Background

SCA has been working in Afghanistan since 1982 and is presently managing development programmes linked to Strategic Objectives concerning Health, Education, Rural Livelihoods and Community Governance with a total annual budget of roughly USD 40 million. The total number of staff is around 6000 of whom 15 are non-Afghans. The SCA presence in Afghanistan consists of the Kabul Management Office (KMO), five Regional Management Offices and three Liaison Offices. In Sweden SCA has 20 staff working at the Stockholm Management Office (SMO) and around 4,000 members organized in local chapters all over the country. 
 
During the last decade, SCA has undertaken a change process moving from a primarily humanitarian service delivery approach towards more of a developmental role, putting increasing emphasis on capacity development, rights-based programming and outcome orientation. The mission of SCA is to empower individuals, communities and local organizations, primarily in rural areas and with particular focus on women, girls, boys and vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, so that they may participate fully in society and influence their own development. 

Human Rights and Gender Unit    

The Human Rights & Gender Unit (HRGU) is a policy and methodology unit at the Programme Department at the Kabul Management Office. The unit consists of a national manager, specialist and two other staff. It is contributing to enhanced effectiveness in achieving SCA’s development objectives by developing and mainstreaming strategies, methods and tools through and by:

1. Mainstreaming Gender and RBA in all areas related to planning, programming and budgeting,
2. Development of tailored and contextualized tools, methods and training material on gender and rights-based issues
3. Support capacity development and advocacy (in close coordination with Civil Society and Capacity Development Unit and Advocacy Unit) on gender and rights issues.
4. Support, technically backstop and develop the capacity of HRGU Officers in Kabul and Regional Management Offices (RMOs).

The role of the HRG Unit internally within SCA is to develop mechanisms and tools for integrating Rights Based Approach (RBA) and Gender Mainstreaming (GM) within SCA Programmes, build staff and partner capacity, and provide strategic support and guidance to each programme within the project cycle. Externally, HRG Unit through networking, research and advocacy at different levels promotes an enabling environment for fulfillment of Rights especially those related to women and children.

Scope of Work

The Senior HRG Specialist role mainly focuses on three areas that include a) strategic and technical input to gender sensitive programming and gender responsive budgeting across SCA, and b) HRG unit level annual planning and reporting c) when nominated, represent SCA in national rights/gender related networks/ working groups.

Under supervision of the HRG Manager, to whom s/he reports, the Senior HRG Specialist has a central advisory and execution role in designing, strengthening and developing of the SCA work with human rights and gender for ensuring long-term outcomes. S/he guides processes related to policy, strategy and methodology, and provides technical support for gender responsive planning, monitoring and reporting. The role encompasses strategic work on institution and system levels as well as capacity building of key Programme/Project staffs on RBA integration and gender mainstreaming. Together with HRG Manager, s/he supports the Masculinity Alliance set up and led by SCA. S/he will be the lead focal person for Rights Based Approach for programming, child (girls and boys) rights and protection in SCA. s/he also supports/guides programmes (Health, Education, Rural Development, Disability) and cross cutting units i.e. (Civil Society and Capacity Building, Advocacy, Communication, Planning, Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting) to ensure contributing to Sustainable Development Goals especially those related to gender, human rights and child protection.

The HRG Specialist will have the mandate to mentor, train and technically support HRGU national staff particularly the Senior Human Rights and Gender Officers at Kabul and Regional Management Offices. 

Responsibilities

• Support and provide technical backstopping to SCA programmes and all other units including Regional Management Offices (RMOs) to ensure gender transformative programming, gender equality principles and rights based programming with the special focus on National Action Plans, Afghanistan’s commitment to UNSCR 1325, CEDAW and CRC.
• Support and guide Human Rights and Gender Unit in new and innovative ideas to ensure gender equality, girls/women’s empowerment and boys and men engagement using existing programme platforms in SCA;
• Ensure gender mainstreaming and rights integration policies, strategies and checklists are translated into actions in all programmes both at national and regional level;
• Support and provide relevant inputs in planning, financing and implementing of development plans from a gender equality and girls/women’s empowerment perspective.
• Technically support and qualitatively monitor the implementation of human rights and gender mainstreaming within SCA programming. In cooperation with Programme Units and Planning Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (PMER) Unit carry out case studies and minor research, as well as develop gender sensitive results indicators, enhance the capacity to reach women and children in stakeholder dialogue, support gender sensitive monitoring methods, and assess quality of reports, plans and evaluations.
• Support and guide PMER in developing gender sensitive Strategic Plan baselines, data collection and analysis.
• Contribute to advocacy on rights-based issues within SCA programme areas and in close cooperation with SCA´s Communication and Advocacy Units.
• Identify, design, plan, implement and monitor appropriate training packages including on the job training for SCA staff and partner organisations.
• Develop applications, plans, budget and reports for SCA’s Human Rights and Gender work and input into overall SCA applications /proposal by using a gender and rights lens.
• Support Human Resource Unit to formulate subsequent development plan to support women friendly hiring strategies, Job Descriptions and coaching plans
• Attend and contributes in development of National Masculinity Alliance (NMA) and Gender Working Group (GWG) established within the organization

• Perform other tasks within the field of competency as assigned by the HRG Manager

Entry Requirements

Qualifications

• Academic degree at master’s level or equivalent in relevant professional field preferably development/ gender studies from an institution of international repute, or equivalent documented experience and skills.
• Minimum 7 years professional experience at senior level advisory positions within the field of Human Rights and Gender at international NGOs and/or UN agency

Essential competence

• Professional profile and experience within rights-based programming, gender awareness and mainstreaming, advocacy and strengthening of civil society, with an established career in international development

• Demonstrated work experience of mentoring and capacity development of staff
• Prior experience in working in rural areas particularly in Muslim countries and conflict/post conflict areas
• Familiarity with rights based approach, gender mainstreaming, results-based management, conducting case studies and minor research
• Excellent command of English
• User-knowledge in computer packages e.g. MS Office 

Desired competence

• Knowledge of Dari and/or Pashto
• Previous experience in Afghanistan
• Have participated in HEAT-training or other security training
  
  As part of our gender equality work, we encourage women to apply
  
  Application information

• Contract period: 2 years with an initial 6 months probationary period
• Conditions: Non-family posting. SCA offers a competitive salary, free housing, insurances and other benefits.
• Duties to begin: May 2019
• Last date for application: 25 March 2019
• Apply from sak.se (Lediga jobb) or www.swedishcommittee.org (Vacancies)

Download a 1-page letter explaining why you are interested in and suited for this position and your CV (no more than 2 pages) in English