GENDER ADVISOR, EXTRACTIVES
Advertised on behalf of :United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
Location : Nairobi, KENYA
Application Deadline : 03-Feb-15
Additional Category
Women’s Empowerment
Type of Contract : Individual Contract
Post Level : International Consultant
Languages Required : English
Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start)
15-Mar-2015
Duration of Initial Contract : 6 Months with possible renewal
Background
UN Women is the United Nations’ entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women. It was established in July 2010 by the UN General Assembly to accelerate progress on meeting women’s needs worldwide and as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. Globally, UN Women is mandated to supports international political negotiations to formulate globally agreed standards for gender equality, assist UN member states to implement those standards by providing expertise and financial support, and assist other UN agencies in their efforts to advance gender equality across a broad spectrum of issues related to human rights and human development. Through Programme and Technical Assistance in countries that request its assistance, UN Women works with government and non-governmental partners to help them put in place policies, laws, services, and resources that women require to move towards equality.
Women’s Economic Empowerment is one of the key result areas under the UN Women Kenya strategic plan with a focus on women in Agriculture and Extractive Industries value chains. UN WOMEN Kenya draws from its global and regional knowledge on normative and legislative frameworks, its partnership with PWYP, EITI, the African Union and UNECA to build the institutional capacities of gender-responsive capacity building in the region on gender and EI.
Kenya and other African countries are working under the framework of the Africa Mining Vision (AMV) to design and implement effective strategies, enact new legislation and policies to govern the extractive sector. Kenya is currently embracing a robust legal and policy framework for its natural resources. Under the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, a new Energy Bill and a new Policy to govern the Oil and Gas industry are currently underway. The Bill is expected to be passed by Parliament the year end and will govern exploration and production of oil and gas and create a sovereign wealth fund for energy revenues. Equal weight is being given to mineral wealth. Kenya’s first ever Ministry of Mining was established in April 2013. A new Mining Policy and Mining Bill have been drafted with the Bill currently being debated in Parliament.
Governments and regulatory bodies have the complex responsibility of ensuring that the governance and accountability conditions present incentives for investments in the Extractive Industry (EI) sector but also, that the same conditions result in benefits to its citizens both men and women. It is important that governments are cognizant of the need to include the needs and roles of women and vulnerable groups in the sector in the distribution of resources generated from the EI sector. As such, there is a pressing need for cooperation between national women’s machineries and the relevant ministries within the EI sector – for example ministries of mines, energy and petroleum. In addition, dialogue surrounding the allocation of resources should include the private sector to promote gender-responsive systems of procurement of goods and services, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and community initiatives. Through cooperation between these parties, there is a greater chance that all actors and stakeholders fully understand the complex gender dimensions of the EI sector and its relation to other sectors.
Given the prevailing importance accorded the EI sector in Kenya, it is opportune and urgent for gender responsive work in the EI sector to ensure that women participate in the decision-making in the sector, are engaged in the EI value chain as investors, service providers and workforce, are represented in the sector governance structures including decisions on the allocation of sovereign wealth generated by the EI.
To this end, UN Women seeks the services of a highly qualified Gender Advisor to support the Ministry of Mining in Kenya in the development of regulations and controls of the mining industry that help ensure equitable participation and protections for women and vulnerable groups.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Gender Advisor will be seconded to the Ministry of Mining and will receive day-to-day overall guidance and supervision from the Cabinet Secretary, Mining. The Advisor will also additionally be expected to report to UN Women Country Director as the seconding agency, to ensure close collaboration and coordination. The post will also closely work with other stakeholders (Parliament in particular KEWOPA), civil society, private sector), the EI sector coordination group. Within the UN Delivering as One, the Gender Advisor is expected to coordinate technical assistance with the Strategic Result Area Group 3 on‘Sustainable and Equitable Economic Growth’ and the UN Programme Working Group on Gender. The Gender Advisor will be responsible for providing strategic and technical advice to the Ministry of Mining to strengthen gender equality in the development of regulation and controls to be derived from the Mining Bill and international standards. The Adviser will provide technical support and content expertise on mainstreaming gender equity into the Ministry of Mining institutional framework.
Key Functions
- Strategic and technical Advice;
- Technical support and content expertise;
- Coordination and Partnership Building.
Details of the Assignment
- Provision of technical advice in carrying out a gender audit/analysis of existing mining related legal, policy and regulatory frameworks in Kenya and make recommendations;
- Provision of technical advice to the Ministry of Mining as required, to the development of mining regulations and control and related implementation at the national and devolved government levels;
- Coordination of emerging technical and development assistance to the Ministry of Mining, ensuring emerging development support responds to women’s needs and national gender equality priorities;
- Provide technical support and content expertise to mainstreaming gender equality and women’s empowerment into all regulations and programs related to the implementation of regulations and controls in a coherent manner, through close consultation with relevant stakeholders;
- Coordinate capacity building efforts on gender mainstreaming at all stages of the mining regulations and controls implementation.
- Act as resource person in capacity building, knowledge sharing events and other relevant activities on gender equality and women’s empowerment in Ministry of Mining;
- Coordinate gender equality and women’s empowerment activities of the Ministry of Mining in close consultation with other Ministries (Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Ministry of Devolution and Planning);
- Ensure knowledge sharing, documentation and dissemination of good practices on gender equality, women’s empowerment and rights within Ministry of Mining and the broader Government of Kenya system;
- Support the communication of gender equality and women’s empowerment results of Mining regulations and controls to external audiences.
Expected deliverables
- Inception Report detailing the expert/s understanding of the Terms of Reference;
- A detailed work plan outlining intended plan of activities to ensure delivery of the expected outcomes within the timelines given;
- A gender audit report of existing mining related legal, policy and regulatory frameworks in Kenya;
- Prepare monthly, quarterly and final reports.
Competencies
Core values and Guiding principles
Integrity
- Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.
Professionalism
- Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.
Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity
- Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff;
- Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.
Core Competencies
- Excellent advisory, managerial leadership and partnership building skills;
- Aptitude to take initiative and to adapt to quickly changing environment;
- Ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of partners both orally and in written;
- Skills in effectively facilitating policy dialogue, knowledge sharing events, meetings involving a variety of stakeholders from Government, civil society and development partners;
- Ability to set priorities and accomplish multiple tasks consecutively.
Required Skills and Experience
Education
- Masters in mining engineering, geology, environmental sciences, management, economics, social sciences, gender, communications, or similar required.
Experience
- Seven years experience related to social and gender impact of mining, minerals trade and extractives;
- Experience in providing support to legislation drafting required;
- Proven knowledge of regional and international standards for gender and corporate social responsibility;
- Prior experience working on development programs and extractive industries preferred.
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