Gender Specialist
WorldFish, East Timor

WorldFish seeks to create an inclusive world of healthy, well-nourished people and a sustainable blue planet, now and in the future. We provide research and innovation in aquatic food systems to support sustainable development and food system transformation toward healthy and resilient diets. Our 2030 WorldFish Research and Innovation Strategy: Aquatic Foods for Healthy People and Planet outlines our commitment to guiding the transition to more resilient aquatic food systems in three priority impact areas: Social and Economic Inclusion, Nutrition and Public Health, and Climate Resilience and Environmental Sustainability.

About the Position

The Gender Specialist will join our growing Dili-based research team partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Timor-Leste with a focus of improving nutrition outcomes and food system sustainability in the face of multi-dimensional change. In line with the new WorldFish Aquatic Foods for Healthy People and Planet research and innovation strategy, the WorldFish Timor-Leste country program is expanding its focus on components of food systems beyond production, including the impacts of climate change. This position will be central in the growing focus on climate change, having a key role in the implementation of the gender components of the IkanAdapt project, funded by the Global Environment Facility.

IkanAdapt seeks to use nature-based solutions, working with communities, fishers, and fish farmers to improve climate resilience of fish-based livelihoods and food systems. In doing so, project activities will ensure strong biodiversity outcomes, including improved management and protection of vulnerable species and habitats.

This post holder will work closely with the International Gender Specialist and other project team members to ensure that gender concerns are mainstreamed in all of project activities and that lessons and innovations on gender mainstreaming are shared within and outside the project team. This position will also work with Livelihoods Specialist, as well as with Technical Coordinator, climate change, aquaculture and fisheries specialists to support the development and implementation of IkanAdapt project activities. Additionally, the position will collaborate with a Social Scientist (Post-Doctoral Fellow) to support the development and implementation of gender-based research in other WorldFish projects.

The role will focus on ensuring that the project is inclusive and gender-responsive. To achieve this, this role will work towards identifying the gender issues that constraint women’s participation in decision-making, developing both practical and nuanced measures that allow women to actively participate in project activities, and ensuring that these measures support improving women’s empowerment within and beyond the project scope. Overall, the role will support the implementation of strategies for addressing gender gaps in climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation, that are particularly relevant for fisheries communities.

The Person

The successful candidate will:

• Support the identification and implementation of strategies for addressing gender gaps in climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation, that are particularly relevant for fisheries communities.
• Carry out capacity development assessments related to gender for project stakeholders and develop gender modules for other relevant technical training, adapted to the specific context of Timor-Leste.
• Ensure that women are included as participants for the assessment, development and implementation of action plans throughout the project.
• Include gender-specific targets as part of project activities.
• Enhance the participation of women in co-management by facilitating their physical attendance (e.g. direct invitations to women, facilitate childcare, adequate meeting times) and active participation (e.g. women’s only meetings, training to improve participation in public forums, and the use of other participation techniques).
• Support the design and implementation of gender-based research methodologies in other WorldFish projects

Requirements

Desired Skills and Qualifications

• Master Degree in Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Rural Development, Anthropology, or related discipline with a minimum of 3 years’ experience in gender work; or undergraduate degree in the same areas with at least 5 years of relevant experience.
• At least 3 years’ post graduate experience working on gender in development, preferably in the agriculture and fisheries sector in Timor-Leste.
• Deep understanding of Timor-Leste society particularly gender and social relations.
• Proven project management skills including project development and drafting reports in English and Tetum.

Job Rewards and Benefits