Overview
As part of the Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) Team in the Technical Learning and Application Division, the Gender and Youth Specialist will provide technical support to programs and proposals in the areas of gender, youth, and social inclusion. The Specialist will provide guidance to other technical areas – such as agriculture, market systems, nutrition, and finance – on how to apply gender, youth and social inclusion practices into their sectors in addition to providing support and oversight to ensure technical quality. The Specialist will report to the Director, Gender and Youth, and support the design and implementation of the ACDI/VOCA Youth Strategy.

Responsibilities
Technical Integration and Support: Act as a technical resource for integrating gender, youth, and social inclusion approaches into projects. Support implementation and operationalization of the ACDI/VOCA GSI Policy and Youth Strategy. Provide support and strategic technical oversight in the development of key project deliverables in addition to advising teams on how they can ensure ongoing implementation incorporates GSI- and youth-sensitive and -transformative approaches in line with our GenderFirst guidance and Positive Youth Development approaches.

Technical Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: Identify learning needs and build capacity of project teams as well as field and headquarters staff. Support the capture and dissemination of lessons learned and promising practices, including the promotion of knowledge-sharing across projects, teams, and divisions. Promote collaboration across headquarters and field offices. Capture, develop, standardize, and share tools, resources, and processes that promote gender, youth, and social inclusion. Develop relationships with experts in the industry through external events, professional development opportunities, working groups, and communities of practice.

Technical Research and Learning: In collaboration with the senior GSI Team staff, support, oversee, and/or lead research encompassing innovative, high quality mixed-methods and qualitative studies that adhere to ethical standards. Analyze primary and secondary data using appropriate methods. Contribute to or author products for diverse audiences, including reports, white papers, and other outputs, such as learning briefs and reader-friendly blogs. Collaborate with Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) staff to develop learning questions, indicators, and other resources/methods to advise field staff on how to ensure research and program evaluation integrates gender, youth, and social inclusion.

New Business: Provide technical guidance and support to proposals in the areas of gender, youth, and social inclusion as a subject matter expert. Occasionally review the technical contributions of consultants or take on the role of contributing writer where appropriate. Identify and meet with other organizations/donors to identify potential funding or partnership opportunities.

External Outreach: In collaboration with GSI leadership strategically promote ACDI/VOCA’s image as a learning organization with technical strengths in gender, youth, and inclusive market systems. Foster good relationships with industry partners and individuals and participate/present at international and domestic meetings, workshops, and conferences. Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications
Minimum qualifications include a Master’s degree in international development, gender studies, behavioral economics, agronomy, sociology or other related field required (additional years of experience may be considered in lieu of advanced degree). Minimum of four years’ experience, including overseas work, in international development or related field required. Demonstrated experience and technical knowledge in gender and development, particularly related to food security, agricultural value chains/market systems, or nutrition-integrated agriculture. Demonstrated experience and technical knowledge of positive youth development approaches is required. Demonstrated experience and technical knowledge in areas of gender-based violence, positive masculinities, male engagement, inclusion of people with disabilities (PWDs), inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) populations; and inclusion of other marginalized groups desired. Knowledge of qualitative research methods and standards, with field research experience strongly desired. Experience conducting gender, positive youth development, or other related participatory trainings for US and overseas audiences strongly desired. Experience with USAID and USDA programming, particularly Feed the Future and Food for Peace, strongly desired. Strong interpersonal and team skills, with ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures is desired. Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently. The ability and willingness to travel internationally is required. Fluency in English required. Additional fluency in French, Swahili, Spanish, or Russian are strongly desired.

While the requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required; reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.