Gender Officer

About the Role and Organization

The Regional Office for Africa (RAF) within FAO drives the organization's priorities for food security, agriculture, and rural development by coordinating multidisciplinary initiatives across the region. The office is pivotal in strategic programming, policy advisory, and fostering partnerships related to agriculture and rural development in Africa. This position is based in Accra, Ghana.

Position Overview

The Gender Officer supports the implementation of FAO's Strategic Framework and Gender Equality Policy, focusing on integrating gender equality across sustainable agricultural practices and rural development. The role encompasses enhancing gender perspectives in food security, natural resource management, value chains, disaster resilience, climate-smart agriculture, rural women’s workload reduction, land rights, and social protection.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and participate in multidisciplinary teams addressing gender issues; contribute expertise in gender policy and standards internationally.
• Develop and manage technical tools, methodologies, and reporting systems to support planning, delivery, and monitoring of gender-related programs and projects.
• Conduct gender-focused socio-economic research and analysis to support policy formulation and technical guidance.
• Provide specialized technical and policy advice to regional and country offices to improve gender mainstreaming in development and humanitarian contexts.
• Advocate for gender equality best practices and represent FAO at global platforms; facilitate international cooperation and partnerships.
• Coordinate capacity-building activities including workshops, training sessions, and awareness campaigns related to gender issues.
• Support resource mobilization efforts relative to gender equality and women’s empowerment initiatives.
• Guide policy analysis and research promoting women’s empowerment and gender equality in agriculture and food security.
• Institutionalize gender-transformative programming across RAF strategic and field programs.
• Assist governments and regional bodies in formulating and implementing gender-sensitive policies and projects, including crisis-affected areas.
• Produce educational materials and organize learning events to enhance expertise within FAO and member countries.
• Coordinate and act as regional gender focal point, leading networks and strengthening capacities within decentralized offices.
• Engage in project appraisal processes to ensure integration of social and gender equality issues.
• Implement gender accountability mechanisms through audits and performance evaluations across projects.
• Represent FAO in inter-governmental meetings to forge strategic partnerships and policy dialogue.
• Oversee multi-stakeholder partnerships and field initiatives related to gender equality.
• Perform other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, rural sociology, gender studies, rural development, social anthropology, agricultural economics, or related fields.
• At least seven years of experience in socio-economic analysis, policy development, and capacity building in gender equality and women’s empowerment within development or humanitarian settings.
• Proficiency in English (Level C); intermediate proficiency (Level B) in an additional FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish).
• Competencies including result orientation, teamwork, effective communication, relationship building, and knowledge sharing.
• Experience working in diverse locations, preferably within the African region.
• Strong background in food security, nutrition, agriculture, rural development, rural poverty, gender, and social issues.
• Expertise in both qualitative and quantitative socio-economic analysis and gender policy evaluation.
• Demonstrated ability to provide technical support for gender-sensitive policy development and program implementation.
• Capacity for organizing training and awareness programs.
• Skills in resource mobilization.
• Knowledge of French is advantageous.
• Previous work with FAO or UN agencies on gender issues is a plus.