Gender Equality & Social Inclusion (GESI) Officer

Job Description

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. Mercy Corps has been operating in Nepal since 2005, implementing programs in food security, agriculture, market development, financial services, girl’s education, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. We take a systems-based approach in our programming, with the aim of improving the lives and potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across Nepal.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps has launched a new program to enhance food and nutrition security, reduce future humanitarian caseload and improve the resilience of communities to recurrent shocks in the Karnali Province in Nepal. The program will be a Multi-Year Emergency Food Security Activity funded by USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Affairs, and implemented in 6 districts (Mugu, Jumla, Kalikot, Surkhet, Achham, and Dailekh, with cluster hubs in Surkhet and Jumla) in the Karnali River Basin area. The new program, called “Building Hope Along the Karnali River Basin (Bhakari)”, builds upon many of the successes of the Nepal team’s previous Food for Peace program which ended in January 2020, the PAHAL program, but with some new districts and a much heavier emphasis on emergency response through cash transfer programming. Parallel to the emergency cash programming are emergency-prevention components of agriculture and market systems, disaster risk reduction, water for productive use, natural resources management, and a large emphasis on a gender and social inclusion approach, all with a highly integrated multi-sectoral approach.

General Position Summary

The GESI Officer will work under the direct technical and administrative supervision of the GESI Advisor in the respective district. They will focus on community-level work and will support the integration of GESI aspects in the Bhakari program implementation, working together with the field team (both technical and operations) and through providing technical support on GESI. The officer will also provide technical support to local partners in executing GESI-responsive interventions. Similarly, they will be responsible for facilitating a participatory process in order to identify a targeted GESI strategy at the district level.
The Officer will closely work with Bhakari GESI Advisor and field-based technical team to develop work plans with clear targets and timeframes, including defined roles and responsibilities of each team member to ensure GESI integration in each thematic strategy and its activities. In addition, they will be responsible for facilitating awareness programs during Bhakari community events to promote inclusion of women and marginalized groups. The GESI Officer will also explore opportunities to support Bhakari field teams in ensuring meaningful engagement of women and marginalized caste and ethnic groups in different levels of project interventions. In addition, they ensures that different vulnerabilities of women, marginalized castes, ethnic groups, and other vulnerable populations as identified in the baseline, are immediately raised and incorporated in the program implementation phase. They will contribute to
developing GESI knowledge-based products and briefing papers as per the program requirements, including participation in knowledge sharing and reflection events (internal and external) to share experiences and learning from a GESI perspective.

Essential Job Responsibilities

The specific duties and responsibilities of the GESI Officer include, but are not limited to, the following:

GESI Activities Implementation:

• Assist in conducting ongoing GESI reviews and assessments and suggesting appropriate adaptations at the district level
• Closely work with district-level implementing partners and technical program officers of DRR, food security, water, and cash interventions to ensure effective implementation of GESI activities and integrating the “GESI First” approach into other thematic areas activities
• Organize and facilitate community reflection sessions and consultation meetings to capture opinions and feedback directly from communities and report back to the GESI Advisor
• Support the overall “GESI First” approach integration in the field, and develop and refine GESI action plans
• Support and coordinate with the Bhakari field team - including local partners’ teams to promote equity and inclusion integration into program interventions through identifying power imbalances and understanding marginalized groups’ vulnerabilities and interests
• Organize reflection sessions on the “GESI First” approach for program staff in districts on a regular basis, raise awareness and enhance understanding

Capacity Building

• Coordinate GESI-related capacity building initiatives as per the capacity gaps of staff in Mercy Corps and partner national and implementation organizations for integrating gender equality and social inclusion programmatically and institutionally
• Support in the development and review of GESI-responsive training curriculums and materials
• Support the GESI Advisor in organizing and delivering a series of on-going key trainings on GESI to Bhakari’s field teams, including partner staff, either through a continuous learning process or utilizing platforms during partners’ ongoing events
• Facilitate regular community consultations, group meetings, events, roundtable discussions and training sessions to ensure programming remains gender sensitive and inclusive, working together with the Bhakari local partners

Monitoring & Evaluation

• Support integration of GESI aspects into the M&E system and processes by coordinating with M&E teams in field offices
• Support GESI Advisor to ensure that gender and inclusivity are reflected in output, outcome and impact level indicators
• Collect sex, caste, ethnicity and age disaggregated data while performing proactive and recurrent gender analysis throughout program interventions
• In coordination with M&E focal points, undertake field visits to monitor and track progress of program activities using qualitative research tools with a GESI perspective
• Document community concerns and recommendations on how to best overcome identified challenges by engaging men, women, boys and girls from diverse caste/ethnic groups

Community Engagement

• Recommend and implement meaningful methods to include men, women, boys and girls from diverse caste/ethnic groups in program activities through regular interaction with program participants and representatives of implementing partners
• Organize and conduct regular community consultations to ensure programming remains gender sensitive, inclusive and on track
• Seek community recommendations on how to best overcome GESI challenges like engaging men, women, boys and girls in food security, agriculture, cash, water and DRR interventions and to find meaningful methods to engage diverse groups in project activities

Coordination & Representation

• Coordinate and collaborate with counterparts in GESI teams based in other program districts
• Facilitate Bhakari’s outreach by engaging women, youth groups and marginalized caste/ethnic groups in community-wide meetings and coordination groups, ensuring that under-represented voices are heard and taken into account in decision-making
• Represent Bhakari program at Phalika level coordination meeting with partners and other stakeholders

Other

• Mercy Corps as a humanitarian agency is expected to respond as and when crisis and humanitarian situation engulfs. As an MC employee all staff are expected to be part of humanitarian and emergency response in addition to their regular roles and responsibilities
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence
• Conduct themselves both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardize its humanitarian mission
• Other duties as assigned by their supervisor and/or Chief of Party

Security

• Work closely with relevant field management staff to develop and maintain systems that ensure the safety and security of operating teams when implementing UCT and CFW activities.
• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members and community operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Supervisory Responsibility

N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly to: Gender Equality & Social Inclusion (GESI) Advisor

Works Directly with: Technical program officers, Partnership Manager, MEL team at the district level

Knowledge and Experience

• At least Bachelor degree in social sciences, Gender/Women Studies/ Anthropology/ Social Work or any related discipline.
• Understanding of cultural barriers to women and girls and socially excluded groups in Nepali communities
• At least 3 years of experience working with I/NGOs, and/or private sector organizations focused on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion especially in food security, disaster risk management, agriculture & livelihood and humanitarian assistance.
• Experience of organizing events, consultation and trainings
• Well aware of the local contexts of relevant districts
• Experiences working in partnerships, coordination among different stakeholders and organizations at district level is required.
• Demonstrated ability to work in complex environments under tight deadlines.
• Experience in supporting training design and role out training on GESI approaches and GESI integration at community level.
• Fluency in English and Nepali languages required. Knowledge of other local languages is preferred
• Willingness to travel extensively between program locations
• Good writing and computer skills, including gathering information directly from the community and from secondary sources to prepare reports and presentations
• Negotiation, networking, coordination and representation skills with key local actors is preferred
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
• Proven ability to learn quickly, facilitate program implementation to achieve stated results and objectives
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office

Success Factors

A successful Emergency Response Cash Advisor will have the ability to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with a capacity to spark innovative approaches to programming and inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs. They will have proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results, with an ability and willingness to remain mobile for short-term and/or long-term as necessary within the region, based on programmatic needs. An ability to work independently and as part of a team, with curiosity about and sensitivity to new cultures, a desire and ability to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, and a great sense of humor.
The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. 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 MC's 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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

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