Gender Policy and Strategy Expert – Aquatic Environmental Management At African Union – InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources

Context

The African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), a specialized technical office of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (DARBE) of the African Union Commission (AUC), is mandated to support and coordinate the utilization of livestock, fisheries, aquaculture and wildlife as resources for both human wellbeing and economic development in the Member States of the African Union. The Vision of the AU-IBAR Strategic Plan 2018-2023 is an Africa in which animal resources contribute significantly to integration, prosperity and peace. AU-IBAR’s intervention in the fisheries and aquaculture sector is guided by the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for fisheries and aquaculture in Africa (PFRS) which is aimed at improving governance of the sector for increased sustainable contribution to food security, livelihoods and wealth creation. Also within the framework of the African Union 2063, the Africa Blue Economy Strategy environed an inclusive and sustainable blue economy that significantly contributes to Africa’s transformation and growth.

The Africa Blue Economy Strategy is endorsed at the highest political level of the continent. The Strategy incorporates key critical vectors for promoting blue economy development of the continent, including fisheries, aquaculture and ecosystem conservation; shipping, maritime safety and trade; climate change, environmental sustainability and ecotourism; sustainable energy and extractive mineral resources; governance, institutions and job creation.
AU-IBAR, with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), is implementing a project on “***Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in African Blue Economy***’, for three year’s period. The overall objective of the project is to enhance the policy environment, regulatory frameworks and institutional capacities of AU member states and regional economic communities to sustainably utilize and conserve aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems.

The specific objectives of the project are as follows:

1. Ratify and/or align relevant international/regional instruments related to blue economy themes (with specific reference to protecting and conserving biodiversity)
2. Optimizing conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity while minimizing conflicts among blue economy sub-themes
3. Strengthening measures for mitigating the negative impacts of coastal and marine tourism, oil, gas, deep sea mining and climate change on aquatic biodiversity and environment.
4. Strengthening gender inclusivity in aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental management

For the implementation of this project, AU-IBAR seeks the services of a Gender Policy and Strategy Expert – Aquatic Environmental Management, for a short-term consultancy, to strengthen the role and participation of women in the conservation of aquatic biodiversity and the environment.

Job Description Summary

Under the direct supervision of the Project Team leader at AU-IBAR the incumbent will undertake the following targeted areas of work so as to achieve the objectives of the Project ‘Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in African Blue Economy’:

1. Strengthen policies and strategies to promote women and gender equality in the conservation of aquatic biodiversity and environmental management
2. Integrate community-driven approaches to ecosystem-based climate change mitigation strategies
3. Ensure adaptation and gender-responsive implementation by AU member states of continental and global instruments relevant to aquatic biodiversity and environment, including Convention on Biological Diversity
4. Development of a continental strategy for inclusion of gender in aquatic biodiversity and environmental management
5. Identify and mainstream gender related issues across project’s activities relevant to aquatic biodiversity and environmental management Develop guidelines for integration of gender perspectives in biodiversity conservation and environmental management in the implementation of project activities
6. Develop gender-sensitive national and regional strategies, plans or programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity;
7. Enhance continental awareness and promote the implementation of nature-based solutions to minimizing impacts of climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity
8. Enhance mechanism to promote Private sector and Women’s representation and climate change decision-making institutions at national, regional levels and continental levels
9. Conduct mapping of main stakeholders (private sector, NGOs etc.) involved in environmental and biodiversity conservation, including women´s networks or groups, and analyze institutional structure and capacities for gender mainstreaming in their activities
10. Mainstreaming Human rights-based approaches to aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental management
11. Any other duty as may be assigned by the Project Team Lead

Academic Requirements

The incumbent should have a Minimum of a Master’s degree in the field of environment, biodiversity conservation, social science, policy studies with focus on gender. A Phd degree will be an added advantage.

General Experience

• A minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience in environmental management institution or related international development aid projects in Africa
• Record of familiarization of African blue economy sector
• Experience working with and/or familiarization of regional economic communities and specialized regional institutions with mandates related to management of aquatic biodiversity and environmental management in Africa
• Experience in planning, implementing training and facilitating stakeholders’ consultative workshops
• Proven evidence of familiarization of activities of NGOs in conservation of aquatic biodiversity and environmental governance

Specific Experience:

• Familiarization of continental and global instruments, initiatives relevant climate change migration, environmental sustainability, gender considerations and sustainability development
• Record of working experience in gender mainstreaming activities and projects in the field of the environment and biodiversity conservation
• Experience in developing policies, strategies for strengthening gender considerations in natural resources governance
• Evidence of understanding the concept of payment for ecosystems (PES) and nature-based solutions for ecosystems restorations
• Proven experience of working with communities in riparian, coastal and marine environmental issues

Required Skills

• Diplomacy and good interactive skills necessary for dealing with senior officials in Government, Regional Organizations, and donor/development organizations in Africa;
• Good networking skills and ability to maintain positive and constructive dialogue and relationships with key institutions operating in the regions;
• Very strong writing, analytical and communication skills are necessary;
• Demonstrated ability to provide strong leadership and foster team environment is required;
• Proficiency in at least 2 AU official languages.

* *Preference will be giving to women for this assignment. Women are therefore strongly encouraged to apply.**

Deliverables

1. Policies and strategies to promote women and gender equality in the conservation of aquatic biodiversity and environmental management strengthened
2. Community-driven approaches to ecosystem-based climate change mitigation strategies integrated in the project’s activities
3. Support adaptation and gender-responsive implementation by AU member states of continental and global instruments relevant to aquatic biodiversity and environment, including Convention on Biological Diversity
4. Continental strategies for inclusion of gender perspectives in aquatic biodiversity and environmental management developed
5. Gender related issues across project’s activities relevant to aquatic biodiversity and environmental management are identified and mainstreamed
6. Development of gender-sensitive (and private sector) national and regional strategies, plans or programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity supported
7. Capacity and awareness on nature-based solutions to minimizing impacts of climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity supported
8. Facilitate Mapping of main stakeholders (private sector, NGOs etc.) involved in environmental and biodiversity conservation, including women´s networks or groups, and analyze institutional structure and capacities for gender mainstreaming in their activities conducted

Criteria for scoring

Criteria Scores (%)
Qualifications 20
General Experience 15
Specific Experience 40
Other skills 10
Female applicant 10
Proficiency in language 5

Gender Mainstreaming:

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Duty stations:

The consultants will be stationed in Nairobi with travel on specific assignments agreed with the AU-IBAR Management.

Duration:

The effective duration of this assignment is 3 months. The contract would be renewable depending on availability of funds and satisfactory performance.
The selected candidate should be available to undertake this assignment as soon as the contract is signed.

Remuneration:

The remuneration for this Consultancy is a fixed at P3 Step 5 of the African Union Salary Scale, Monthly Payment after submission of satisfactory report.

Expenses for missions will be covered separately in accordance with the applicable African Union Commission rules and regulations.

Supervision and reporting

The candidate will be under the direct supervision of the project team leader with oversight supervision by the Director of AU-IBAR. The team leader will have the responsibility of approval of reports

Evaluation Criteria:

The applications will be evaluated on the basis of the relevant technical qualifications, experience and competence of the candidates.