Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) invites applications for a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Managerto join our dedicated and talented team in Ghana on our mission to create business solutions to poverty!
MEDA’s work is built on a foundation of Mennonite business roots and faith-based values, within the global context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We believe business solutions are effective interventions to address poverty. Through a market-systems approach and strategic partnerships, MEDA enables access to finance and provides business and technical expertise to build transformative agri-food market systems that create decent jobs, allowing traditionally excluded groups to become active participants in a sustainable economy. MEDA welcomes all who share our values and want to join us in our mission. To find out more about MEDA, please visit our website atwww.meda.org.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Greater Rural Opportunities for Women 2 (GROW2) project is funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and implemented by the Mennonite Economic Development Association (MEDA). The GROW2 project is women-focused, driven by a strong market system approach, and fully integrates Gender Equality, Social Inclusion, Environmental Sustainability, Human Rights, Nutrition, and Innovation in its implementation. The Project will increase the economic and social empowerment of women farmers, entrepreneurs, and agribusinesses in the Northern, Savannah, and Upper West Regions of Ghana through increased productivity, and an improved business environment.
MEDA is seeking the services of a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Manager (referred to in this document as GESI Manager) who will lead efforts to ensure that gender equality and social inclusion are integral to all aspects of the GROW2 project. The GESI Manager will design and implement strategies to address systemic barriers faced by women and marginalized groups, fostering an enabling environment for their economic empowerment and social inclusion. This role will involve conducting gender and social inclusion analyses, developing training and capacity-building programs, and ensuring that project activities align with MEDA’s commitment to equitable and inclusive development.
In collaboration with the project team, stakeholders, and community leaders, the GESI Manager will provide technical expertise to integrate gender-sensitive and inclusive practices into project implementation. The position requires strong leadership and advocacy skills to build partnerships with local organizations and ensure that voices of women and marginalized communities are heard and prioritized. The Manager will also monitor and evaluate the impact of gender and inclusion interventions, preparing reports and recommendations to enhance the project’s effectiveness and sustainability. This role is pivotal in achieving the GROW2 project’s goal of advancing inclusive economic growth in the Northern, Savannah and Upper West Regions of Ghana.
This role is instrumental in creating a culture of respectful dialogue and effective workaround gender equality and household nutrition and will involve frequent travel to project locations within the Northern, Savannah, and Upper West Regions of Ghana.
- Job Status: Full-time Contract
- Anticipated Start Date: January 2025
- Location: Tamale, Ghana
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
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- Review the GESI strategy for the project through a participatory process involving all project stakeholders to strengthen their commitment and ownership of the strategy;
- Ensure that GESI strategy is aligned with the four areas of the MEDA GESI framework, market systems, environment and climate change and investment -
- Ensure that the execution of all project activities is aligned with the project's GESI strategy;
- Continuously monitor Ghanaian policies and legislation relevant to the project;
- Supervise the performance of the Senior Nutrition Officer
- Develop monthly, quarterly, and annual implementation plans for GESI integration in coordination with other staff and project partners based on the GESI strategy and ongoing analyses;
- Oversee the integration of GESI in the implementation of field activities;
- Oversee the integration of GESI in the semi-annual and annual reports and incorporate a specific section in these reports on the monitoring of the implementation of the GESI strategy of the GROW2 project;
- Ensure the quality, regularity and documentation of the monitoring of Gender Progress Markers to feed the monitoring of the project;
- Ensure the quality, regularity, and documentation of the Gender Learning Action System (GALS) process;
- Document good practices and lessons learned in GESI to guide project implementation, promote learning, and inform project donors;
- Ensure that GESI tools are updated and support their use during project implementation;
- Provide guidelines, tools, and frameworks to integrate GESI into all project procedures, practices, and activities;
- Build GESI capacity among the project team, local implementing partners and other project stakeholders;
- Facilitate the selection of competent local organizations and individuals to conduct trainings for project stakeholders;
- Oversee the planning, execution and monitoring of periodic GESI/HR trainings for the project team, partners, and other project stakeholders;
- Support partners in integrating GESI into their policies and practices;
- Ensure the establishment of gender focal points or gender specialists with each of the project partners and create a network to ensure the integration of GESI in all project activities;
- Participate in and contribute to the MEDA GESI Community of Practice;
- Identify and collaborate with Ghanaian organizations working on GESI issues.
Any other duties and/or requirements as assigned
REQUIREMENTS
Personnel management
- Manage the performance of the GROW2 project GESI specialist in accordance with MEDA's policies, procedures, and values;
- Contribute to a healthy work culture and environment for the staff team.
Job Qualifications
Education: Advanced qualifications (ideally with a master’s degree) in social sciences preferably in gender and/or youth studies and/or human rights, sociology, or other relevant disciplines.
Experience: A minimum of five years of experience on development issues, including at least three years managerial experience, including in the design, monitoring and evaluation of projects with gender and youth issues.
Technical: Computer skills: Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel, Word, Experience in, Access, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams economic development and value chain projects with direct experience working in rural communities with women. Knowledge of gender theories and practices.
Additional Qualifications
- Knowledge of gender and youth issues in Ghana, particularly about value chain development and entrepreneurship;
- Ability to work collaboratively to achieve results;
- A personal commitment to GESI, teamwork, and respect for others;
- Demonstrated ability to mobilize stakeholders for partnerships and alliances, coordinate and facilitate collaborative processes around gender and youth issues;
- Experience in training colleagues and project partners on gender equality and youth issues;
- Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office applications;
- Fluency in English and languages local to the implementing zones would be an advantage;
- Appreciation of MEDA’s vision and values;
- Understanding and appreciation of the MEDA approach to creating business solutions to poverty.
This job description may be reviewed, revised, and updated as needed to meet the objectives of the department and/or organization.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, December 13, 2024 5:00pm GMT. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis when received. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs.
Only successful applicants will be contacted.
Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
MEDA is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to creating an inclusive and diverse environment of mutual respect. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities are available during all phases of the recruitment process. We ask that any applicants requiring such accommodation make their needs known in advance.
