Overview
As part of the Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) Team in the Technical Learning and Application Division, the Senior Gender and Agriculture Systems Specialist will provide technical support to programs and proposals in the areas of gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and social inclusion, with a particular emphasis on supporting equitable and inclusive agriculture and market systems programs. The Senior Specialist will provide guidance to other technical areas – such as finance, livelihoods development, nutrition, WASH, and governance – on how to apply gender and social inclusion practices into their sectors. The Senior Specialist will report to the Senior Director, Gender and Social Inclusion.

Responsibilities

Technical Oversight and Support: Provide technical oversight and act as a technical resource for integrating gender and social inclusion approaches into projects. Promote implementation and operationalization of the ACDI/VOCA GSI Policy and Youth Strategy. Provide support and oversight to the development of key project deliverables in addition to ensuring ongoing implementation incorporates GSI-sensitive and -transformative approaches in line with ACDI/VOCA GenderFirst guidance. Identify learning needs and build capacity of staff.

Technical Research and Learning: Support, supervise, design, and and/or lead research encompassing innovative, high quality qualitative and quantitative 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 and social inclusion.

New Business: Provide technical guidance and support to proposals in the areas of gender and social inclusion as a subject matter expert. Review the technical contributions of consultants or take on the role of lead 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 equality, women’s economic empowerment, and inclusive agriculture and 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 or agricultural economics, agronomy, sociology or other related field required (additional years of experience may be considered in lieu of advanced degree). Minimum of six years’ experience, including overseas work, in international development or related field required. Demonstrated experience and technical knowledge in gender and women’s economic empowerment in development, particularly related to food security, agricultural value chains/market systems, or nutrition-sensitive agriculture required. Experience with USAID and USDA agriculture and market systems programming, particularly Feed the Future and Food for Peace, strongly desired. Knowledge of qualitative research methods and standards, with field research experience required. Experience conducting gender, diversity or other related participatory trainings for US and overseas audiences 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. Understanding of and expertise in Social Behavior Change (SBC) 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 strongly preferred. Fluency in Swahili, Spanish, or Russian are also 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.