GESI Advisor

Job Profile – GESI Advisor

Mott MacDonald is an employee-owned management, development and engineering consultancy serving the public and private sector around the world, with more than 16,000 staff worldwide.

Our International Development Services Unit, IDS, operates portfolios within the international development sectors of Environment, Climate, Water, Roads, Rural & Urban Development, Education, Health, Social and Economic Development in over 40 countries. Together we implement and manage projects in developing countries and emerging economies around the world, supporting national governments and municipalities in policy, planning, project design and delivery. We are committed to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and to provide our expertise to improve the lives of people in need.

Project Description

Mott MacDonald is managing the DFID-funded programme: ‘Purnima: UK Support to Post-Earthquake Recovery in Nepal’ in four Districts (Gorkha, Dhading, Nuwakot, and Rasuwa). This programme aims to achieve long-term positive change in the lives of people in earthquake-affected regions of Nepal.

The implementation phase of the programme is due to commence in July 2018 for a 4.5 year duration and will work in 41 rural and urban municipalities. It comprises five Output Areas:

1. Support and capacity building to Government at central, district and local level in reconstruction planning.
2. Reconstruction of rural infrastructure, including water supply, foot trails, footbridges, schools, public buildings, and potentially other types of infrastructure.
3. Analysis of, and interventions to address, constraints to the private sector, including access to finance, supply of labour, materials and transport in the construction sector.
4. Mobilizing and managing a Challenge Fund to leave no-one behind in the reconstruction effort.
5. Monitoring, evaluation and learning.

Purnima has linked these five outputs into two thematic areas: “build back better” and “leave no one behind” so that reconstruction benefits everyone and they are in a better state than before the earthquake. The impact of the earthquake was felt most severely by women and the most vulnerable members of society. It is essential the gender and social inclusion issues are covered explicitly in all output areas and activities undertaken through the programme. The project also aims to stimulate transformative change for women and girls, in social, economic and political arenas.

Job description

We are seeking a Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) Advisor , initially for a short-term role, for this complex post-earthquake reconstruction programme.  Reporting to the Deputy Team Leader, the GESI Advisor will work across the programme and with all five Output Area Leads to ensure that gender and social inclusion is addressed comprehensively, and mainstreamed into the programme.

Her/his main responsibilities will be to:

• Identify aspects of gender relations and social inequality relevant to the programme, in the context of local planning, infrastructure, private sector development and socio-economic opportunities;
• Advise Output Area leads on methods to target activities at the most vulnerable, including women, and ensure that gender issues are mainstreamed in the programme;
• Undertake a gender analysis and assess the gender impact of activities under each output area;
• Identify opportunities for transformational change of women and girls, and suggest implementation approaches;
• Identify ways to reduce women’s household workloads and to increase effective participation in decision-making in relation to the project;
• Update the gender mainstreaming report
• Undertake other activities in relation to GESI as required for the project.

Candidate Specification

• At least 10 years’ experience in social development in Nepal at a local level, preferably on donor-funded projects (DFID experience an advantage);
• At least 10 years’ strong practical expertise in Gender and Social Inclusion, backed by a Master’s level degree in a related subject;
• Good experience working with minority or disadvantaged groups in the Hills, and a strong sensitivity to the challenges of social inclusion;
• Demonstrated understanding of the challenges of post-earthquake reconstruction and recovery;
• Good understanding on the ‘Leave no one behind’, as expressed in the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and leadership skills, but also a team player with the willingness to learn and support the learning of others;
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with local Government;
• Ability to work effectively in remote areas, and willing to travel throughout the project area;
• Fluency in written and spoken Nepali and English is essential, and fluency in relevant local languages spoken in the project area would be a strong asset.

Interested applicants should send a CV and covering letter to purnimaapplications@mottmac.com before 15th July .