Concern for Women and Children Development Foundation (COWACDI) is a woman- led organization born out of passion for the wellbeing of Women and Children in Nigeria. It has a special interest in mitigating the suffering of the vulnerable persons (mostly Women & Children) in times of crisis. Currently the organization has focused its attention on the Northeast of Nigeria with special emphasis in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states (the BAY states) due to the decade old crises. COWACDI intervenes through community-based approach in addressing Gender-Based Violence prevention and response programmes, child protection, peace-building programmes and empowerment of youth and women. Since its establishment in 2005, humanitarian and developmental interventions have been implemented in Protection, Peace Building, Housing Land & Property (HLP), Non-food Items (NFI), Livelihood. COWACDI operates with full respect for humanitarian law and works with concrete policies and principles of international standard such as humanity, do no harm, impartiality, neutrality and independence and accountability to affected population and Zero Tolerance to Fraud and related activities. As part of our efforts to address persistent gender inequalities in Borno State, we are implementing a project aimed at promoting inclusive, gender responsive green employment.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Type:                           Part Time

Qualification:                 MBA/MSc/MA

Experience:                     3-6 years

Location:                           MMC, Borno State

Job Field:                           Specialist

Contractual Arrangement: External Specialist

Contract Duration: 10 months

Organization: Concern for Women and Children Development Foundation (COWACDI) Nigeria

Background

This project aims to enhance gender transformative approaches in fostering youth employment within the green economy while ensuring meaningful participation of women and youth. To achieve this, COWACDI seeks an experienced Gender Specialist to build the capacity of project staff and stakeholders through targeted training, mentorship, and advocacy.

Key Responsibilities of a Gender Specialist:

• Provide capacity building to the Gender team, focusing on Gender transformative approaches, Advocacy, gender analysis, gender mainstreaming in the design and delivery of the project intervention.
• Adapt Gender tools (such as gender analysis and gender checklist tools) with regards to gender transformative approach.
• Promote gender equality, women’s economic empowerment and inclusion including for people with disabilities in all aspects of project/program work.
• Collaborate with technical teams, MEL, and other personnel on GESI strategy implementation and monitoring.
• Ensure that gender considerations are mainstreamed into all aspects of project/program work.
• Provide technical advice and guidance to project teams on gender issues and best practices.

• Lead the design and implementation of GESI analyses, impact assessments, and other learning studies
• Provide technical advice and training to program staff, partners, and stakeholders to build their capacity to integrate gender, tackle the root causes of gender inequalities and other relevant social considerations into designing interventions, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation
• Review and provide input to project work plans, with attention to GESI dimensions of technical activities and operations, and discuss GESI issues and priorities with project senior management and other technical specialists
• Support the M&E Lead to ensure that all data is disaggregated by sex and age in data collection processes, analysis, and reporting and that project activities are adapted based on findings.
• Work with M&E and technical teams to incorporate GESI into Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) plans and practices, including developing GESI indicators and learning questions, incorporating GESI issues into pause and reflect sessions, and ensuring that the project reports on GESI outcomes and impacts
• Lead in the preparation of reports and documents for submission to donors.
• Maintain an up-to-date and thorough understanding of GESI related to project components.
• Contribute to the development of policy papers to influence and inform government entities for equitable and access and inclusion of women and youth. Lead the development and implementation of the program’s overall GESI strategy
• Ensure the meaningful integration and representation of women, and other vulnerable populations into all program activities.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the project’s objectives and initiatives, both short and long term, encompassing a wide range of issues with a gender lens.
• Facilitate training related to gender transformative approach and other gender components.
• Integrate gender perspectives into project planning, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, ensuring that activities are sensitive to the needs of different genders.
• Establish and maintain relationships with government counterparts, donors, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to strengthen collaborations and partnerships.
• Participate in grant proposal writing.

Specific Tasks:

• Developing gender-specific interventions to address disparities in access to resources or opportunities.
• Ensuring that project data is gender-disaggregated to track the impact of interventions on women and men, young women and young men, including groups with specific needs or who face discrimination.
• Providing technical guidance on the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse in development projects.
• Develop and implement the GALS gender and women empowerment approach in specific projects.
• Conducting gender audits to assess the integration of gender considerations in existing projects and programs.
• Develop action plans to incorporate gender aspects into ongoing projects.
• Address any other additional task that will be assigned by the supervisor.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in social science especially gender studies, or relevant discipline
• Minimum of two years’ experience in gender equity, empowerment, gender program management, policy and transformative approaches.
• Strong understanding of gender theory, principles and analysis.
• Experience in conducting gender assessments and evaluations.
• Knowledge and previous experience designing and implementing gender-responsive and gender transformative programming, preferably in livelihood interventions.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and people skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Experience in collaborating with diverse stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of gender issues in the context.
• Proven ability to facilitate dialogue and manage group dynamics.
• Experience in capacity building and training.
• Cultural sensitivity and awareness.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Qualifications Required:

• A degree in Gender Studies, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or a related field. Advanced degrees or certifications in gender studies or related areas are an advantage.
  • At least 3-6 years of experience in gender-focused programming, gender mainstreaming, and facilitating gender awareness sessions.
  • Strong understanding of gender equality principles, GESI (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion) framework, GEHI (Gender, Equality, and Health Intersectionality) framework, gender norms, and approaches like GALS (Gender Action Learning System) and MAP (Men as Partners).
  • Excellent presentation, facilitation, and group dynamics management skills.
  • Sensitivity to cultural contexts, especially in the conflict-affected regions of Northeast Nigeria.
  • Proven ability to train and build the capacity of teams in gender-related concepts and practices.

Language Requirements:

Proficient in Hausa, English and Kanuri.

Level of Effort:

• This Specialist will be expected to commit up to the terms of agreement.
• This specialist is exclusive; therefore, consultants are only allowed to take other paid activities provided they do not interfere with the delivery of tasks stated within the scope of agreement or contravene the COWACDI Code of Conduct that will be provided to you, which is required of you to adhere to.
• Additional commitments may occasionally be required.

Application Closing Date 5:00 PM, May 28th, 2025

Due to the urgency of this position application will be reviewed on a rolling basis. No application after the closing date will be considered.

Method of Application:

Interested and qualified candidates who are passionate and willing to contribute towards the achievement of our goals should forward their application containing a CV and Letter of interest in Single PDF format using the position and location “SPECIALIST, BORNO STATE” as the subject of the email to [email protected]

Additional Information

COWACDI is an equal –opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, gender, religion, etc. Kindly ensure that you can work in this location when applying.

COWACDI regrets that, due to the large number of applications we receive, we are unable to reply to every applicant. If you are being considered for the role, a recruiter will contact you. If you are not contacted within 2 weeks, you should consider your application not successful on this occasion.

Note: Never pay for any training, certificate, assessment, or testing to the recruiter.