Position: Gender Consultant
Vacancy issued: July 22, 2020
Deadline for Application: August 25, 2020
No. of Posts 1
The Roma Education Fund (REF) is looking for Gender Consultant to ensure gender sensitive project interventions in Albania and Kosovo[*]. This is a short-term consultancy engagement for the project “Education, Employment, Partnerships and Gender Equality: A Winning Formula for Roma in VET”, funded by Austrian Development Agency and implemented by REF, in cooperation with project partners RomaVersitas Albania and RomaVersitas Kosovo.
The Consultant should identify opportunities and entry points for mainstreaming gender into the project, develop a training manual and lessons-learned publication, and deliver a 2.5 day “training-of-trainers” for the project management team.
Background
The Roma Education Fund’s (REF) mission and goal is to close the gap in educational outcomes between Roma and non-Roma. To achieve this goal, the organization supports policies and programs which ensure access to quality education for Roma through scholarships, grant making, research and advocacy activities. The objectives of REF include:
- Expanding Romani children’s access to quality early childhood education and care;
- Improving primary education outcomes for Romani children aged six to fourteen;
- Boosting academic performance and graduation rates from secondary education for Romani pupils;
- Supporting access to tertiary education, improving graduation levels and strengthening identity of Romani university students;
- Expanding employment opportunities for young Romani adults.
The overall objective of the project (May 1, 2020-December 31, 2022) is to contribute to social inclusion and poverty reduction of Roma in Albania and Kosovo through support of vocational education and training, facilitation to labor market and empowering stakeholders to take measures to support transition of Roma to employment.
The activities and outputs are clustered into two main areas:
- Education – increased access to vocational education for Roma youth and young adults, through scholarships, mentoring and tutoring and improving access to education and employment for Roma girls, boys, women and men;
- Employability – improved employability for Roma youth and young adults, through job placements, professional development and partnerships of civil society, public and private sector institutions for Roma workforce inclusion aimed at influencing policy changes.
The project will focus on strengthening professional skills of REF scholars and other beneficiaries – vocational training, internships, professional skills development, cooperation and partnerships with employers. Wide range of vocational training (VET within the education institutions, such as high schools) and obtaining recognized certificates, paid professional internships in the public or private sector, additional education (conducted by accredited institutes, such as vocational courses), which includes scholarship and mentoring support will be provided.
Description of consultancy responsibilities
Research, development and delivery of analysis for Albania and analysis for Kosovo
Though there is disaggregated data on female participation in preschool, primary, secondary and university education levels, there is a lack of official gender-related data specifically for VET education. A gender consultant will be engaged to conduct a gender analysis of Roma women and girls in VET with the aim to identify obstacles faced, but also opportunities available, and also to properly assess the needs of women and men/girls and boys and the impact of project activities on them. This will be done in the beginning of the project in order for project staff to monitor adequately and ensure gender-mainstreaming throughout the project.
Development of training manual
Based on the findings from the gender analysis, a manual will be developed and used for the delivery of a tailor-made, country- and context-specific gender equality training, including but not limited to: identifying gender inequalities, defining gender equality objectives, accounting for gender when planning and implementing policies, monitoring progress, monitoring progress, evaluate programs from a gender perspective.
Delivery of training – Training of Trainers
The gender consultant will use the manual to lead 2 ½ day ToT training for the project management team and local staff of the project partners who will be working with the primary and indirect target groups. These project teams will then use the knowledge and tools gained by the gender training session to raising the level of awareness, sensitivity and adherence to the project’s gender equality outcome among the primary and indirect target groups.
Assist in the development of “Lessons Learned” on the prospect of Roma women and girls in VET and employability publication to indirect target groups
The publication will be used as an advocacy and visibility tool for indirect target groups (schools, employers, public institutions) with the aim to promote success stories for employers and also to encourage role models for girls and women in the Roma communities.
The Gender Consultant will work under the guidance of the Project Manager based in Belgrade, Serbia.
Deliverables:
Gender analysis
Training manual for gender equality for VET.
“ToT” training
Lessons Learned publication on the prospect of Roma women and girls in VET and employability
Required Education and Experience
- Postgraduate university degree in social sciences or other relevant discipline, preferably with a specialization in gender and project cycle management.
- Previous experience in conducting gender analysis, preferably in working on mainstreaming gender into project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
- Previous experience in working with Roma and/or Roma CSOs.
Skills required
- In-depth knowledge and understanding of the gender context in the project’s countries
- Familiarity with gender analysis tools and methodologies in the specific area of intervention, i.e. education and employment (of Roma);
- Ability to communicate ideas in a manner conducive to their practical application;
- Excellent organizational, analytical, communication and interpersonal skills;
- Fluency in written and spoken English (knowledge of project languages – Serbian and/or Albanian preferred);
- Knowledge of Romanes will be an advantage).
Planned duration of the engagement: 30 consultancy days
Timeline: August (starting as soon as possible)
Application Process
A complete application includes:
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- Statement of interest, that should include:
- Your academic background / education in the field of gender;
- Previous experience in conducting gender analysis and/or work on gender mainstreaming into project interventions;
- Previous experience working with Roma communities and civil society organizations (CSOs) or other relevant stakeholders;
- Experience in gender training and delivering Training of Trainer workshops.
- Brief methodology clearly describing Consultant’s understanding of the assignment and challenges (max. 2 pages);
- Financial offer expressed as consultancy fee per number of anticipated working days in EUR. In case of traveling for the purposes of the assignment, REF will cover eligible travel and accommodation costs.
Application must be made in English and must be submitted at the latest by August 25 to the following address: recruitment@romaeducationfund.org. Please include in the subject line “Gender Consultant”.
Individuals identifying themselves as Roma, Roma Education Fund scholarship recipients, and fulfilling the above-mentioned profile and requirements are particularly encouraged to apply. Qualified female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.
[*] This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
