; integrating gender considerations and women’s empowerment in environmental programming);
• Proven experience of working with and mobilizing communities in riparian and coastal settlements
• Proven evidence of familiarization of activities of NGOs in supporting environmental sustainability in Africa
• Experience working with and/or familiarization of regional economic communities and specialized regional institutions and their roles in enhancing gender integration in regional development agenda, including environmental considerations
• Experience in planning, implementing training and facilitating stakeholders’ consultative workshops

Specific Experience:

• Evidence of Familiarization of and supporting implementation of continental and global instruments, initiatives addressing environmental sustainability, gender considerations and sustainable development
• Record of performing similar consultancy and working experience in gender mainstreaming activities and projects in the field of the environment and/or related development policies or strategies in Africa
• Evidence of involvement in policy, strategy development for strengthening gender equality considerations in natural resources governance at national or regional levels in Africa
• Proven experience of working with and mobilizing communities in riparian and coastal area on environmental issues
• Involvement in or familiarization of formulation process and supporting implementation of National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) in AU member states
• Expert knowledge on policy processes and regulatory frameworks related to gender, human rights, climate change, and environmental sectors;

Required Skills

• Diplomacy and good interactive skills necessary for dealing with senior officials in Government, Regional Organizations, and donor/development organizations in Africa;
• Good networking skills and ability to maintain positive and constructive dialogue and relationships with key institutions operating in the regions;
• Very strong writing, analytical and communication, computer skills are necessary;
• Proficiency in at least 2 AU official languages.

** Preference will be giving to women for this assignment. Women are therefore strongly encouraged to apply.

DELIVERABLES:

1. Policies and strategies to promote women and gender equality in the conservation of aquatic biodiversity and environmental management strengthened in AU member states
2. Integration of community-driven approaches to ecosystem-based climate change mitigation strategies in the project’s activities facilitated
3. Support adaptation and gender-responsive implementation by AU member states of continental and global instruments relevant to aquatic biodiversity and environment, including Convention on Biological Diversity
4. Formulation of continental strategies for inclusion of gender perspectives in aquatic biodiversity and environmental management supported
5. Gender related issues across project’s activities relevant to aquatic biodiversity and environmental management are identified and mainstreamed
6. Capacity and awareness on nature-based solutions to minimizing impacts of climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity enhanced
7. Mapping of main stakeholders (private sector, NGOs etc.) involved in environmental and biodiversity conservation, including women´s networks or groups, and analyze institutional structure and capacities for gender mainstreaming in their activities facilitated

Criteria for scoring

Criteria Scores (%)
Qualifications 20
General Experience 20
Specific Experience 40
Female applicant 10
Other skills 5
Proficiency in language 5

Gender Mainstreaming:

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Duty stations:

The consultants will be stationed in Nairobi with travel on specific assignments agreed with the AU-IBAR Management.

Duration:

The effective duration of this assignment is 3 months. The contract would be renewable depending on availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

The selected candidate should be available to undertake this assignment as soon as the contract is signed.

Remuneration:

The remuneration for this Consultancy is a fixed at P3 Step 5 of the African Union Salary Scale i.e. International USD7, 499.12 or Local USD6, 252.37 Monthly Payment after submission of satisfactory report.

Expenses for missions will be covered separately in accordance with the applicable African Union Commission rules and regulations.

Supervision and reporting

The candidate will be under the direct supervision of the project team leader with oversight supervision by the Director of AU-IBAR. The team leader will have the responsibility of approval of reports

Evaluation Criteria:

The applications will be evaluated on the basis of the relevant technical qualifications, experience and competence of the candidates.

How to apply:

The deadline for submission of proposals is Monday; 14th March 2022, 15.00 hours, Nairobi Local Time.
The address for submission of applications is: Applications including detailed curriculum vitae (CV) should be submitted through email to: procurement-220228-1@au-ibar.org with a copy to alexander.eyong@au-ibar.org

Documents forming part of this application:

• Terms of reference
• Declaration on exclusion criteria
• Data protection and privacy statement

Documents to be submitted with the application

• Technical proposal including references of previous relevant work experience
• Curriculum Vitae
• Identification documents e.g. passport with relevant biodata pages
• Tax status/registration documents
• Signed declaration on exclusion criteria