Gender Manager-Prosper Cashew

Job Title : Gender Manager,

Project: Prosper Cashew Project in Nigeria

Reporting Unit/Supervisor : The Deputy Chief of Party, Prosper Cashew

Location : Lagos, Nigeria.

About TechnoServe :

Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future. This simple idea has been at the heart of work around the world for over 50 years. TechnoServe is a pioneer in leveraging the power of business and markets to create sustainable pathways out of poverty.

The low-income communities in which we work are full of enterprising people. Their small-scale farms and businesses are the keys to economic development. However, they face many challenges: low literacy, lack of access to jobs and markets, unpredictable political dynamics, and, increasingly, the effects of climate change. For many women and young people, the challenges are even more daunting. Working with TechnoServe staff, people around the world are lifting themselves out of poverty. The results are amazing when incomes increase and living conditions for families get better; they are able to access health care and education previously out of reach. Communities and even whole countries are better off. 

Job Summary:

The Gender Manager will work closely with all components of the Proper Cashew team in Nigeria, in coordination with the Global Gender Practice, to support the delivery of gender integration activities in the Prosper Cashew Project. This will include technical support to program staff, staff capacity development, direct management of gender integration activities, monitoring, reporting, and knowledge management activities, participation in the Gender Champions Network, and overall support to advance TechnoServe’s Gender Equality Policy.

Program/Practice/Department Overview:

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agriculture Service through its Food for Progress (FFPr) program is anticipating funding a regional value chain improvement program for cashew production and processing in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria for the period of 2021-2026. West Africa is responsible for 45% of the global cashew production, yet the majority of those yields are exported for processing. The project will complement other USDA investments and programs in this sector to address market barriers through technical assistance (TA) and financing solutions along the West Africa cashew value chain to improve sector productivity, increase incomes, and create jobs.

Specifically, the Prosper Cashew project seeks:

Increased value added to the cashew sector in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria, primarily through increased processing into kernels and cashew byproducts

Increased mobilization of capital for the cashew sector

Increased capacity of key stakeholder institutions

Improved policy and legal/regulatory enabling environment

Increased competitiveness and integration of the cashew sector into global markets

Inclusive net job creation, particularly in the expanded processing and byproduct sector.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

Provide technical oversight and technical assistance on gender integration across the Prosper Cashew Project

Provide technical oversight and technical assistance on gender integration

Identify, develop, and support the deployment of gender-responsive activities to meet the needs of clients

Lead the building of local capacity among processor and project staff for gender integration and facilitate gender-related training for staff

Lead the development and adoption of gender analysis tools, including gender action plans, which assist with the design and implementation of activities and continuously improve technical excellence

Conduct assessments and facilitate meetings, as needed, with key stakeholders and clients to identify measures to improve inclusiveness, especially for women within the project scope

Provide strategic guidance and counsel to program leadership and staff on gender integration approaches, priorities, and compatibility with program aims and resource constraints

Support monitoring of gender integration in activities and inclusion in program reports

Contribute to reporting on gender-related topics

Lead the development of essential knowledge products (e.g., case studies, lessons-learned documents, etc.) that facilitate program development, program implementation, internal knowledge sharing, and the influencing agenda

Support staff recruitment and hiring processes

Participate in regular meetings with the Global Gender Practice and the program leadership

Lead in the identification and implementation of particular gender interventions within the processing firm while showing how it improves overall processors' image and revenue base through such interventions.

Participate in the Gender Champions Network

Basic Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s degree with seven years of experience or a Master’s with five years of experience. Degree in development economics, sociology, anthropology, gender, or another relevant discipline

Demonstrable experience implementing practical approaches to advance gender equality in the private sector. Someone who understand gender mainstreaming within the for profit sector

Experience in adult learning techniques, excellent in-person and virtual facilitation skills

Preferred Qualifications:

Additional qualifications that would make a candidate more desirable.

Strong gender experience working in Nigeria.

Experience working with international donors, especially with US donors.

Experience working with high-margin agriculture, especially tree crops-related projects.

Experience implementing approaches to mitigate and reduce gender-based violence in economic growth programs, a plus

Required Languages:  Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills, including fluency in English (equivalent to R4/S4)

Travel:  Up to 35%

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

The candidate should have the following

Good communication skills

Good Communication skills

Understanding of project management

keen interest in details

Ability to work across teams to influence behavior and build capacity.

Ability to work persuasively and diplomatically in a team-based environment with high complexity and ambiguity.

Ability to communicate complex gender issues with clarity and precision

Demonstrated success in leading tasks, activities, or initiatives requiring a combination of strong analytical, writing, social, and management skills

A deep, demonstrable commitment to gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.

Must have high standards of personal integrity and a flexible, laid-back personality with an excellent sense of humor required

Supervisory Responsibilities: None.

Closing Statements:

We encourage all qualified individuals who share TechnoServe's vision of improving the lives of others through proven business solutions to apply. With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and and do not discriminate based on gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability, & all other protected classes.