CARE is an international NGO with local staff and community partners in 100 countries. We create local solutions to poverty and inequality and we seek dignity for everyone every day and during times of crisis.  These solutions have a broad range, from disaster response to food and nutrition to education and work for women and girls to healthy mothers and children. 
CARE International in Kenya (CIK) has been working in Kenya since 1968, and its core programming areas include community adaptation to climate change and disaster risk reduction; humanitarian assistance and emergency response; agriculture & market systems for food and nutrition security; Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH); health, equity & rights; and women’s economic empowerment.

The Gender Officer is expected to work in collaborative partnership with SHE SOARS Strategic partners to develop and strengthen their desired Gender Equality and Social Inclusion results outputs, outcomes and contributions to impact, ensuring transformative processes and ensure data for key performance indicators is collected, verified and reported on, timely - but also holistically for all gender related and integrated initiatives under the project. S/he should build the capacity of recipients in Gender Equality results-based reporting and delivery principles and processes and will ensure that all strategic partners have structures and processes / systems to deliver on, monitor adherence to CARE’s programming principles and abide by agreed CARE standards and donor guidelines on Gender Equality Outcomes delivery. The gender officer will also document and utilize learning and knowledge from within CARE and outside to develop and design and improve high impact programs.

The role of the Gender Officer will be as follows

1.      Supporting implementation of SHE SOARS Gender and Equality outcomes 40%

• Coordinate and take a leading role in the development and implementation of the Project Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Strategy. (GESI)
• Coordinate all Gender result activities for CARE Kenya under the SHE SOARS Project to ensure the project achieves its gender outcomes.
• Oversee the development, update, and implementation of the County SHE SOARS GESI Action plans as well as the GESI strategy including support to the Strategic partners Capacity Building plans.
• Ensure mainstreaming of MEAL approaches in the MEAL system design and implementation with support from the SHE SOARS MEAL Coordinator and CARE Kenya Program Quality and Accountability Manager.
• Facilitate participatory processes with project’s partners for the development and implementation of the gender strategy.
• Support gender related tools development, testing, and management that will ensure timely and user-oriented gender related data collection and reporting.
• Promote and support the dissemination of gender related Program information among the Program team.
• Represent CARE Kenya and the SHE SOARS Project in various gender meetings, networks and opportunities to support the project.
• Liaise with the gender advisors in CARE Kenya, Uganda and Zambia  to share models, tools and best practices for the project.

2.      Reporting, Documentation, Knowledge management and Learning support 25%

• Coordinate and guide partners in their gender equality results reporting and documentation responsibilities. Ensure that the reporting meets the evidence and communications needs of SHE SOARS project
• Review project gender equality outcome results achievements against indicator targets with a view to strengthening reporting, planning, implementation as well as decision making.
• Keep up to date project gender related data and reports for reference by the program team as well as other stakeholders.
• Provide gender outcomes data for internal and donor reports as well as internal documentation and reporting systems
• Take lead in documentation of lessons learnt and best practices as well as dissemination on the same.
• Provide technical support in filling in the Gender marker accurately during reporting and designing new projects for layering on the existing ones.

3.      Capacity building of staff and partners and technical Support on Gender Equality Results outcomes 25%

• Design and implement a gender outcome capacity strengthening strategy based on a participatory capacity assessment and capacity strengthening and building plans.
• Guide and support the strategic partners staff, in the implementation of the Gender strategy and any other agreed gender equality results in line with the SHE SOARS Program proposal/Design.
• Provide input in the design of new layering initiatives to ensure the gender needs of impact groups are addressed in accordance with SHE SOARS Program and CARE Kenya’s Programme approach.
• Support in conducting gender equality targeted evaluations, including design, support in data collection, management and analysis working closely with the SHE SOARS MEAL Coordinator.
• Contribute to the development of the SHE SOARS  project annual operating plan, ensuring alignment of the gender equality results with program approach and achievement of annual target indicators.

4.      Resource mobilization, fundraising and partnership 10%

• Support preparation of concept notes and proposals working closely with the Program Manager, GESI Project Lead, Country Office (CO) Gender Focal point and Program Quality Manager and respective technical team/ advisors.
• Support CO effort to position for new business opportunities by capturing and documenting best practices for increased visibility and strategic partnership with close collaboration with Project Manager.
• Scope out existing opportunities in areas of expertise to allow program growth and sustainability with Project Manager.
• Support in the mobilization of resources for the implementation of projects by developing partnerships with existing sources of funding, international conventions, and donors.
• Work with the project manager Explore possibility of leveraging CARE funds/resources with other external funds such as devolved funds from local government, private sector and other related public private partners in order to achieve high impact and synergies.
• Support the project manager the exploration of external partnerships ensuring that opportunities are identified at local and national levels and beyond.
• Following through due diligence findings on GED and GESI matrices / KPIs for the project coupled with an understanding of the CARE International / CO Gender commitments and partnership Policy with support from the Project Manager, GESI Project Lead and CO Gender Focal point.

Qualifications required

Education:

• Degree in Social Sciences, Gender and development studies or other relevant discipline coupled.
• At least 5 years’ experience in positions responsible in gender equality outcome results delivery and program quality in development programs in at least two of the following areas: gender equality, women’s rights, organizational strengthening, or feminist movement building.
• Excellent written, verbal English and presentation/communication skills.
• Demonstrable ability to develop and implement gender transformative results outcomes, systems and plans, and applied knowledge and understanding of feminist approaches and principles.
• Experience in using collaborative, consensus based and approaches to build partner skills and knowledge, provide training and foster effective and participatory decision making amongst partners meet evolving Project gender equality results outcomes.
• Demonstrated strong management, coordination, teamwork, and planning skills with proven ability to function effectively with multiple gender programs/projects in both the public and NGO sectors.
• Experience with and understanding of relevant donor frameworks and reporting systems.
• Experience in writing Funding opportunities Concepts and Proposals
• Strong gender related technical skills, including ability to understand the different and complex dynamic affecting / supporting adequate delivery on the gender equality results.

Desirable

• In depth understanding of underlying causes of poverty, vulnerability, and gender inequality in Kenya with good knowledge of the political, economic, social and technological environment is desirable.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Kenya’s women’s Rights movement.
• Demonstrated commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment.

working conditions

The position is based in Kisumu-Kenya while supporting SHE SOARS implementation in Nairobi, Kajiado, Kisumu and Siaya Counties

contacts/key relationships (internal & external):

• The Gender Officer reports directly to Program Manager SHE SOARS
• Apart from the direct report, the Gender Officer will work closely with the CARE, Kenya Gender focal person, SHE SOARS Project MEAL Coordinator and SHE SOARS external implementing country Gender focal persons, Government stakeholders  and Partner gender officers .

Other Skills

• People Skills: Ability to work both independently and as a team player.
• Integrity: Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to CARE's core values and humanitarian principles.
• Resilience/adaptability and flexibility: Ability to operate effectively under difficult circumstances and to interact effectively with a geographically dispersed multicultural team.

CARE is an Equal Opportunity Employer promoting gender, equity, and diversity. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Deadline to receive all applications will be on or before  1st July 2022, at 5.00 P.M EAT. 

We do require that you have the legal ability to work in Kenya and while we would like to respond to all applicants, only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification

CARE does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. Qualified Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply. CARE has a commitment to gender, equity and diversity in our workplace and operations. CARE respects and values diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender identity, sexuality, ethnicity, age, disability, religion or politics. This is reflected in our recruitment decisions which are made entirely through a transparent, merit-based selection process. All CARE staffs are required to comply with the Code of Conduct, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Child Protection (CP) policies.