Gender Consultant

Veterinarians without Borders/Vétérinaires sans Frontières (VWB/VSF) provides overseas volunteer placements for veterinarians and other animal and public health professionals. VWB/VFS is currently co-funding the Volunteers Engaged in Gender Responsive Technical Solutions (VETS) project with Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The VETS project was established to improve the economic and social well-being of the poorest, most marginalized people, particularly women and girls, in six countries, including Vietnam, through support to animal, human and environmental health initiatives. The project utilises the skills of Canadian volunteers to support smallholder farmers, primarily women, to reduce poverty by improving family income and nutrition principally through improved production of livestock and crops. The program is built around the One Health concept, which recognizes that the health of people, animals and the natural environment are interconnected. It promotes the production of more and better food and increased incomes from livestock, all the while promoting land rehabilitation and conservation for sustainable development. VWB/VSF is currently seeking a Gender Consultant to support the development of the Project Implementation Plan (PIP) of the VETS project. The aim of the assignment is to conduct gender assessments of VWB/VFS partner organizations in Vietnam and the main target communities of the VETS project in Thai Nguyen Province, and develop a Gender Action Plan based on the results of the gender assessment and in alignment with the objectives of the VETS project. The responsibilities and tasks include: Research and preparation:

Contact local partners for general briefing and initial response framework;
Review all the guidelines from the VETS project and ensure the activities planned by the local partners corresponds to the communities needs in terms of gender equality and are gender-sensitive;
Prepare key gender background notes for local partners: include known gender features of the population and guidance on gender issues in this type of context (e.g. different physical needs and capabilities to access aid, gendered roles and responsibilities in the communities, security and exploitation);
Organizational gender audit: to work collaboratively with partner staff and VWB/VSF local coordinator to review partner’s existing processes for encouraging the equal participation of men and women among students, trainers and staff members;
Review human resources and administration issues: balanced recruitment and deployment of staff; appropriate working conditions provided for both male and female staff; staff aware of gender equality principles (Gender Policy) and PSEA policies and codes of conduct duly signed; personal needs, security and risk considerations of staff;
Review organizations’ budgets to ensure that adequate attention is paid (and resources allocated) to the promotion of gender equality across sectors;
Establish key internal and external contacts with understanding of the social/gender dynamics and trends in the communities where the local partners work, local leaders and organizations/networks known to promote the interests of women.

Development of necessary tools:

Create tools to collect data for the gender assessment and to monitor progress of the gender action plan.

Gender Assessment:

Community gender analysis: to work with partner staff at the community level to identify barriers to gender equality facing small-scale farmers;
In collaboration with local partners and the VWB/VSF local coordinator, support the collection and analysis of sex disaggregated data (quantitative and qualitative) as well as streamlining the needs assessment, collection and analysis so that it can be more effective in meeting beneficiary needs;
To analyse the organizational and community level gender context and provide other technical supports to build knowledge and skills relating to gender equality.

Gender Action Plan:

To hold key informant interviews and focus groups with staff of both partner organizations and selected beneficiary communities;
To work with partners’ staff to prepare a Gender Equality Action Plan for the VETS Project that will guide the GE priorities for future incoming Canadian volunteers;
To provide feedback/recommendations on the plan and adjust accordingly.

The qualifications and experience required by the Gender Consultant include: Education:

A university degree in a related field (political science, international development, women's studies);
Relevant post-graduate degree and formal training in gender considered an asset.

Experience:

A minimum of five years (5) experience in program management/program development in an international development/humanitarian organization;
A minimum of three (3) years international development experience in the Global South, especially in Vietnam is required;
A strong understanding of women’s rights is required, as well as demonstrated experience incorporating gender and feminist approaches into the design, monitoring, learning, and evaluation of programs;
Experience in applying participatory methods and tools, including the promotion of gender equality, good governance, and environmental sustainability;
Strong knowledge and experience in conducting gender assessment and Gender Action Plan in a developing country context;
Knowledge of multi-stakeholder program development processes including coordination and learning;
Knowledge of training tools and methods and proven experience delivering training on gender responsive programs. Experience in coaching and mentoring in rural and agricultural communities is considered an asset.

Skills:

Ability to communicate ideas in a culturally-sensitive manner and conducive to their practical application;
Robust conceptual and analytical skills;
Excellent time management skills, with an ability to deliver high-quality outputs on time;
General finance, administration, information management and telecommunication skills and proficiency in information technology/ computer skills;
Ability to prioritize, organize, work independently, and take initiative;
Excellent public speaking skills;
Curious, enthusiastic and willing to innovate and adapt;
Fluency in English is a must, and proficiency in Vietnamese and other languages spoken in Vietnam is considered an asset.

The main deliverable of the assignment is a draft/preliminary Gender Action Plan, which the Gender Consultant needs to have completed and submitted to VWB/VSF HQ by the last day of the assignment. The assignment is expected to commence during the 1st week of November 2020 and take 10 working days. Interested and qualified professionals are invited to submit their application, including their:

Letter of interest including indication of the earliest they can commence the assignment;
Curriculum vitae (CV) detailing their qualifications and relevant previous experience;
Contact details of two professional references;
Proposed approach and methodology for the assignment; and
Proposed budget for the completion of the assignment, which incorporates their daily rate

in English via email to kristen@vetswithoutborders.ca and greg@vetswithoutborders.ca by 30th October 2020. Both international and national consultants currently based in Vietnam are welcome to apply.