Job Description

1. Brief Description

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) is implementing various projects in Somalia on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ,) and in cooperation with the Somalia Federal Ministry of Interior and Federal Affairs, across multiple regions and sectors. In Jubaland Kismayo, GIZ is piloting the graduation approach towards social and economic inclusion of ultra-poor households with a special focus on women headed households, through the project “Socio-Economic Participation of Multi-dimensionally

Poor Female-Headed Households in Kismayo” (GIZ SEPOW). This inclusion is achieved through a combination of measures consisting of consumption support in form of cash transfers, social empowerment, economic empowerment, and financial inclusion.

1. Responsibilities

The Gender/Equality Specialist will be responsible for conceptualization, development and execution of all self-help groups’ interventions including village saving and loans schemes (VSLAs), coaching, mentoring, financial literacy, income generation, childcare, life skills transfer and FGM/C awareness measures.

The Gender/Equality Specialist (SHG mobiliser) will:

▪         Oversee the establishing and operationalizing self-help groups (SHGs) for women from specified households.

▪         Supervise the development and execution of capacity-building programs for both individuals and SHGs, including the creation of coaching and mentoring concept and content.

▪         Coordinate various capacity-building initiatives for SHGs implemented by partners and directly by SEPOW, maintaining and coordinating a feasible schedule with other project components to ensure smooth implementation.

▪         Serve as a liaison between the target SHGs, the SEPOW project, and implementing partners (IPs).

▪         Monitor and track SHGs’ and individual member milestones to assess progress against established graduation criteria.

▪         Develop and oversee the implementation of a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) model tailored to local contexts and beneficiary profiles.

▪         Create linkages for the SHGs and VSLAs, fostering partnerships and networks with relevant bodies and sectors,

▪         Offer technical guidance to project management and IPs on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) sensitization and awareness measures, ensuring alignment with global, national, and state guidelines.

▪         Assist in integrating gender mainstreaming and do-no-harm considerations across all project
components.

▪         Together with project management, ensure that all activities are aligned with other project components, project objectives, timelines, and budgets.

The Gender/Equality Specialist will perform the following tasks:

1. Key Technical Tasks

1.1 Coordination of Self-help groups:

▪         Support relevant IPs in the profiling and capacity assessment of target women to define interests, capacity gaps and provide basis for planning,

▪         Oversee the formation of SHGs, taking into account inclusiveness, shared interest and proximity of participating households,

▪         Oversee the institutionalisation of formed SHGs, including election of management bodies, articulating purpose, vision, and goals of the group as well as registration with relevant institutions,

▪         Develop and keep up to date detailed work plans and schedules for SHG trainings, meetings and activities ensuring coordinated scheduling with other project components that also target the same beneficiaries.

▪         Oversee the development and implementation of capacity building concepts for the SHGs, including coaching and mentoring,

▪         Support in the organization and facilitation of regular SHG meetings, encouraging active participation and collaboration among members. ensuring effective functioning of self-help groups by providing guidance and support.

▪         Provide continuous support and oversee mentorship to SHG leaders and members to enhance their management and organization capacity and confidence.

▪         Together with SHGs coaches, provide coaching and mentoring to SHG members and their respective households on gender equality issues, women's empowerment, and related topics.

▪         Provide technical support in the facilitation of peer learning, exposure and/or exchange visits to relevant locations and events for SHG members to foster learning and experience sharing.

▪         Ensure good teamwork and close collaboration, proper communication and coordination with relevant actors and target household to ensure smooth running of the SHGs.

▪         Identify relevant networks and create linkages with the SHGs, including with private sector, CBOs and other similar institutions,

▪         Support relevant IPs in the development and implementation of a childcare strategy, to provide playgroup activities for under 7 children during SHG meetings/activities,

▪         Provide guidance and support to IPs, parents and caregivers on childcare practices, early childhood development, and child rights.

1.2 Management of Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAS)

▪         Together with respective IPs and SHG coaches, conduct awareness /sensitization on and promote VSLA schemes to target women,

▪         Provide oversight in the planning, formation, and management of (VSLAs), in consultation with target women,

▪         Support in the development of work plans and coordinate schedules with other SHG activities to ensure effective implementation of VSLA related activities.

▪         Oversee VSLA core activities i.e., member savings and lending, and troubleshoot cases to ensure smooth operation of the schemes,

▪         Monitor the performance of SHGs and VSLA’s groups as per developed concept including member participation, cohesion, meetings, training and contributions and documentation of processes,

▪         Continually consult and work together with the VSLAs members and IPs to identify training needs, and facilitate the groups to develop plans and goals for individual and group shared initiatives/activities,

▪         Create linkages between the VSLAs and formal banking structures in the region, and continually organise training sessions and workshops on financial literacy, including budgeting, saving, and managing finances.

▪         Continually track progress of the SHGs and VSLAs, against set benchmarks and household graduation criteria.

1.3 Creating Awareness on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C)

▪         Coordinate pre and post knowledge, attitudes, and practices KAP) assessment on FGM/C targeting participating households,

▪         Together with project management, identify context appropriate sensitization and awareness measures on FGM/C practices,

▪         Oversee the implementation of FGM/C sensitization and awareness measures, including identification of resource persons/trainers to undertake capacity building initiatives,

▪         Support the project management, Jubaland Ministry of Women and IPs in developing anti FGM/C IEC materials for awareness creation, in collaboration with relevant government institutions,

▪         Mobilize target households to participate in community driven dialogues on female genital mutilation issues, including generational dialogues implemented by GIZ,

▪         Identify and recommend other community-wide modes of creating awareness on FGM/C, including partnerships/collaboration with relevant government and sector actors.

2. Communication and Knowledge Management

▪         Identify, engage and maintain contact with all relevant stakeholders and sector actors.

▪         Ensures regular information sharing, coordination and collaboration with beneficiaries, government partners, community representatives and other key stakeholders.

▪         Be a link between the SHGs/VSLA members, IPs as well as sector partners, ensuring cross learning and cooperation.

▪         Represent the project in relevant coordination, clusters and coordination forums.

▪          Maintain an up-to-date SHGs and VSLA members database and documents/records.

▪          Regularly submit field reports, success stories, articles and photo documentation to the projects’

M&E unit, as per agreed on schedule.

▪         Regularly provide gender sensitive data and information crucial to the planning and implementation, including on baselines, assessments, project achievements, current trends, as well as sector, country and international priorities etc.

3. Other duties/additional tasks

▪         Act as the project’s do-no-harm focal point

▪          Performs other duties and tasks as requested by the project management

Experiences and Qualifications

Required qualifications, competences & experience

4.1 Academic qualification

▪         Bachelor’s degree in relevant field, such as Sociology, Gender Studies, Social Development, Community Development, Social Protection, Banking, Project Management, or equivalent qualification from a recognized institution.

▪         For candidates with relevant bachelor’s degree, 3 years of professional experience in a comparable position is required. 5 years of professional experience in a comparable position for candidates with college diploma will be considered.

4.2 Professional experience

▪         At-least 3 years’ experience working in Kismayo, Somalia on community development and/ or group mobilization, self-help groups, VSLAs, economic empowerment, beneficiary targeting in crises situations or equivalent.

▪         Expertise in early childhood development is an asset

4.3 Other knowledge, additional competence

▪         Strong networking skills and ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders, particularly female-headed households from marginalized groups

▪         Willingness and ability to perform field work with regular visits to SHG/VSLA groups,

▪          Very good knowledge of Somali (spoken and written)

▪         Strong understanding of local (Kismayo) context, power- and clan-structures and challenges faced by marginalized groups

▪         Intrinsic motivation to promote women’s socio-economic empowerment

▪         Willingness to upskill as required by the tasks to be performed – corresponding measures are agreed with management.

▪         Good working knowledge of ICT technologies (data management software, phone, email, the internet) and computer applications (MS Office)

5. Additional Considerations

▪         Contract duration: 2 years

▪          Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Skills Required

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