Comprehensive Gender Analyst – Nigeria Program at the International Rescue Committee (IRC)

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Comprehensive Gender Analyst – Nigeria Program

Requisition ID: req12564
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Sector: Advocacy & Government Affairs
Employment Category: Consultant
Employment Type: Full-Time
Open to Expatriates: No

Background

• Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. At work today in more than 40 countries, the IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.
• The conflict in North East Nigeria is in its 10th year and has seen over 2 million people displaced. IRC began working in Nigeria in October 2012 in response to a widespread flood disaster. Since then, IRC has expanded its program scope and size with the aim of making the greatest possible contribution to meeting humanitarian needs in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states. IRC’s response includes integrated health, reproductive health and nutrition services, protection including women’s protection and empowerment services, child protection, environmental health, economic recovery and development, governance, and education. In 2015, IRC Nigeria developed a five year Strategy Action Plan which will be ending in March 2021, which has health and education as high priority program areas.  The elaboration of the new country strategy action plan for will be from April – June 2021.
• The current COVID-19 pandemic which started in April 2020 in Borno state and in May 2020 in Adamawa and Yobe states has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. In an already fragile context and health system, the pandemic is likely to have a devastating effect especially for the women. Movement restrictions and limited access to communities due to COVID-19 and government regulation makes it difficult to conduct assessments among target communities in operational areas.

Goals of this Consultancy:

• The Nigeria Country Program has chosen Gender Equality as a crosscutting Global Standard that the country program aims to make progress in as part of its Strategy Action Plan. As a baseline for this, IRC Nigeria will be conducting a Comprehensive Gender Analysis (CGA) that will target communities and programs across the different settings that IRC Nigeria operates in.
• The CGA’s results will be used to inform existing and future program activities and enable IRC Nigeria to implement more gender-sensitive programs that recognize the specific needs of, and risks faced by, women and girls – and do not exacerbate inequalities that women and girls face.

IRC aims through this assignment to:

• Explore the gender differentiated needs of the host communities and IDPs in a cross-section of the different settings in the three states that IRC operates in.
• Assess how IRC’s chosen operational approaches and program delivery systems affect, and are affected by, gender inequalities.
• Assess, and map out a selection of IRC’s available services, and the extent to which they meet the identified needs, as well as the existing GAP to address the specific needs of women and girls, and where specific needs for women and girls remain under-addressed.
• Provide recommendations on how IRC’s program activities need to adjust to improve accessibility, safety and appropriateness for women and girls, men and boys.
• Identify and understand the present gender inequalities, risks and opportunities for women, girls, men and boys and other vulnerable persons.
• Gather information to better understand the impact of gender inequalities on individuals’ agency, their relationships, and the ways they interact with the systems around them, with a particular focus on health issues and access to healthcare, on education, protection and on livelihoods. Currently we have 20 grants across the sectors.
• Provide recommendations on how to implement IRC programs to actively influence the identified inequalities.
• Show case examples from each sector where possible transition to gender transformative programming is possible.

Methodology
Using the IRC’s Comprehensive Gender Analysis Toolkit, IRC Nigeria aims to get a detailed understanding of the existing gender gaps within the host and IDP communities and review a representative sample of projects across every sector, with the aim of designing and implementing gender-sensitive programs. The Toolkit is designed to collect qualitative information through conducting Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and in-depth Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), to build on existing program data and an initial desk review. This data is used to do a full gender analysis using the Ecological Model, and then facilitate a dialogue on how the analysis informs and impacts the IRC Nigeria’s interventions in a phased approach that takes the current COVID-19 pandemic into account.

To be able to get the needed information for the CGA the consultant will conduct the following:

Phase1- Desk Review:

• Background reading to gain a basic understanding of the conflict and context.
• Review of existing program data
• Review of existing research and gendered information about the IDP and host community populations.

Phase 2 – Data Collection (remote or face to face taking into consideration COVID-19 SOP to avoid or minimize infections):

• KIIs with IRC clients and/or community members and local decision makers and local authorities across field locations:
• KIIs with IRC program staff across program sectors, and across levels (officers, managers, coordinators, SMT).

Phase 3 – Data collection (in the field, taking into consideration COVID-19 SOP to avoid or minimize infection):

• FGDs and KII with IRC clients and/or community members and local decision makers and local authorities at the following locations:
  • Mubi, Askira Uba, Maiduguri, Damaturu and deep field location in Borno (Gwoza or Monguno, if possible).

Phase 4 – Gender Analysis Workshop and Program Review:

• In either Maiduguri (some joining remotely).

Phase 5 – Sensitization of implementing staff:

• Data Collection
• Kindly view the distribution of the FGDs for each location on the application link.

Deliverables
The consultant will be responsible for the following:

• Inception summary to cover the consultant’s understanding of the assignment, detailed work plan, tools, final report structure before field work starts, for review and feedback.
• Initial desk review and remote key informant interview report (end of Phase 2)
• Conducting all FGDs and KIIs with the host-community and IDP communities with the support of IRC staff taking into consideration COVID-19 SOP to avoid or minimize infections.
• Conducting KIIs with the IRC’s program staff and key stakeholders – taking into consideration COVID-19 SOP to avoid or minimize infections.
• Training workshop for data collectors in gender equality and FGD tools (taking into consideration COVID-19 SOP to avoid or minimize infections)
• Providing a clean Excel version of the database with all raw data and translated data.
• Conduct a two day Analysis and Validation Workshop including some of the following – taking into consideration COVID-19 SOP to avoid or minimize infections – with possibility of remote or online workshop):
  • Program coordinators and managers
  • Technical advisors (mostly remote participation)
  • Field coordinator/manager, senior field staff
  • Data collectors
  • M&E staff
  • Grants staff
  • DDP and DDFM
• Draft of the final report for review.
• Producing the final report containing an executive summary, findings and the interpretation of the findings, conclusions and recommendations and illustrative pictures. This should include a section on the findings for disabled women and girls in particular.
• Final analysis report summary in PowerPoint format.
• Conduct sensitizing sessions with implementing staff on gender, about “why” we are doing these programmatic changes and have discussions about what common practices they can change and how they can begin to implement programs in a gender-sensitive way.

IRC’s Role
The IRC will be responsible for the following:

• Providing Comprehensive Gender Analysis Toolkit and technical advice on its use (Gender Equality Unit to support)
• Providing staff for data collection and training them on Covid-19 prevention measures, as well as provision of PPE items.
• Organizing and attending the Analysis & Validation Workshop
• Providing timely feedback on the draft report and the final report
• Provide background on the Strategy, Programs and the activities implemented by IRC Nigeria.
• Arranging the logistics to conduct the interviews with IRC and non IRC clients in the field.

Treatment of the information:

• All data and information received for the purpose of this assignment is to be treated confidentially and is only to be used in connection with the execution of these terms of reference.
• All intellectual property rights arising from the execution of these terms of reference are assigned to the IRC. The contents of written material obtained and used in this assignment may not be disclosed to any third parties without the expressed advance written authorization of the IRC.

Time Frame:

• Detail work plan will be developed in consultation with the consultant. However, the whole assignment from Phase 1 – 5 to be completed within 2 months from start date tentatively 15th March – 15th May 2021.  the below will be the period within which each phase will be completed.

Key Working Relationships:

• Consultancy Manager: Mercy Alidri, Deputy Director of Programs.

Required Professional Skills

• Undergraduate university degree in relevant Gender or Women Studies, Social Sciences or Development Studies.
• A relevant 5 years of experience in gender-sensitive and ethical qualitative research and analysis on gender issues (essential).
• Proven experience in conducting in-depth gender trainings.
• Proven experience in the humanitarian projects, preferably in West Africa.
• Experience analysing and coding qualitative data (using Dedoose, ATLAS.ti or another software) for diverse audiences.
• Excellent writing skills and ability to articulate the linkage between findings, analysis, and program recommendations.
• Proven experience and track record of timely and high-quality completion of assignments.
• Fluent in English, written and oral as well as proficiency in local language from NE Nigeria preferred
• Significant experience in conducting FGDs and KIIs on sensitive topics specifically GBV with diverse populations.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Flexible attitude towards receiving feedback.

Qualifications:

• Ability to listen and understand others’ needs and contextualize them.
• Ability to immerse oneself in detail without getting lost in it.
• Proactive and self-motivated approach to work.
• High level of organization and time management, as well as an ability to learn quickly and produce high quality work under tight deadlines.
• Can discern the difference between confidential and public information and can de-identify sensitive information.
• Understanding of the effect of and preventive measures of COVID-19 on gender analysis participants (including beneficiary and researchers).

Deadline: 12th March, 2021.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

pplicants should attach:

• CV of the consultant.
• Past performance references for similar assignments.
• Sample of consultant final reports sample of an evaluation report you worked on.
• Cost proposal, including all costs necessary to complete the assignment, and distinguishing (at a minimum) between:
• Consultant number of days and daily professional fee rates
• Travel costs – if applicable
• Field work costs – if applicable

Note

• List of responsibilities, professional and personal skills are considered indicative and not exhaustive; actual duties may differ or change depending on office and agency priorities at the time.
• The IRC is an Equal Opportunities Employer. The IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.
• For more information please contact: Mercy Alidri, Deputy Director of Program, Nigeria at Mercy.Alidri@rescue.org