Location: Kathmandu, Nepal 
Position Status: Full-time, Exempt, Regular 
Salary Level: Position is contingent on new funding 

General Position Summary  

The Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor will design and implement a strategy to ensure the program appropriately addresses the varied needs of women, men, girls, and boys, and that program staff are sensitive to gender, age, caste, ability, and other social markers. The Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor will ensure that the social dimensions of food security and community resilience is effectively addressed across all activities and components. S/he/they will manage staff and coordinate closely with partners to fulfill the gender and social inclusion goals of the program.  

Essential Job Responsibilities  

Technical Support

• Design formative research for a gender and social inclusion analysis, manage data collection, lead data analysis and develop recommendations based on findings. Work closely with the program team to integrate the findings from the gender analysis into the project’s work plan and milestones
• Develop Gender and Social Inclusion Strategy to guide gender and social inclusion integration and priorities across the life the program, based on the formative research
• Support the program team, including partners, on gender and social inclusion integration including conducting capacity building and training
• Support integration of gender and social inclusion into the program’s M&E to ensure that gender and social inclusion are reflected in output, outcome and impact level indicators and that sex and age disaggregated data is regularly collected and reflected upon to inform adaptations
• Contribute to research conducted in the program to ensure gender and social dynamics are represented
• Conduct regular community consultations to ensure programming remains gender, age, and socially sensitive and on-track
• Collect and share learnings and best practices on gender and social inclusion integration  
• Represent the program’s gender and social inclusion strategy, analysis, and research with external stakeholders including at workshops, conferences and annual learning events
• Work with program teams to ensure a do no harm approach to gender-focused and inclusive programing is implemented and that appropriate protections are in place for participants

Team Management  

• Hire, orient, and directly manage staff in day-to-day Gender and Social Inclusion activities and develop capacity of this team
• Work closely with Human Resources team to ensure gender accountability is incorporated into the position descriptions of all program team members  
• Ensure that program and country staff understand and adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Minimum Standards for programming 
• Support adherence to Mercy Corps Gender Policy and Procedures 
• Proactively work with Mercy Corps’ headquarters Technical Support Unit (TSU) to contribute to learning and gain insights from global best practice and experience  

Security

• Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to promote and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members

Organizational Learning

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves 

Accountability To Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects 

Supervisory Responsibility: Program Gender and Social Inclusion Team

Accountability  

• Reports Directly To: Chief of Party  
• Works Directly With: Program team, Mercy Corps Nepal country office, partners, and Mercy Corps headquarters support.  

Knowledge and Experience  

• Demonstrated technical experience leading gender and social inclusion integration into food security programming  
• Seven years of field experience at the community level is required
• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant academic area such as a social science discipline
• Experience in Nepal and an in-depth understanding of gender, age, caste and other locally significant socio-cultural factors in the context of food security programming preferred
• Demonstrated capacity to lead the collection, analysis, and utilization of information from a broad range of sources  
• Skills in participatory learning, action, and facilitating collaborative problem solving
• Demonstrated ability to foster commitment and build capacity among program staff and in-country actors to ensure gender and social inclusion integration and empowerment
• Previous staff management experience of similar size teams required
• Persuasive written and oral communication in English
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members 

Success Factors  

The successful Gender and Social Inclusion Lead will have strong technical skills combined with strategic visioning and leadership. S/he will have an outstanding ability to inspire teams to deeply understand social dynamics and integrate this understanding into activities to enhance program impact. S/he  will  also  have proven experience with cross-cultural teams and capacity building, individual staff development, and strong mentoring skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. 

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions  

The position is based in Kathmandu and is accompanied. Kathmandu is a culturally dynamic capital city that can provide a comfortable, safe living environment with access to amenities, although a sense of patience with routine (and extended) power cuts, water shortages, air/noise pollution, and traffic is required. Some 

travel to field locations may be required, some of which are easily accessible but many others of which are quite remote and require extended travel (by flight, vehicle, hiking, and occasionally motorcycle) in locations that may be distant from amenities or health care.  

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues. 

Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.