Jobs and Careers

JOB DESCRIPTION : 

The Environmental Project Implementation Unit has received financing from the World Bank, acting as an implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility (“GEF”), toward the cost of the RESILAND: Armenia Resilient Landscape Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for individual consulting services.

The Gender and Community Liaison Specialist supports the PIU to ensure relevant gender mainstreaming throughout the implementation of the project. He/she shall conduct community consultations, awareness programs, support social surveys and assessments, develop and promote a gender action plan in alignment with project needs and ensure relevant engagement of target communities.

The Environmental Project Implementation Unit now invites eligible Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Individual Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

RESPONSIBILITIES : 

.
Primary Responsibilities
- Prepare a detailed gender action plan for the project within the first 2 months of the assignment;
- Develop a methodology for gender assessment and data collection tools;
- Provide trainings for relevant staff of EPIU and other involved agencies on the Gender Action Plan, Community health and safety and other related topic;
- Conduct a desk review of any available studies related to gender in the project sites, (existing gender analytical material developed for the project will be shared);
- Collect gender-disaggregated data on socioeconomic and Environment/Climate Change issues concentrating on gender context in project sites. Produce gender-responsive community profiles of the demographic, socio-cultural, economic, environmental and institutional situation (including possible physical cultural property, natural habitats and biodiversity conservation areas) of each community to be impacted by the identified projects;
- Develop background materials and briefs on gender equality in landscape restoration and management for project implementation purposes. This will include the compilation and sharing of international good practices;
- Prepare necessary sections for the documents to be produced within the project to ensure necessary gender lens;
- Implement the Gender action plan to meet the defined targets and monitor the implementation of proposed gender mainstreaming activities;
- Ensure culturally sensitive engagement through gender lens for Molokan and Yazidi minorities in project target areas;
- Ensure the achievement of the proposed gender actions defined in the results framework, including but not limited to: (i) ‘Female-headed new businesses developed/established as a result of project interventions’ (end target: at least 40 percent); (ii) ‘Percentage of female beneficiaries with improved knowledge and skills on integrated landscape management’ (end target: at least 50 percent);
- Prepare the final gender and safeguards analysis based on all the above with conclusions and recommendations to address gender gaps in the project including a number of specific interventions for women’s engagement in the project;
- Perform other relevant tasks assigned by the Project Coordinator.

Contribution to the work of other experts
- Assist in preparation of a gender sensitive communication strategy;
- Provide inputs to the social specialist on gender mainstreaming aspects;
- Contribute to the development of ESHS reports.

Community Engagement

Primary Responsibilities
- Conduct community consultations and collect necessary feedback for the project;
- Prepare a Community Engagement Plan in alignment with the Project’s primary documents;
- Analyze the data related to gender aspects and community engagement of the socio-economic baseline to be conducted under the project;
- Contribute to stakeholder participation at all relevant levels in accordance with the diverse needs of stakeholders (particularly women and youth) through participatory assessments, institutional mapping exercises, focus group discussions, community meetings and national consultations;
- Produce timely feedback to the community members on project implementation and monitoring, including issues, challenges, implementation timelines and decisions;
- Report community engagement actions and the feedback;
- Contribute to awareness of the community health and safety directly associated with the Project and Targeted Communities;
- Enhance local community members’ access to project opportunities and benefits; ensuring gender equality and equity of access to employment opportunities by other vulnerable groups including women and youth;
- Periodically schedule outreach meetings with local community members to discover their issues and concerns;
- Advise on the design of and support the execution of the beneficiary assessments to be conducted when sub-projects are being completed;
- Perform other relevant tasks assigned by the Project Coordinator.

Contribution to the work of other specialists
- Support the Social Specialist in carrying out social surveys, monitoring and reporting activities to meet the requirements of the project;
- Contribute to updating of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS : 

- Master's degree, or equivalent, in gender studies, social sciences, management, international studies, economic studies or political science;
- At least 3 years’ experience in a community outreach environment, community-based education activities with a good understanding of local communities, their norms and culture;
- At least 5 years of experience in gender equality, preferably in rural settings of Armenia;
- Good interpersonal and communication skills;
- Fluent knowledge of the Armenian, English and Russian languages;
- Demonstrated ability to work in a team;
- Computer literacy (MS Office).

APPLICATION PROCEDURES : 

The attention of interested Individual Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s "Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers" September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.
An Individual Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Selection of Individual Consultant (Section V) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Interested candidates should send a complete CV in English, highlighting relevant experience and education, with attached copies of all relevant educational reports/ diplomas/ certificates (employer’s references may be requested to the top candidates) to: [email protected] and [email protected] indicating the vacancy title "Gender and Community Liaison Specialist/ RESILAND ARMENIA".

The evaluation committee may interview the best candidates assessed based on their CVs, after having written provisional conclusions but before concluding evaluation. The interview may be conducted by telephone or by alternative communication tools, or in person (as will be agreed with the candidate), and the date and time of these interviews will be confirmed or notified to the candidate at least 5 days in advance. If a candidate is unable to participate in an interview by force majeure, a mutually convenient alternative date and time will be arranged with the candidate. If the candidate is unable to participate in this second scheduled time, its candidacy will be eliminated from the evaluation process. The cost of attending the interview (if any) shall be borne by the candidate. The tentative timeline of the interview is mid-October 2024.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours (09:00-18:00).

Expressions of interest / CVs in English must be delivered via e-mail no later than 08.10.2024.

Environmental Project Implementation Unit
Attn: Lia Apikyan (Chief Specialist)
65A Tigran Mets Ave., 3rd fl.
Yerevan 0008, Armenia
Tel: +374 10 651631
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

Please clearly mention in your application letter that you learned of this job opportunity through Career Center and mention the URL of its website - www.careercenter.am. Thanks.

ADDITIONAL NOTES : 

Duration of the assignment is 1 year. The contracted Gender and Community Liaison Specialist is expected to be in Project for a whole project period. After completion of each year, Gender and Community Liaison Specialist's performance will be assessed, and the contract will be extended for each additional year based on satisfactory performance. This is time-based contract, with full-time assignment.

Location: Yerevan, Armenia

The EPIU will provide:

(i)All relevant documents and materials including basic office supplies related to the assignment;
(ii)Suitable office in the EPIU’s premises.

The Gender and Community Liaison Specialist is expected to travel to the Project’s target regions (Gegharkunik, Syunik, Ararat, Lori).

The objectives of the RESILAND: Armenia Resilient Landscape Project are: (i) to increase the area under sustainable landscape management in Selected Locations and (ii) to promote sustainable economic activities to communities in Targeted Landscapes in Armenia. RESLAND Armenia follows an integrated landscapes approach to restore forests and wetlands and will rely on four key issues: (i) reduction of forest fragmentation and increase in density of tree cover by restoring the forest land degraded due to mining and by forest enrichment planting; (ii) improving management of neglected and abandoned wetlands, (iii) increasing community economic benefits, and (iv) strengthen the institutional foundation for the sustainable management of landscapes, creating green jobs, and increasing community benefits. Project activities are grouped into four interrelated components and their respective subcomponents. Under its main three components, the project will finance consulting services, non-consulting services, goods, equipment, training, workshops, as well as small works.
The Project’s four Components include:
Component 1: Institutional Capacity and Policy Development.
Component 2: Landscape Restoration
Component 3: Promoting Communities’ Benefits.
Component 4: Project Management, Monitoring & Evaluation, and Communication.

The Environmental Project Implementation Unit (EPIU), a State agency under the Ministry of Environment, will provide overall management of the Project implementation aimed at achievement of the planned results.