Regional Gender, Equality and Inclusion Advisor – East Africa

IRC’s Crisis Response, Recovery, and Development Department (CRRD) leads the IRC’s engagements in crisis-impacted contexts worldwide. Within CRRD, the Technical Excellence (TE) pillar seeks to provide focused technical expertise in support of country-based colleagues and partner organizations in different regions. The Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (GEDI) Unit is a strategic unit and organizational change lever responsible for developing a GEDI vision and strategy for the IRC, and empowering IRC departments to deliver on the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy and the GEDI Action Plan.

IRC has committed to improving program quality by understanding and taking action on the root causes of different forms of systemic inequalities and transforming how we partner, program, learn, and share insights. The IRC is also committed to striving for equal outcomes for diverse populations by using a deep understanding of prevailing social norms and power imbalances to ensure equitable access to services and to adopt a program design and delivery approach that maximizes power for the communities we serve through effective collaboration with clients, partners, and staff.

Job Overview/Summary:

Reporting to the Deputy Regional Director – East Africa, the Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEDI) Regional Advisor, will lead transformational activities and inspire change across the region by challenging existing practices, creating space for bottom-up learning, and influencing program work among the countries in East Africa with the aim of increasing IRC’s program impact on women, girls and most marginalized communities. You will collaborate with the GEDI senior advisor to inform the global learning on GEDI in programs work.

You will be responsible for working with the GEDI Unit in supporting IRC’s ambition towards meeting global standards on TRANSFORMATIVE quality programming. This will be achieved through in-depth analysis of gender inequalities, based on gender and other forms of exclusion, that affect our clients; and developing inclusive or transformative strategies; in collaboration with feminist, women, and other identified marginalized group-led organizations.

This exciting opportunity will work in collaboration with key stakeholders in the region in driving the overall DEI strategy and implementing the GEDI action plan. We are looking for a passionate, creative and GEDI leader to help move this organizational change.

Strategic Leadership

Provide thought leadership and direction on GEDI transformative programming at regional and country level by:

• Developing and leading activities to strengthen the Gender Equitable, inclusive and transformative program design and delivery in line with the IRC TRANSFORMATIVE global standards that are core to the IRC global strategy (Strategy100).

• Ensuring consistent delivery/implementation of selected transformative programs striving for equal outcomes for diverse populations while allowing for contextual adaptation at the region and country levels.

• Working closely with technical advisors (TAs) in adapting or developing tools to support analysis and program design for country offices and support staff in applying these methods in their work.

• Collaborating with the GEDI TechEx team in developing and reviewing GEDI program tools and support the pilot and utilization of new GEDI tools.

• Adding value to the sector’s knowledge base about what works best on advancing GEDI transformative programming.

Technical support and quality programming

• In collaboration with TAs and program design collaborators, get involved in program design stages to ensure GEDI is threaded throughout program proposals. Work with global and regional Technical Advisors (TAs) to ensure GEDI Integration into regional and country-level program development opportunities and implementation in alignment with IRC global quality frameworks.

• Support embedding intersectional feminist lens in Program design & delivery at regional and country levels including but not limited to (1) the use of GEDI markers to ensure that project lifecycle decisions are rooted in the intersectional feminist lens (2) GEDI intersectional context analysis (3) key initiatives to strengthen client and partner engagement on program decision making.

• Coordinate with Technical Advisors in the different technical units for the implementation of GEDI conceptual framework and supporting country staff in understanding and applying approaches to delivering more equitable and accessible programming for women, girls, and identified marginalized groups.

• Serve as a resource, thought partner, and assessor of GEDI progress on regional program work and building consensus and support for changes needed to strengthen GEDI in programs.

• Advise on GEDI integration into country-level strategy frameworks, including country strategy action plans (SAP) and SAP implementation plans and consolidating into the regional plans.

• Work closely with TAs to support programmatic GEDI analyses to feed into improved program delivery for marginalized communities,

• Work with regional TechEx senior technical advisors and sectoral technical advisors, including Safeguarding, to address context-specific GEDI gaps and challenges.

• Serve as a hub of GEDI knowledge for the regional and country teams to provide technical knowledge and expertise, monitor new practices, and document the results.

• Integrate GEDI priority in IRC Advocacy and external communication efforts as relevant.

Job Requirements

Education: MA in Gender, Social work, Development studies, or other related course or bachelor’s degree with years of additional work experience

Work Experience: 8+ years of related experience that includes:

• Direct experience leading and influencing organizational program work on gender equality, diversity, and inclusion processes as core to all programs and activities.

• At least 2 years in the humanitarian and/or international development sector.

• At least 2 years of experience in one or more countries in the assigned region.

• Experience developing and implementing gender-transformative work. Experience working on specific areas of inclusion, such as disability, is an added advantage.

• Experience in capacity building and training.

Demonstrated skills and competencies:

• Deep commitment to and knowledge of strategies to advance diversity, equality, and inclusion; and proven experience in incorporating feminist and gender perspectives in the project cycle management.

• Knowledge of and ability to speak fluently about existing and needed evidence about how to achieve meaningful change for women and girls and other historically under-represented groups in development and humanitarian contexts.

• Ability to engage, inspire action, and influence people outside of direct reporting lines.

• Strong, concise, and compelling written communication skills and excellent public speaking skills

• Receptive and collaborative approach that contributes to a positive team environment; builds and maintains strong relationships with people from all backgrounds, genders, cultures, and viewpoints.

• Ability to support implementing a cross-cutting strategy while actively incorporating multisectoral priorities and participatory learning by doing strategy.

• Ability to work effectively and with impact through matrixed relationships.

Language Skills

• Excellent spoken and written English.

• Knowledge/proficiency of at least one other language spoken in the region (French, Arabic, Spanish, Swahili, etc.) is desirable.

Working Environment

• Combination of standard office working environment and working remotely (i.e., telecommuting). Applicants must have a home or alternate workspace from which they can effectively complete their work during regularly scheduled work hours.

• Some travel as needed up to 30%

Key Working Relationships:

Close collaboration: TechEx regional technical advisors, including regional safeguarding advisor, country deputy directors for programs.

External: IRC Organizational Partners including Women-led organizations, Donors, and IASC Cluster Groups, Feminist networks and regional coordination forums

Direct Reporting: Regional Deputy Director and GEDI Senior Technical Advisor – management in partnership.

Internal relations: Working closely with Technical advisors across different sectors, Safeguarding advisors, senior advisor GEDI people and culture, country deputy directors of program, and GEDI in- country resource persons.

External relations: IRC Organizational Partners, Donors, feminist coordination groups or networks.