Gender and Social Inclusion Assistant (GESI Assistant)

Job description

POSITION: GENDER AND SOCIAL INCLUSION ASSISTANT (GESI ASSISTANT) 
 
LOCATION : Sesheke Field Office 

REPORTS TO : CAPA Project Coordinator  

CONTRACT DURATION : June 2025 to January 2026 

PROJECT BACKGROUND INFORMATION 

WWF Zambia has been implementing a 36 months project called the Climate Adaptation in Protected Areas (CAPA) Initiative in the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) since April 2023. The project is now in its final year of implementation and is scheduled to end in January 2026. The project is funded by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) as direct donors and Global Affairs Canada (GAC) as the primary donor with cofinancing from WWF International.

The main goal of the project is to increase resilience of ecosystems and people – women and men to current and future climate change in selected biodiversity-rich ecosystems of the Global South. The project has been working to enhance Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) in Nature Based Solutions (NBS) for adaptation in the KAZA

Within the KAZA TFCA, the CAPA initiative is being implemented in selected sites namely; Sioma Ngwezi National Park and Lower West Zambezi Game Management Area (GMA) in Sesheke and Sioma Districts as well as Mosi Oa Tunya National Park and Nsongwe areas of Kazungula District in Zambia.   Communal areas around Hwange and Chizarira  National Parks in Zimbabwe, Bwabwata National Park in Namibia and parts of Luenge Luiana National Park in Angola.

2.1. JOB PURPOSE
The GESI Assistant will work under the guidance of the CAPA in KAZA Project Coordinator. She/ he will be responsible for ensuring that gender is mainstreamed in all project activities, including training materials, monitoring, operations, policies and procedures.  Design activities that target women, girls and youths to achieve the broader social inclusion agenda of the project. The objective of this role is to provide hands-on GESI learning and mainstreaming support by incorporating actionable knowledge on gender equality and social inclusion in NBS, particularly in the context of implementing the Climate Risk Assessment (CRA) recommendations across all project sites in the project area.  He/ She will oversee all Gender, Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework (ESSF) related work for the CAPA in Zambia and ensure compliance and best practices are adhered to.

2.2. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

CAPA GESI program support  

Contribute to the revision and implementation of the CAPA GESI Action Plan and integrate it in the overall CAPA work plan.
Facilitate gender integration in the day-to-day CAPA project activities.
Provide support to all project activities related to gender mainstreaming, with particular emphasis on helping relevant staff and partners to analyze program implications for men and women in the target communities and suggest ways to address issues.
Work with the CAPA Project Coordinator to ensure that the gender checklists and social safeguard screening tools are used, and revise the gender sensitive indicators for improved mainstreaming
Design and implement training events for community structures and Gender champions on gender related topics and mainstream, including but not limited to gender awareness and integration, human rights program management and gender inclusiveness.
Contribute to knowledge products and technical support regarding training module development for Community GESI champions training.
Contribute to development of GESI dialogue session framework toolkits across the project sites in Zambia.
Shall be the ESSF focal point for the Sioma Ngwezi WWF landscape.
Prepare and share human interest stories and case studies related to project impact.
Participate in gender-related events (meeting, workshops, conferences) in the project area.

GESI mainstreaming monitoring and reporting  

Support upstream technical review on gender and broader social inclusion issues on the project.
Proactively identify opportunities for more in-depth just in time technical support to selected project sites on integrating gender and social inclusion considerations.
Work with the Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) team and Project Field Staff to improve gender-responsive reporting and build capacity of community champions on modules and information materials.
Draft the annual progress report on CAPA GESI Action Plan implementation and gender sections of operational reports.

2.3. QUALIFICATIONS PROFILE 

Professional/education Qualifications and desired experience 

A Bachelor’s Degree in Gender Studies, Social Work, Development studies, Sociology, Social Anthropology, or climate science.
Minimum of 3 years’ experience in gender related projects/programs.
Experience working on social dimensions and gender equality aspects of climate change, particularly in the context of nature-based solutions or disaster risk reduction will be an added advantage.
Good command of English and Silozi.
Willingness to work in a rural set up in Zambia and be based in Sesheke

Required Skills and Competencies: 

Knowledge and Experience in Gender Issues – mainstreaming GESI in conservation work.
Participation and Consultation – Exposure or experience conducting social development consultative and participatory approaches.
Must have demonstrated skills and experience in training rural community groups in issues relating to gender and social Inclusion.
Environmental and Social Safeguards – Experience applying environmental and social safeguard policies.
Inclusion (including youth and gender) – Understanding of inclusion and exclusion, with ability to support efforts to advance these.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Silozi.
Self-starter and drive for results – the CAPA project is a fast-paced project, therefore candidates must demonstrate initiative, innovation and solution seeking abilities.
Knowledge, Learning and Communication – Committed to sharing of best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across project sites.
Articulates ideas verbally and in writing in a clear and compelling way.
Knowledge of relevant computer applications and team working platforms such as MS Teams, SharePoint, Zoom, Google Docs etc.

2.4 EMBODIMENT OF WWF GLOBAL BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES 

Interested persons should have interest and align themselves with the WWF’s organization core values which are: Courage, Integrity, Respect and Collaboration

2.5. APPLICATION METHOD  

Applications must  include a cover letter, a Curriculum Vitae ( CV with full contact details of three referees) and scanned copies of Academic and Professional Qualifications certified by the Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA) should be submitted Via email to wwfcareers@wwfzam.org with GENDER AND SOCIAL INCLUSION ASSISTANT (GESI ASSISTANT) as the Subject line. The closing date for applications is 9th May 2025 at 18:00hrs.