Gender Assistant At Chabash Development And Health Initiative

Location: Jakusko, Yobe State

Reports to: Gender Officer

Supervises: Project Support Staff/Facilitators

Job Summary:

The Gender Assistant supports the mainstreaming of gender equality, social inclusion, and women's empowerment principles across all activities under the WFP-supported Integrated Food System and Resilience Project implemented by Chabash Development and Health Initiative (CDHI) in Jakusko LGA, Yobe State. Working under the supervision of the Gender Officer, the Assistant works closely with community structures, women's groups, Cash-for-Work (CfW) beneficiaries, and field teams to promote equitable access to project benefits. The position supports the identification of gender-related barriers, promotes women's participation and leadership in community structures, supports women and youth livelihood initiatives, and contributes to establishing safe and gender-sensitive conditions across project locations.

Key Responsibilities

• Field Gender Mainstreaming: Support the integration of gender-responsive approaches into project activities, including agricultural input distributions, Cash-for-Work activities, infrastructure development, and agro-processing initiatives.
• Community Mobilization & Inclusion: Facilitate community dialogue sessions, focus group discussions, and community meetings to promote women's active participation, leadership, and decision-making within Project Management Committees (PMCs), farmer groups, and other community structures.
• Support to Women & Youth Initiatives: Assist in organizing training and providing operational support to women and youth engaged in post-harvest management, agro-processing, poultry, fish farming, and other income-generating activities.
• Safe Infrastructure & Site Assessment: Conduct routine monitoring visits to project sites, including construction sites, solar irrigation hubs, and market stalls, to assess and promote gender-friendly conditions such as safe working hours, childcare considerations, appropriate site lighting, and safe access.
• Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Risk Mitigation: Work with field teams and relevant local protection actors to identify and mitigate GBV and protection risks, support awareness activities, and promote safe and accessible reporting and referral mechanisms for women and vulnerable groups.
• Data Collection & Reporting: Collect gender-disaggregated data, document success stories and gender-related field feedback, and contribute to the preparation of regular activity reports for project leadership.

Qualifications and Experience

• Education: Bachelor's degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) in Gender Studies, Social Work, Sociology, Development Studies, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 2 years of practical experience in gender mainstreaming, protection, social inclusion, or related activities within community development or humanitarian projects, preferably in Northeast Nigeria.
• Technical Knowledge: Understanding of gender concepts, women's empowerment approaches, GBV risk mitigation, and protection principles within food security and community development contexts.
• Community Engagement: Demonstrated experience facilitating focus group discussions, conducting community outreach, and working directly with rural women, adolescent girls, and marginalized groups.
• Language Skills: Professional working proficiency in English and strong fluency in Hausa. Knowledge of additional local languages spoken in Yobe State is highly desirable.

Core Competencies

• Strong facilitation, listening, communication, and interpersonal skills, particularly when engaging communities on sensitive issues.
• Ability to work respectfully and effectively with traditional leaders, local structures, women's groups, and diverse beneficiary groups.
• Demonstrated empathy, active listening, and commitment to human rights, gender equality, and social inclusion.
• Basic computer literacy, including proficiency in MS Office applications and experience using mobile data collection tools such as KoboToolbox.
• Good organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize field activities and work effectively in remote and challenging environments.

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)

• Strictly adhere to and actively promote CDHI and WFP zero-tolerance policies regarding sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment across all project locations and community activities.
• Sensitize women, girls, Cash-for-Work beneficiaries, and community members on PSEA principles, reinforcing that all project assistance, services, and employment opportunities are provided free of charge.
• Support gender-sensitive feedback and grievance mechanisms that are confidential, safe, accessible, and well understood by women and vulnerable community members.
• Promptly report any suspected or reported incidents of sexual exploitation or abuse through designated organizational channels while maintaining strict confidentiality.

Compliance & Ethics

• Adhere strictly to humanitarian principles, do-no-harm standards, and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) frameworks during all field activities and community engagements.
• Ensure equal, fair, and non-discriminatory treatment of beneficiaries regardless of gender, age, disability, or social background.
• Respect local customs, cultural values, traditional leadership structures, and religious sensitivities while promoting safe and meaningful participation of women and vulnerable groups.
• Ensure full compliance with CDHI organizational guidelines and policies on Child Safeguarding, Code of Conduct, Anti-Fraud/Anti-Corruption, and Conflict of Interest.

Women are strongly encouraged to apply.