Job Description

MOES GENDER DEPARTMENT ADVISOR

Position type: Advisor to MOES Gender Department

Duration: One year. Start date TBD

Supporting project: GPE GEA

Background

Somaliland MOES in collaboration with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) has developed a comprehensive Education Sector Strategic Plan 2022-2026, GPE enabling factor analysis, GPE Partnership Compact and full GPE program document which are focused on the key policy priority objectives; programs, approaches, strategies, and activities that are required to be invested and undertaken to amicably address the challenges that hinder education growth and development in Somaliland context. The overall objective of the Somaliland GPE project is Improving Access to Quality Pre-primary and Primary Education for all children in Somaliland.  Under this program MOES is committed to (1) improve access to equitable and inclusive foundational education; (2) improve learning outcomes and (3) strengthen the education system capacity.  The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) has funded a proposal outlining the above key strategic policy priority objectives, plans and activities to be implemented under the approved integrated SL system transformation grant, girls’ education accelerator and system capacity grant. The overall program objectives have the potential to trigger education system transformation.

MOES key documents such as ESA report 2021, ESSP 2202-26, GPE enabling factors analysis, GPE partnership Compact have all demonstrated that there are severe bottlenecks affecting girls education and generally mainstreaming gender in basic education provisions. In general terms unequal access to education remains a major issue and fuels the vulnerability of children, adolescents’ girls and children with special need. Children from rural, nomadic and pastoralist communities face severe barriers in access to basic education, with only 12 percent enrolled in primary schools. Girls are worst affected.

Under the new GPE program the MoES will elevate its existing Gender unit to a full department and deploy advisor for two years to spearhead gender issues and enhance female participation in education.

Rationale of elevating Gender Unit to Department: Elevation of the gender unit to gender department comes with an allocation of personnel and resources to implement department activities different from the units which operate under departments. The department, like other departments, will report to the minister and have the mandate to develop its priorities and design its implementation strategy and set its deliverables. This will enable the gender department to surface gender issues at ministerial level for better attention and make it an institutional concern rather than a unit concern shadowed by the department under which it is operating now. Moreover, it helps to scale up discussions on gender at ministerial level from the current department level securing more attention and establishing a better form for advocacy to influence practice in and outside of the ministry.  With this new status the department will be allocated a budget to operate independently to address gender issues articulated in Plan of Action for Female Participation in Education.  The department’s core mandate will be to strengthen the Somaliland MOES capacity to integrate gender-responsive perspectives in sector programs. A male and female gender balance will be ensured at point of formation of the department as an indicator of gender equality in education and employment.

The purpose of the gender advisory role is to support relevant MoES, SCI and other GPE implementing partners staff to successfully implement key program interventions that focus promoting girls’ education in primary education as well support successful transition to secondary education.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Provide technical capacity support throughout the process of elevating the existing gender unit to full department and establish gender focal points at regional and district levels, with expanded mandate and resources to oversee gender policy development and implementation monitoring across the sector.
• Support the implementation the Plan of Action for Female Participation in Education. 
• Support the finalization/review/development of key MOES policies and guidelines ensuring that mainstreaming of gender and inclusion is well reflected.
• Support the recruitment, capacity building and functionality of regional gender focal points.
• Support the provision of scholarships for MVCs and girls.
•  Monitor the availability of gender friendly WASH facilities in pre-primary and primary schools,
• support improved transition rates of girls that graduate from primary grade 8 to secondary through the provision of targeted cash transfer to offset the hidden costs of education.
• provide technical support to schools through the recruited regional gender focal points in adopting of community-based school improvement plans that prioritises girls’ education.
• Support gender-focused teacher professional development programs, in particular support measures to increase the share of female teachers in primary education.
• Support the trainings of girls’ friendly spaces facilitators, provision of dignity kits, school-based mentorship for girls and creation of girls’ role models in the schools and in education sector leadership.
• Participate reviews and research that focus on girls education and create knowledge base and evidence for policy makers on factors that promote or impede girls’ education in Somaliland.
• Monitor and positively intervene school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV)
• Support interventions aimed to increase community engagement in girls’ education.
• Support general advocacy and stakeholder engagement in matters relating to girls’ education and women empowerment.

Deliverables

• A well established and functional MOES Gender Department
• Detailed monthly report covering planned and achieved activities.
• Successfully implemented Plan of Action for Female Participation in Education. 
• Ffinalized key MOES policies and guidelines reflect mainstreaming of gender and inclusion.
• Support the recruitment, capacity building and functionality of regional gender focal points.
• Support the provision of scholarships for MVCs and girls.
•  Availability of gender friendly WASH facilities in pre-primary and primary schools,
• Improved transition rates of girls that graduate from primary grade 8 to secondary through the provision of targeted cash transfer to offset the hidden costs of education.
• Regional education gender focal points in place and contributing to community-based school improvement plans that prioritises girls’ education.
• Availability and use of reviews and research that focus on girls’ education.

Experiences and Qualifications

Requirements and qualifications

• Post graduate degree in education, preferably gender equity in education.
• Minimum 7 years practical experience in areas of gender and inclusion in education
• Fluency in English and Somali languages
• Demonstration of excellent report writing skills
• Ability to work as a good team player.

Management:  The gender education advisor will be line managed by the MOES Deputy Minister.  SCI GPE Director will provide technical supervision and monitoring of the expected deliverables. MoES will provide access to office as required.

Skills Required

Follow us on social media