Short Term Consultant Social and Gender Specialist

GENERAL INFORMATION

SNV has been working in Vietnam since 1995. Using market based approaches, SNV is committed to reducing poverty by catalyzing environmentally sustainable solutions for the poor in agriculture, energy, water & sanitation, and REDD+. In the agriculture sector, SNV is engaged in Value Chain, Inclusive Business and Climate Change (adaption and mitigation) activities. As part of the Climate Change program of SNV, the AusAID funded “Community Based Climate Change Mitigation through Sustainable Rice Production” project in Quang Binh and Binh Dinh provinces in the central region of Vietnam, is helping small-holder rice producers to increase their resilience to the impacts of CC. Climate change is expected to have significant negative impact upon rice production in Vietnam with temperature increases, a rise in sea level and an increase in the frequency and severity of natural disasters and extreme weather phenomena (storms, floods, droughts, hot/cold spells) as well as disease and pest incidents, and water availability. To cope with this variability and change in available resources the project will apply the System of Rice Intensification, with its alternative and reduced input approaches to water and fertiliser management it will result in reduced GHG emissions from wetland rice production.

The impact of climate change on rice production systems is well acknowledged and is based on technical, environmental and weather aspects. The social impact of climate change on small holder rice producers is less understood and known. As the overall goal of the project is to reduce greenhouse gas emission from rice production systems while ensuring local livelihoods are maintained, the project is seeking to gain further insight into the social aspect of rice production within the climate change context, with emphasis on gender. Experiences show that substantial improvements can be realised when women’s interests and capacities are taken into account and when the diverse roles of male and females farmers are acknowledged. This is why the project strategically aims to understand and encourage the full participation of women; ensuring their needs are taken into account and that they derive an equal share of the benefits through improved household incomes, employmen opportunities, and improved access to market.

To ensure that all project activities are implemented with consideration for social inclusiveness and gender equity, there is a need to understand and building the awareness and capacity of local officials and partners on social and gender issues.

Therefore, the project is seeking a social and gender specialist to carry out the following assignment.

OVERALL OBJECTIVE AND ACTIVITIES

To ensure that the project activities are implemented with consideration for gender equality, social inclusiveness and right based approach, SNV is seeking a social and gender specialist (individual) to undertake the following activities:
1. Conduct a gender assessment in order to better understand the roles of women and men in the rice production systems and rice value chain:
- Disaggregated analysis of the division of labour in rice production, rice trading/marketing and use of rice residues in project communes in Quang Binh and Binh Dinh provinces
- Analyse the different access and control of the resources related to rice production
- Analyse households decision making on rice production
- Implications of gender differences in the development of the rice farmer’s households.
2. Using the results from the gender assessment, review the projects interventions to:
- Comparative analysis on the traditional versus SRI rice production systems and the implications for the projects interventions
- Role of women in the trading and marketing of rice
- Role of women in the use of rice residues and need for energy sources
- Make recommendations for how the project could promote gender equality within its scope for better execution of the project in order to improve the impacts with gender equality.
3. Prepare and deliver training on gender issues for local officials, implementing partners and key farmers group leaders to raise awareness about gender equality and social inclusiveness and introduce tools/approaches to mainstream gender into project activities and objectives.
4. Develop a gender check list manual including mechanisms and strategies through which the project activities will ensure gender equity, social inclusiveness, and use a right-based approach.
5. Support the local partners to establish female farmer groups to strengthen their participation in and benefit from the project and via participatory processes develop group operation regulations defining the work and function of these groups.

DELIVERABLES:

1. Rice farming and value chain gender analysis report
2. Recommendations for improved inclusion of gender and social inclusiveness in the project design and implementation of activities
3. Training program, training materials and four (4) training sessions in the 4 project communes
4. Gender check list manual (short, 2-3 pages and easy to use) for all implementers
5. Female famer groups are established and group operation regulations and work plan are developed.

SCHEDULE:

The assignment will be undertaken in January 2013 and is expected to require a maximum of 35 working days. The assignment requires travel to the project areas.

REQUIREMENTS:

- Advanced university degree in International Development, Economics or Social Sciences; preferably with a specialization on gender / women’s issues
- Experience in gender analysis and designing gender-responsive projects
- Knowledge of the agriculture and rice sector in Vietnam
- Experience in meeting facilitation / conducting training
- Fluent in English and Vietnamese with exceptional report writing skills in both languages.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES:

Applications should consist of a cover letter which includes specific reference to prior relevant experience, the financial proposal, and the CV of the applicant.

Deadline for applications is 2pm, Friday 11 January 2013 and should be sent to [email protected]