Position: Senior Gender and Agriculture Specialist – MCA Lesotho HTGSD
Opportunity Type: Full-Time Job
Location: Maseru, Lesotho
About the Organization:
Connexus Corporation is an international development consulting firm that provides consulting services in the areas of agriculture, finance, and enterprise development. Connexus’ mission is to provide high quality global consulting services to transform international development and build local capacity. Connexus is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity.
Position Description
Connexus is seeking a Senior Gender and Agriculture Specialist for the anticipated MCA Lesotho Horticulture Training, Gender, and Social Development (HTGSD) opportunity. The core objective of this initiative is to design and implement training and capacity building activities for smallholder farmers and emerging agribusinesses across the horticultural value chain, with a particular focus on the inclusion of women and youth. Falling under the Market-Driven Irrigated Horticulture (MDIH) Project, HTGSD seeks to improve the social, institutional, and business enabling environment for commercial horticulture production and to optimize the utilization of irrigation infrastructure investments.
As the Senior Gender and Agriculture Specialist, you will be tasked with designing and implementing gender transformative approaches to promote the inclusion of women in commercial horticultural production in Lesotho.
The position will be based in Lesotho This position is contingent upon project award and approval by MCA Lesotho.
Tasks and Responsibilities
- Lead the implementation of gender transformative approaches to increase participation of women in on-farm management, production, marketing, and post-harvest handling in the horticulture value chain and increase women’s voice and influence in household decision making.
- Coordinate with gender specialists across MDIH projects to align approaches and build upon existing efforts to increase women’s equal economic participation in horticulture.
- Design and manage field assessments to tailor gender programming to socioeconomic barriers experienced by households across the four irrigation sites under MDIH.
- Identify areas where strategic engagement on gender issues could substantially advance women as drivers of horticulture value chain development in Lesotho..
- Develop strategies that address barriers to women’s economic participation such as land access and use, gender-based violence, childcare services, and household decision making.
- Ensure gender transformative approaches are integrated into capacity building and training activities across the project.
- Coordinate with MEL staff to develop targets and indicators for women’s inclusion in activities across the project, particularly in commercial horticulture.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in discipline relevant to the position such as gender or women’s studies in development, rural development, agriculture, anthropology, or a related social science.
- 10 years of relevant experience at a senior level designing and implementing programs that promote opportunity for women in commercial agricultural production and marketing, including addressing gender norms and barriers.
- 10 years of experience applying gender and inclusion analysis tools in development projects, including experience designing and/or implementing gender transformative approaches in the context of agriculture.
- 5 years of experience in project management at a senior strategic/managerial level.
- 5 years of experience integrating gender into capacity building and training programs in agriculture.
- Experience with at least 2 projects that analyzed or responded to gender risks in the context of women’s economic empowerment programs, including GBV.
- Experience working at a senior level with at least 2 projects related to gender and agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Legally authorized to work in Lesotho.
- Exceptional oral and written communication skills in English.
Deadline: January 31, 2024
How to Apply
Interested candidates can send their resume and cover letter to careers@connexus.email with “Senior Gender and Ag Specialist – HTGSD” in the subject line. No phone calls please.