The Oromia Pastoralist Association (OPA) is a non-government and non-profit community-based organization, established in 2006 by pastoralist community representatives from Oromia region. Among many other responsibilities, our association supports dispute resolution interventions for the creation of culture of peaceful coexistence among various pastoralist communities inhabiting Oromia and neighbouring areas.

Since 2010, OPA has been working in close partnership with the GIZ-Civil Peace Service (CPS) program on the transformation of local, community-based disputes. Currently, to further integrate and promote women’s participation and decision-making in local peacebuilding processes across its project intervention areas, OPA is seeking to employ a motivated and qualified candidate as a Peacebuilding and Gender Expert. Therefore, OPA invites interested, and qualified individuals to apply.

PRIMARY FUNCTION/PURPOSE:

Under direct supervision and support of OPA Executive Director, the Peacebuilding and Gender Expert will play a key role in delivering OPA’s local peacebuilding through the integration of gender related issues in the peacebuilding work, aligned with GIZ-CPS program’s implementation goals and applied methodologies and approaches.

The Peacebuilding and Gender Expert is responsible for the overall coordination and implementation of the activities related to the women peace forums implemented in all project intervention areas.  The expert will work collaboratively with project staff within OPA and CPS experts and other partners and stakeholders including women, youth, and children affairs office for the effective implementation of project activities.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Being supervised by OPA’s Executive Director, the Expert will have the following duties and responsibilities:
• Co-design and co-develop the programs peacebuilding strategy, that is under development, with the aim to realize the active and meaningful participation of women, as actors for peace, in our local peacebuilding initiatives and on issues that affect their lives and livelihoods.
• Participate in regular planning, strategic and peer workshops and meeting with partners and represent the organization as requested by GIZ-CPS Ethiopia.
• Promote and implement the Women Self Help Group approach during the project activities and foster networking and learning exchanges among the women peace forums established throughout the projects Woredas.
• Take the leading role for field level facilitation and implementation of women focused and other gender and peacebuilding related activities of the project.
• Responsibility to raise awareness, organize and build capacities of the selected women groups in the project target Woredas to sustainably and meaningfully engage in local peace dialogue processes.
• Undertake assessment with the women groups to identify existing potential socio-economic and cultural challenges, constraints and barriers that hinders women from involving in local issues, including peace building efforts, and device practical and effective ways and strategies that enhance women engagement in local peacebuilding and decision-making process.
• Ensure that experiences made, and lessons learned feed into the ongoing development and adaptation of the programme’s Women Empowerment Strategy
• Perform other duties as assigned by immediate supervisor

Duty Location:

OPA Head Office, Addis Ababa with frequent travel to project sites

Duration:

6 Months with Possibility of extension

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Peace and Security Studies, Political Science, International Relations and/or Sociology from recognized university with a minimum of 6 years of experience or;
• B.A degree (or equivalent) in Social Science, Gender Studies, Peace and Security Studies, Political Science, International Relations and Sociology from recognized university with minimum of 8 years’ experience
• Experience of working with women social and self-help groups is an asset

FUNCTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & COMPTETENCIES REQUIRED.

• Ability to develop detailed plans, budgets, and deliver on them.
• Strong knowledge of gender related questions and especially on women’s social, economic and political empowerment, including self-help groups management
• Knowledge and understanding of conflict analysis: analytical tools, methodologies, theory and practice, formal and informal institutions; conflict sensitivity and do-no-harm approaches.
• Knowledge and experience in dialogue facilitation and/or mediation.
• Practical experience in facilitating training, workshops and peace dialogues engaging larger number of people with different interest, including women groups.
• Ability to establish and sustain effective relationships with women’s social groups, local communities, and partners, demonstrating understanding of community’s perspective.
• Ability to draft strategy documents and conduct assessments and produce quality report.
• Good practical knowledge in the standard computer applications (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

OTHER SKILLS

• The applicant shows leadership and can take the initiative in their work to reach the program objectives.
• Fluency and proficiency in English and Afan Oromo languages is mandatory.
• Willingness to frequent field trips to remote areas in the country.