National Gender Specialist

The National Gender Specialist will undertake analytical, technical, and stakeholder engagement activities to strengthen gender mainstreaming within Ghana's cocoa sector. The role supports the development of a Cocoa Gender Policy and conducts a Gender Baseline Study to generate evidence on gender dynamics across the cocoa value chain.

Responsibilities

• Review existing national policies, strategies, reports, legislation, research publications, and datasets relating to gender and Ghana's cocoa sector.
• Develop an inception report detailing the study methodology, sampling framework, workplan, and data collection tools.
• Provide technical support in developing gender-sensitive quantitative and qualitative research instruments.
• Conduct field data collection across selected cocoa-growing regions.
• Assess gender disparities in access to land and productive resources, agricultural inputs, finance, extension and advisory services, participation in producer organizations and leadership structures, labour allocation and workload distribution, household income control and benefit sharing, climate resilience and vulnerability, access to markets, technologies, and digital services, youth and women's participation across the cocoa value chain.
• Analyse quantitative and qualitative data using appropriate statistical and thematic analysis techniques.
• Prepare a comprehensive Gender Baseline Study Report highlighting key findings, challenges, opportunities, and recommendations.
• Review existing draft Cocoa Gender Policy and related documents.
• Ensure consistency with Ghana National Gender Policy, National Cocoa Development Strategy, SDGs, CEDAW, African Union Gender Strategy, and other relevant frameworks.
• Organize and facilitate policy validation workshops.
• Incorporate comments and recommendations from stakeholders into the revised policy.
• Present study findings during stakeholder consultation meetings.
• Submit periodic progress updates.
• Produce high-quality technical reports in accordance with FAO standards.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's or PhD) in Gender Studies, Development Studies, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, Sociology, Public Policy, or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in gender analysis, policy development, social research, or agricultural development.
• Demonstrated experience conducting gender assessments and baseline studies.
• Experience supporting policy formulation and validation processes.
• Familiarity with Ghana's cocoa sector and agricultural policies will be considered an asset.
• Working knowledge of English.
• National of Ghana.
• Strong expertise in gender analysis methodologies.
• Experience in qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Excellent report writing and policy drafting skills.
• Knowledge of statistical analysis software (SPSS, STATA, R or equivalent) is desirable.
• Experience facilitating stakeholder consultations and validation workshops.
• Familiarity with gender-responsive monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
• Good understanding of cocoa value chains and agricultural development.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and facilitation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Prior experience working with FAO or any UN agency.
• Prior experience working with the government and other relevant institutions in Ghana.

Skills

• Gender Analysis
• Policy Development
• Social Research
• Agricultural Development
• Gender Assessments
• Baseline studies
• Policy Formulation Support
• Qualitative Methods
• Quantitative Research
• Report Writing
• Policy drafting
• Data Analysis Software
• Multi-Stakeholder Consultation
• Validation Workshops
• Gender-responsive monitoring and evaluation
• Cocoa Value Chain Knowledge
• Project Management
• Facilitation Skills
• Microsoft Office Suite

Languages

English