Consultancy: Gender Specialist

The international consultant will contribute to the improved forecasting capability and mechanisms developed under Activity 1.1.1, which in turn will be used along with the flood impact database established under Activity 1.2.1 to focus the dissemination of flood EW information and advisories to different beneficiary groups, particularly those that are disproportionately vulnerable. The emphasis is on identifying the most vulnerable communities and ensuring the flood EWS information/advisories reach the targeted locations/groups and are actionable for them. This will entail the development of a standardized operating procedure (SOP) for the dissemination and communication of flood early warning information/advisories. The SOP will also be linked to the anticipatory action (AA) protocols developed under Activity 1.2.1.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under direct day to day supervision of head of unit SO1, and overall supervision of head of the Provincial Office Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the incumbent will perform the following tasks.

1. Gender Analysis and Integration:
− Conduct a detailed gender analysis to identify gender-specific vulnerabilities related to flood risks in the target districts.

1. Conduct in-depth, field-based qualitative research on the impacts of climate shocks/stresses on marginalized groups and the status of gender equality within relevant institutions.
2. Design analysis framework proposing qualitative research methodologies and assist the national position on gender and inclusion to ensure data/information collection.
3. Devise appropriate tools and processes to triangulate data from various sources (community, department, and other relevant stakeholders).
4. Prepare templates for systematic data keeping, management, and interpretation to produce comprehensive gender analysis. The gender consultant will ensure quality parameters in terms of setting the research questions, methodology, framework of primary data collection, and analysis.
5. Produce clear deliverables (i.e., inception report, literature review, research design, data collection tools including survey and FGD/KII questions, training material for enumerators, transcript coding, analysis, final report), including a table indicating tasks and timeline for each task (number of days and deadlines). This will suffice to facilitate the overall deliverables under output 1.1.
6. Integrate gender-sensitive indicators into the risk assessments, flood early warning systems, and anticipatory action protocols.
7. Ensure that gender considerations are mainstreamed into all aspects of the project, including training, community outreach, and early action planning.

2. Institutional capacity strengthening and Trainings:
− Build technical capacity of the targeted institutions i.e., Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Planning and Development Department (P&D), and local institutions at provincial and national level on gender-responsive anticipatory action, impact-based forecasting.

1. Provide technical support to develop gender equal and barrier-free Early Warning System and gender-responsive Local Climate Change Adaptation Plans.
2. Explore institutional barriers regarding information dissemination and technical capacity of relevant Government institutions on gender and inclusion and its application in developing DRM plans, communication of EWS in disaster-prone communities.
3. Explore institutional policy barriers in terms of assessing the gender impacts of cross-sectoral policies for resource protection, development, and management of DRM and EWS.
4. Analyse technical capacity baseline at the PMD, FFC, and RMCP (integrating men and women's perspectives) and identify gaps in technical expertise related to flood forecasting and early warning.
5. Develop training material and guidelines, as well as conduct training on gender-responsive and inclusive disaster risk management (DRM) for stakeholders (PMD, FFC, and RMCP).

− Develop and facilitate (in support of the local/national gender staff) the delivery of gender-responsive disaster risk management training for government officials, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
− Facilitate gender-responsive training workshops focused on empowering women's participation in flood preparedness and response initiatives.

3. Stakeholder Engagement and Community Outreach support:
− Support local/national gender staff in leading consultations with women's groups, local organizations, and community representatives to ensure their inclusion in early warning systems and anticipatory action planning (provide guidance, mentoring, and leadership).

1. Promote engagement of identified marginalized groups, women, men, and others in the design and implementation of climate-resilient livelihood activities as well as implementation of accessible infrastructure services.
2. Work with local women's associations and community-based organizations to promote women's leadership in disaster preparedness.
3. Ensure that flood early warning messages and preparedness information are accessible to women and marginalized groups.
4. Help develop a gender-sensitive communication strategy that supports a gender-equal and barrier-free EWS and facilitate its rollout in local contexts of KPK.
5. Develop awareness-raising session methodology to support national gender staff to hold sessions on women's access to EWS (under output 1 - Activity 1.1.2) including social and behaviour change (SBCC) communication in the selected villages in Buner and Shangla Districts to address discriminatory gender norms relative to women's access to EWS.

4. Monitoring, Evaluation and Strengthening Project Data Base:
− Develop gender-sensitive monitoring frameworks and indicators to track progress on gender equality outcomes within the project.
− Embed gender analysis tools as part of M&E system applied to the project and run periodic gender assessments for informed decision-making for gender mainstreaming across project outcomes and output results.

1. Specifically help the M&E unit/desk to build on existing databases at the local level (for example, social protection programmes, households impacted in previous disasters, and others), to develop a sex, age, and disability disaggregated beneficiary database for AA interventions and activities within Buner and Shangla districts that will benefit from AA in the event of a trigger being met (activity 1.2.1).

− Prepare regular and periodic reports & briefs highlighting gender integration in project activities and identifying opportunities for strengthening project results with regard to gender and vulnerability.
Document lessons learned and best practices in gender-responsive disaster risk management for replication in other regions.

5. Development of Gender-Responsive Knowledge Products:
− Create knowledge products and communication materials that promote gender equality in disaster risk reduction and flood preparedness.
− Ensure that knowledge sharing and project dissemination activities incorporate a strong gender focus, including through case studies and success stories featuring women's leadership in disaster management.
− Bring innovation as added value to produce learning documents/knowledge products to strengthen data-driven, learning-based program planning and upscaling.

Education:

Advanced degree in Gender Studies, Social Sciences, Natural Resources Management, or a related field OR first-level university degree with additional 2 years of experience in a related field.

Experience:

Minimum 3 years of professional/managerial experience in gender mainstreaming in disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation.

Experience working in developing countries, preferably in South Asia, with a focus on gender, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk management.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Expertise in conducting intersectional gender analyses and integrating gender-transformative approaches into development projects, particularly related to climate change adaptation and disaster risk management.

• Social research design, quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis, and reporting.

• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with experience working with government bodies, women's groups, women and girl-focused organizations, persons with disabilities, and local communities.

Languages:
Excellent written and spoken English (level C).