JOB DESCRIPTION
Programme Officer Gender Equality, SWISSAID India, Pune, Maharashtra

1. POSITION VACANT: Programme Officer Gender Equality, SWISSAID India, Pune, Maharashtra
 

2. ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND:
One of Switzerland’s leading development organisations, SWISSAID is an international non-profit, working in nine countries across the world. The organization has no religious or political affiliations.

SWISSAID has been active in India for more than six decades. SWISSAID collaborates with local civil society organisations, to co-create projects which address challenges faced by marginalised groups. Currently, programming focus is on two thematic areas: Small Scale Farming and Gender Equality. SWISSAID addresses gender-based discrimination by giving it a central place in their Small-Scale Farming programmes and by designing separate projects addressing gender-based violence (GBV).

SWISSAID is implementing a project titled “Towards Gender Equality,” in 80 villages of Maharashtra, which focuses on the prevention of Domestic Violence (DV), as well as on facilitating the provision of services to enable DV survivors to lead a violence free life. The project on the one hand seeks to change deep-rooted gender biased social norms that perpetrate and condone DV. On the other, it seeks to enable DV survivors in obtaining support from the community, as well as the government.  Planned project outcomes include:

(1) Improvements in gender equitable behaviour of young boys and men in project communities; (2) Improvements in gender equitable behaviour of young girls and women in project communities;
(3) Availability of and accessibility to support services to overcome DV by girls/ women survivors; (4) Enhanced capacities of CSOs to conduct policy engagement in SWISSAID's strategic areas and;
(5) Strengthening of organizational capacities of CSOs to deliver their respective mandates more effectively.

SWISSAID is looking to recruit a Programme Officer for this project.

For more information about SWISSAID, please visit https://www.swissaid.ch/en/home

3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting to the Senior Programme Officer (SPO), the Programme Officer Gender Equality (POGE) will be primarily responsible for managing two partners of the Towards Gender Equality Project in Maharashtra and developing knowledge products, strategy papers and policy engagement strategy for the project. A secondary responsibility will be to support SWISSAID partners in implementing POSH/ PSEA Policy and in designing and managing projects addressing the problems of single women.

S/he shall be responsible for guiding and monitoring projects and partnerships, including the facilitation of linkages with government programmes, public relations, information dissemination and fundraising. The position interfaces with experts in the field of gender, laws, counselling, and Monitoring and Evaluation.

Key Responsibilities:

(A) Accompaniment and Monitoring of Projects and Partnerships to Achieve Agreed Results (65%):

(1) Develop project proposals (in the SWISSAID template), together with partner organizations, taking into consideration the needs of communities and the outcomes of the Country Programme Plan;
(2) Develop detailed annual project implementation plans together with partner organizations, and monitor and enforce deadlines;
(3) Support partners in developing strategies to build the capacity of women and men animators, to become gender role models, strengthen village level groups of girls/ women/ boys and men and conceptualize awareness campaigns, to change gender attitudes and behavior;
(4) Assist partners in developing strategies to build agency in young girls and women to stop child marriage, negotiate equal relationships, and access education and livelihood opportunities;
(5) Develop strategy papers on project themes such as reducing child marriages, and empowerment of DV survivors based on experiences emerging from project implementation;
(6) Undertake partner visits to provide handholding support for developing operational strategies to achieve project outcomes;
(7) Periodically assess the thematic capacity and organizational capacity of partners and organize capacity-building programmes for partner organizations;
(8) Draft six monthly and annual reports, as well as review financial reports. Additionally, document success stories, journeys of empowerment of DV survivors, etc.;
(9) Work closely with the M&E Consultant and partners, to ensure the effective implementation of the Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation System;
(10) Serve as the focal point for Gender and contribute to the Community of Practice, by sharing experiences from India projects and developing knowledge products based on this body of work;
(11) Support SWISSAID partners in implementing the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace Policy and SWISSAID’s Protection from Sexual Abuse and Harassment Policy;
(12) Ensure compliance by projects with SWISSAID procedures and guidelines;
(13) Inform/ consult with the SPO in the event of significant modifications to project content and budget, or serious problems in a project;
(14) Any other task delegated by the SPO.

(B) Engagement with Government and Civil Society Stakeholders (15%)
(1) Develop linkages with government and non-government stakeholders working in the region, to change gender attitudes, end child marriage and  economically empower women to enhance project impact;
(2) Facilitate partner organizations to develop district level policy engagement strategies, to address child marriage, dowry, and the provision of integrated support and referral services to survivors of DV;
(3) Foster and participate in networks on thematic priorities of the SWISSAID Country Program in consultation with the SPO.

(C) Public Relation, Information Works and Fundraising (20%)
(1) Lead and contribute to the development of good quality donor proposals to enhance the gender equality portfolio;
(2) Manage donor funded projects and prepare high quality donor reports;
(3) Draft fundraising and communication materials on SWISSAID and its programmes in the country for information and fundraising work.

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:       

Qualifications:
Applicants must be graduates with a post graduate degree/ diploma in Human Rights, Law, Gender Studies, Social Work, Public Health, Public Policy, Community Development or other Social Sciences.

Experience:
(1) Minimum eight years’ experience of working with the development sector in the field of gender justice, of which at least three years must be with a grassroots development organization;
(2) Proven track record of GBV programming through either changing gender attitudes and behaviors, or supporting survivors of DV;
(3) Extensive experience of capacity building of NGOs around GBV;
(4) Experience of mainstreaming gender in livelihood projects is desirable.

Skills and Competencies:
(1) Excellent knowledge and understanding of violence against women and girls viz. current situation, causes, government laws and policies, important stakeholders and proven strategies;
(2) Strong project management skills and ability to negotiate and convince partners;
(3) Proven track record of guiding grassroots development projects;
(4) Strong commitment towards addressing gender discrimination and the rights of marginalized persons;
(5) Ability to develop strong, positive relationships internally with team members and externally with Stakeholders, Funders, Social Networks and other organizations;
(6) Excellent analytical, conceptual and writing skills;
(7) Experience of monitoring and evaluation;
(8) Fluency in written and spoken English and Hindi. Working knowledge of Marathi is desirable;
(9) Willingness to travel extensively;
(10) Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

5. COMPENSATION OFFERED:

The gross remuneration budgeted for the position is attractive. The offer made to the successful candidate shall be commensurate with qualifications, experience and salary history of the selected candidate.

6. NUMBER OF VACANCIES: One
 

7. LOCATION: Pune, Maharashtra
 

8. APPOINTMENT: This is a full-time position, and the initial contract will be offered for a period of three years.
 

9. REFERENCE: POGE-SWISSAID

10. CONTACT INFORMATION:
Team SAMS
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar
New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025
Phone Nos.: 011- 2684 2162; 4165 3612

11. APPLICATION PROCESS:
Eligible candidates interested in the position are requested to apply using the link https://recruitment.samshrm.com/Jobs/SWISSAID, by or before March 31, 2022.