Gender Advisor/Consultant - Palladium Group, Inc. - Home Based

Palladium seeks an experienced Gender Advisor/Consultant for a USAID-funded project in Afghanistan. The HEMAYAT (Helping Mothers and Children Thrive) Project aims to increase utilization of high quality family planning, maternal, newborn and child health (FP/MNCH) services through culturally-appropriate and cost-effective interventions to strengthen and enhance existing primary care services provided through the Ministry of Public Health?s (MoPH) Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) and the private sector. The HEMAYAT project also works to strengthen referral systems to Essential Package of Hospital Services (EPHS) at the provincial level to improve the continuum of care, especially for vulnerable populations. The HEMAYAT Project provides technical leadership on FP/MNCH issues in Afghanistan by serving as a platform for increasing learning and knowledge sharing between a wide range of partners. It will also increase the availability and quality of BPHS and private sector services and institutionalize evidence-based interventions into the health system. The project is led by Jhpiego, with Palladium providing leadership on gender integration and private sector activities.

Palladium is child-safe organisation, and screens applicants for suitability to work with children.

Purpose of Role

The Gender Advisor/Consultant will provide technical leadership in implementation of the HEMAYAT project?s gender- and gender-based violence- (GBV) focused activities, and in integrating gender into all project activities. This position is a home-based consultancy, with up to 25% travel to Afghanistan required. The Gender Advisor will report to Palladium?s US-based Senior Gender Advisor and HEMAYAT Project Director.

Duration

The consultancy period is June 10, 2016 ? June 9, 2017 . The maximum level of effort for this consultancy is 180 days within this period, not to exceed 6 days in any one week or 8 hours a day.

Responsibilities Specific Duties & Responsibilities

The Gender Advisor will work directly with the Kabul-based project Gender Specialist and Gender Coordinator to carry out the following activities:

Lead implementation and monitoring of the project gender strategy across project units.

Design and conduct regular trainings and technical updates on gender and GBV technical approaches for project staff and partners.

Actively participate in the development of annual work plans, and in design, implementation, and reporting related to project gender activities.

Strengthen capacity of the MoPH Gender Directorate to work with select ministry departments to conduct gender analysis, integrate gender into planning, and deliver sustainable training mechanisms for improved, gender-sensitive and GBV-responsive FP/MNCH services.

Advance gender sensitivity and GBV-responsiveness in public and private health service delivery, ensuring that existing tools (such as gender QI standards for health facilities) are appropriately leveraged.

Review and provide recommendations for improved integration of gender into existing service delivery guidelines, training curricula, and IEC materials.

Advise staff on ways to promote women?s empowerment and gender equality through program interventions, and advise on how to tailor each intervention to ensure that women are able to attend and participate fully.

Ensure the project is meeting US government requirements on gender analysis, integration and M&E, and internally promote globally recognized best practices in these areas.

Represent HEMAYAT gender activities with others in the professional community and proactively contribute to project outreach with national and global partners and stakeholders.

Requirements

Minimum education and experience required

Master?s degree in a social science or public policy

7-10 years of relevant experience working in gender with national/international donors, NGOs and public sector institutions (e.g., ministry of health or gender/women?s affairs)

Demonstrated experience in designing and facilitating trainings and dialogues on gender with diverse stakeholders

Demonstrated understanding of best practices in gender-sensitive health programs and service delivery

Experience and understanding of key concepts and ethical considerations for health sector response to gender-based violence

Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in a complex and rapidly changing environment; excellent interpersonal skills

Strong relationship building/stakeholder relationship management/team building skills, including demonstrated ability to understand and respond to complex cultural contexts and sensitivities

High standard of professionalism and ethics; analytical thinking skills; ability to manage multiple tasks easily.

Ability and willingness to travel to Afghanistan; previous experience working in Afghanistan preferred

Excellent command of written and spoken English, particularly with regard to presentations and preparation of publications and reports

Excellent computer skills, including competence in word processing and internet/e-mail

HMIS and/or other data analysis experience preferred

Proficiency in Dari and/or Pashto will be an asset.

Experience with USAID and other donors preferred