Gender Coordinator

Location:      Afghanistan

Job Code:    829

# of Openings:  1

                       

Description

Background

Futures Group develops and delivers innovative, locally relevant, evidence-based solutions to improve the health and well-being of people around the world. Since 1971, we have assisted governmental and non-governmental agencies, foundations, and the private sector by designing, implementing and evaluating programs in HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, population and family planning, maternal and child health, infectious diseases, and gender. Futures Group has deep expertise in policy and advocacy, research and strategic information, health markets and private sector engagement, modeling and economic analysis, patient monitoring and management/HMIS, strategic consulting, and program management.

Futures Group seeks an experienced local Afghan Gender Specialist for an upcoming USAID funded project in Afghanistan. The project objective is to increase utilization of high quality Family Planning, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (FP/MNCH) services through culturally-appropriate and cost-effective interventions to strengthen and enhance existing primary care services provided through the Ministry of Public Health’s (MoPH) Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) and the private sector. The FP/MNCH project will also strengthen referral systems to Essential Package of Hospital Services (EPHS) at the provincial level towards improving the continuum of care, especially for vulnerable populations. The USAID FP/MNCH Project will provide technical leadership on FP/MNCH issues in Afghanistan by serving as a platform for increasing learning and knowledge sharing between a wide range of partners. The program will also increase the availability and quality of BPHS and private sector services and institutionalize evidence-based interventions into the health system

Job Summary:  

The Gender Coordinator under the supervision of the Gender Specialist will contribute technically in implementing FP/MNCH gender activities and will support the MoPH and its BPHS and EPHS system to achieve the project objectives. The Gender Coordinator will also work closely with the Gender Specialist as well as the technical leads in charge of other technical areas to ensure gender integration. 

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Under the direction and supervision of the Gender Specialist, assist with the development and management of Gender initiatives for all program components
• Assist in providing technical support and training in Gender approaches for various program stakeholders and for all program components
• Coordinate with the MoPH and MoPH’s Gender Directorate and Gender Specialists to develop integrated gender mainstreaming approaches
• Support the Gender Specialist in drafting and implementing Gender Based Violence and other gender-related trainings for health managers, healthcare providers, CHWs and various categories of community leaders
• Provide support and technical assistance to the MoPH Gender Directorate
• Attend monthly Gender task force meetings
• Work with the Gender Specialist in supporting integration of gender in public and private health service delivery, ensuring that existing tools (such as QA standards for health facilities) are appropriately leveraged
• Draft or contribute to other project reports and presentations on activities as requested and provide data analysis and report writing related to gender mainstreaming
• Provide advice to management team on gender related issues, concerns, trends and policies
• Perform other duties assigned by the Gender Specialist.

Qualification

• University degree in related field.
• Master’s degree in social science or public policy will be an asset.
• 4-6 years of relevant experience working in gender with national/international NGOs and public sector institutions in Afghanistan’s health sector, including the MoPH.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in a complex and rapidly changing environment; excellent interpersonal skills.
• Fluency in Dari and Pashto preferred.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English, particularly with regard to presentations and preparation of publications, and report writing.
• Excellent computer skills, including competence in word processing and internet/e-mail.
• Ability and willingness to travel to Afghanistan provincial capitals and rural areas.
• Proven experience with relationship building/stakeholder relationship management/team building skills.
• Possesses high standard of professionalism and ethics; analytical thinking skills; ability to manage multiple tasks easily.
• Experience with USAID and other donors desirable.

All applications for this position should be submitted online at www.futuresgroup.com via the Careers page.  Futures Group provides equal employment to all participants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran or marital status.