Targeting, Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist

Rolling Plans Pvt. Ltd (RPPL) announces the vacancy for Rural Enterprises and Remittance Project (RERP) . SAMRIDDHI is a seven-year project funded by International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and executed by the Ministry of Industry (MOI). Government of Nepal (GON) that aims at providing sustainable sources of income to poor households, migrant families and returnees in the Eastern and Central Regions of Nepal, by supporting the creation and expansion of family, micro, small and medium rural enterprises, both in the farming and off farming sectors. The goal of the project is reducing poverty and achieving sustainable peace through employment-focused, equitable and inclusive economic development.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

Application should include a cover letter, updated Bio-data and self-verified copies of necessary documents that qualify the CV. The application through email and/or by post should mention the job position and vacancy code in the subject line or in the envelope respectively. 

Fill the Application Form online from the link: www.rollingplans.com.np/samriddhi

The TOR may be revised at the time of employment agreement.

The organization reserves the right to reject any/all applications without assigning any reason whatsoever. Canvassing at any stage of the process shall lead to automatic disqualification.

DEADLINE:

The application needs to be received latest by 17:00 Hrs, October 30, 2016 (Kartik 14, 2073)

Targeting, Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist

Position's Key Features

Job Title: Targeting, Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist (Preference for Female candidates)

Duty Station: Project Management Office at Itahari, Sunsari District with at least 50% travel to the Project District 

Mode of Contract: Annual, with six-month’ probation period, and extendable up to the project period based on satisfactory performance

Reporting to: Project Manager

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Rural Enterprises and Remittances (RER) - SAMRIDDHI is a seven years’ project signed between the Government of Nepal (GON) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on 10 December 2015 covering 16 hills and Terai districts. It aims at providing sustainable sources of income to poor households, migrant families and returnees in the Eastern and Central Regions of Nepal, by supporting the creation and expansion of family, micro, small and medium rural enterprises, both in the farming and off-farming sectors. Ministry of Industry (MOI) is the Executing Agency. Agro Enterprise Center (AEC) under Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Helvetas Nepal, selected financial institutions and the business development service providers extending services to the rural areas are the key implanting partners. The Project comprises three inter-linked components encompassing the full set of interventions required to support RMSEs’ profitable and sustainable growth:

• Component 1: Promotion of RMSEs aims at (i) strengthening micro and small entrepreneurs, migrants and their families with sustainable access to adapted Business Development Services (BDS), i.e. non-financial services in support to enterprise creation and/or expansion; and (ii) vocational training and apprenticeship to poor households to build their skills and to secure gainful wage employment in RMSEs. Activities will be driven by an assessment of markets, business opportunities and available services and by an inventory and classification of existing RMSEs through a validation process.
• Component 2: Productive Investment builds on results of component 1 and aims at (i) facilitating RMSEs/migrants/remittance recipient households’ access to financial services at an affordable cost by sustainable financial institutions; and (ii) mobilizing migrants’ resources and skills for creating assets and promoting profitable rural enterprises. It will develop innovative financial instruments designed to offset major constraints faced by RMSEs in accessing investment loans at an affordable cost and to stimulate migrants’ savings and investment in profitable business development.
• Component 3: Institutional Support and Project Management aims at promoting a favorable policy and institutional environment supporting the development of RMSEs at a national scale and the contribution of migration to sustainable development.

Implementation Arrangements

The MOI is overall responsible for coordination and oversight. A Project Management Office(PMO), located at Itahari is responsible for day-to-day implementation of project activities with support from two Corridor Teams providing technical and management support to Enterprise Service Centers (ESCs) and migration-related activities at the district level. Technical partners - Helvetas Nepal and South Asia will support to implement of vocational training and knowledge management aspects. Besides, selected financial institutions and business development service providers’ are expected to support the implementation. A Project Steering Committee headed by MOI Secretary at the national level will provide oversight and guidance.

Expected Results

The development objective of the Project is that viable RMSEs, in both farming and off-farming sectors, provide sustainable sources of income to poor households, migrant families and returnees. Main indicators are: (i) 60,000 RER supported rural entrepreneurs expand their existing business or create a new one; (ii) 30,000 rural youth access job placement services; (iii) 30,000 RER-supported enterprises are still in business after 3 years, of which 33% owned by women/30% owned by migrant returnees; and (iv) 21,000 RER supported vocational trainees and apprentices, of which 33% of women, are in gainful employment over at least 6 months

Scope of Assignment

The Targeting, Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist leads and manages all targeting and gender mainstreaming activities of the Project with guidance from the Project Manager. S/he develops a GESI strategy and Implementation Action Plan based on a GESI study at the onset of the Project, implements capacity enhancement measures at various levels, and ensures that all TORs for the service providers and secondary target groups include gender-balanced teams and their contract deliverables meet gender and inclusion target and indicators of the Project. The GESI Specialist is the main direct responsible position to ensure that the Project achieves the expected results in relation to Targeting and Gender & Social Inclusion.  

Key Responsibilities and Duties

The GESI Specialist maintains a good understanding of the advances on targeting and GESI issues and concerns in the context of enterprise development and productive use of remittances. She mainstreams them in project activities with particular attention to the relevant technological, operational, institutional and other innovations and best practices at the local, national and global level. Specific responsibilities, but not limited to, include the following:

• Prepare targeting and gender strategy with an operational guidelines for mainstreaming GESI in all project activities;
• Provide advice and support to the Project Manager and other members of the PMT, corridor team as well as ESC staff in effective targeting, gender and social inclusion  and mainstreaming them  in project activities;
• In close collaboration with PMT and ESC staff, develop a GESI action plan to be updated annually, to ensure that activities related to women’s and disadvantaged group’s empowerment and participation are properly operationalized and mainstreamed across all project components and activities, ensure that these activities are incorporated in AWPBs, annual progress reports and other M&E requirements;
• Develop with the PM&E and KM Specialists and other project staff, the indicators and methodsof monitoring targeting, gender and social inclusion aspects;
• Undertake regular capacity assessment on gender and social inclusion issues in PMT, corridor team and ESC, and provide capacity building, including training, guidance, guidelines and other appropriate tools;
• Identify opportunities of linkages with:

1. Other gender training or women/social inclusion or any other GESI programs  being implemented by national, international and nongovernmentalorganizations;
2. Follow up and assist in knowledge management of best practices;

• Establish a proper data collection mechanism and monitor the collected data to ensure that the collected data are in line with the requirements of GESI guidelines and GESI quotas are respected. Check on regular basis that there is no adverse impact  on the target groups as a result of project implementation;
• Update, review and revise Project checklists, forms and formats for all levels based on GESI Operational Guidelines;
• Participate in the development of detailed TORs and tender documents for the national and local service providers for various project components to ensure that the target groups will be able to participate effectively and profitably in the activities undertaken by the Project or with support from the Project like enterprise support and apprenticeship and meet the project’s targets and quotas;
• Collaborate with MoCPA, PAF,social mobilizers, community organizers and others in undertaking the mapping and preparing a baseline dataset;
• Together with M&E and KM staff, establish a gender and social inclusion disaggregated M&E system and prepareKM, M&E and Communication  documents and products;
• Prepare technical resources on GESI responsive budgeting and auditing relevant to Nepal including guidelines, policies and plan and insure compliance of project plans and budget with those guidelines and procedures; and
• Any other tasks as assigned by the Project Manager.

QUALIFICATION, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:

• Post Graduate degree in Gender Studies, Rural Development, Sociology or related discipline;
• At least 5 years’ of experience inworking on women, youth and indigenous people's issues and mainstreaming in development projects and programmes in Nepal;
• Documented training or certification in the areas of Gender and Social Inclusion;
• Experience in designing and delivering training modules;
• Experience in integrating gender consideration acrossvarious components/activities and M&E;
• Experience in rural development-related projects preferably funded by donor agencies in Nepal;
• Highly motivated and committed to poverty alleviation, gender equality and social inclusion;
• Ability to work in a team and effectively communicate
• Excellent speaking and writing skills both in English and Nepali;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite - inclusive of MS Project, and MS PowerPoint; 

Desirable

• Knowledge on GESI issues in Enterprise Sector
• Understanding of the IFAD system and procedures
• Ability to work in other languages used in the Region will be an added advantage.

Salary and Benefits

• The salary will be paid for only twelve (12) months and is negotiable within the range between NPR120,000to NPR145,000as decided by the Project Manager. 
• Tax on the salary will be applicable as per the prevailing GON rules and regulation. 
• Travel and the Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) will be as per the prevailing GON rule as applied for the gazetted class II officer while traveling out of the work station for official purpose. 

Other Entitlements

• Leave: The Specialist will be provided with 21 days of home leave and 6 days of casual leave annually, which will not be carried over to the next year. S/he will also be provided 12 days of sick leave per year, which if not consumed, will be carried over to the next year. The unspent sick leave will be compensated as per the existing salary scale at the time of termination of the contract or closing of the Project. In addition, s/he will also be provided with Mourning Leave – 15 days, Maternity Leave -2 months for women (15 days for men, for maternity care leave) and all public holidays.
• Insurance: The Specialist has to insure his/her life including accidental insurance. The Project will reimburse 50 % of the monthly premium for the period working with the Project, not exceeding Rs. 300 per month, upon submission of copy of insurance policy and receipts.

Performance Assessment

The performance assessment of the Admin/Finance Officer will be based on the quality and timely completion of the tasks assigned and contributions to the Project outputs and outcomes. Details on the indicators for performance assessment will be negotiated and agreed upon on a later stage once s/he signs contract with the Project. The Project reserves the right to terminate the contract if the performance of the MS is assessed as unsatisfactory.

These Terms of Reference are subject to revision/update annually per requirement of the Project based on planning trajectory, modification in project design, or as recommended by Joint Reviews/Supervision Missions and lessons learned during the course of implementation.