Global Health Fellowship Program seeks Gender Advisor for a Virginia-Based 2-year Fellowship. Deadline to Apply is October 24th.

in Fellowships
October 6th, 2014

Global Health Fellows Program

Technical Advisor II: Gender Advisor

Policy, Evaluation and Communication Division, Office of Population and Reproductive Health, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development 

Location: Arlington, Virginia

Assignment: Two year fellowship

GHFP II-P3-131

The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP-II) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute in partnership with Global Health Corps, GlobeMed, Management Systems International and PYXERA Global. GHFP-II is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

GHFP-II’s goal is to improve the effectiveness of USAID health programs by addressing the Agency’s immediate and emerging human capacity needs. The program seeks to accomplish this goal first through the recruitment, placement and support of diverse health professionals at the junior, mid and senior levels. These program participants include fellows, interns, corporate volunteers and Foreign Service National professionals. The program then provides substantial performance management and career development support to participants, including annual work planning assistance, and ensures that professional development opportunities are available.

Looking to the future, GHFP-II also seeks to establish a pool of highly-qualified global health professionals that will ensure the Agency’s ongoing technical leadership and effectiveness. This objective is supported by an extensive outreach program that brings global health opportunities and specialized career advice to a diverse range of interested individuals, with a particular focus on those underrepresented in the field of global health.

BACKGROUND:

The Gender Advisor (Advisor) will be based in the Policy, Evaluation and Communication (PEC) Division, one of four divisions in the Office of Population and Reproductive Health (PRH) in USAID’s Bureau for Global Health (GH). PEC creates the enabling environment for sexual and reproductive health (RH) with a focus on family planning (FP). PEC works with partners within USAID and externally to: 1) Promote effective FP advocacy, policy, financing, and governance; 2) Collect, analyze, and evaluate data for evidence-based decision making; and 3) Develop and implement communication efforts to influence attitudes, norms, and behaviors of beneficiaries and providers.

INTRODUCTION:

The Gender Advisor will be part of the PRH Gender Team supporting technical leadership and serving as a point person for all gender-related issues across all 4 Divisions in PRH. The Advisor will also participate in the Interagency Gender Working Group (IGWG). S/he will seek to understand and address gender norms and inequalities across FP programming (e.g., research, data collection and analysis, policy and advocacy, service delivery, social and behavior change communication), with a particular focus on gender-based violence and child marriage, reproductive empowerment, and male engagement as supportive partners and FP users.

The Advisor will also contribute to the overall goals of the Office and the Division through participation in PEC Division projects and activities. S/he will work closely with PRH and GH Gender Advisors and receive day-to-day guidance from the PRH Gender Team Leader.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Gender Advisor will be responsible for:

  • Coordinating with key program staff, managers and technical specialists, to ensure the development of gender strategies, and appropriate gender integration into PRH-projects and activities, technical materials and events.
  • Facilitating coherent gender integration efforts, including reporting, across GH.
  • Supporting sound gender analysis and integration into PRH program design, implementation, evaluation, measurement and reporting.
  • Providing gender technical assistance to FP/RH programs.
  • Working with PRH and field mission staff to expand knowledge and programming seeking to engage men as supportive partners, agents of change, and as users of contraception.
  • Contributing efforts to mitigate gender-based violence and promoting reproductive empowerment of women and couples in the PRH portfolio.
  • Working with PRH project management teams to raise awareness and capacity related to gender, and to expand gender integration into FP projects and activities.
  • Designing and delivering context-specific trainings on USAID gender policies and the relevance of gender to programmatic components and evaluation.
  • Working with FP/RH technical staff to develop formal trainings and informal sessions with a gender lens.
  • Fostering internal and external relationships for coordination and collaboration, including, but not limited to, program partners and organizations doing similar work, as well as governmental entities.
  • Coordinating with gender advisors across GH and the Agency to ensure information sharing and consistency in approach.
  • Responding to gender-related queries from the US Government, donors, and other external stakeholders.
  • Responding to and managing Mission requests for technical assistance and training on gender.
  • Providing support and assisting missions in gender and FP/RH field activities and program planning.
  • Participating in the IGWG, and supporting the Gender Team on effective outreach to multiple constituencies.

International and domestic travel approximately 20%.

Training and professional development

  • Keeping abreast of literature and latest developments in the fields of FP, and gender programming.
  • Deeping knowledge of gender programming.
  • Participating in interagency and intra-agency working groups as appropriate to SOW.
  • Participating in professional continuing education and skills training within the purview of GHFP-II.

REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE:

  • Master’s degree or higher in public health or a related social science field.
  • Minimum five (5) years’ experience in FP/RH, with at least two (2) years’ experience in an international or resource challenged setting.
  • Minimum five (5) years’ experience in gender integration, program development/implementation and/or research (including monitoring & evaluation).
  • Demonstrated understanding of FP/RH related gender equality and equity, gender-based violence, engaging men, and/or women’s empowerment more generally and reproductive empowerment more specifically.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of gender integration in one or more of the key areas of FP/RH programming, such as policy, social and behavior change communication, private sector engagement, supply chain, expanding method choice, capacity building, and/or research in support of FP programming (e.g., formative assessment, rigorous evaluation, monitoring and evaluation).
  • Support for gender integration along PRH’s 5 focus areas: Method Choice, Social Behavior Change Communication, Family Planning Workforce, Total Market Approach, and Product Availability.
  • Ability to conceptualize, plan, guide, and implement work.
  • Strong communications skills and ability to present information clearly in English, both verbally and in writing.
  • Experience with USAID programming, budgeting, and evaluation functions and procedures both in USAID/Washington and in USAID missions is desirable.
  • Proficiency in French is desirable.
  • Experience in leading training workshops and public speaking preferred.
  • Flexibility and openness in responding to changing work priorities and environment.
  • Ability to travel internationally 2-4 times per year for approximately 2-3 weeks at a time.
  • Ability to work well with multiple stakeholders.
  • Ability and willingness to work as part of a team and effectively cross-culturally.
  • Adept at handling politically sensitive issues.
  • Ability to prioritize work responsibilities and to handle multiple tasks at once.
  • US citizenship or US permanent residency required.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary based on commensurate experience and earnings history. The Public Health Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package including professional development programs.

TO APPLY:

All applicants are required to apply for this position through GHFP-II’s online recruitment system at https://www.ghfp.net/recruitment/, which allows you to store your CV, profile and bio data form in our database. A separate cover letter describing your qualifications and experience, interest and familiarity with issues relating to this position, and how this position relates to your career goals is required for each application. All online applications must be submitted by October 24, 2014 by 5:00 pm Eastern time.