Community Initiative for Self-Reliance (CISER)
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Organisational Background
Community Initiative for Self-Reliance is a local NGO registered in Malawi in 2011. The organisation works in various thematic areas including education, health, agriculture, environment and climate change and advocacy. CISER in partnership with KUSAMALA institute of Agriculture with funding from Welthungerhilfe and Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is implementing the Nutritional Smart Community project in Mangochi District. The project aims at applying lessons learned and methods that have emerged from many nutrition projects around the world and provides a framework for influencing multiple sectors in a cost-effective and easily replicable and adaptable manner. The combination of systemic interventions links four strategies:
Promoting behavior change at the household level,
strengthening and supporting local institutions,
Activating and improving community nutrition-related services; and
The development and activation of a community-based model to implement the right to adequate food.
The project will implement the following pillars and activities
LANN+ (Linking Agriculture and Natural Resource Management towards Nutrition Security). Linking agriculture, nutrition, natural resource management + WASH (LANN+). LANN+ implemented primarily through
Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) cycles to initiate behavior change.
Nutrition camps (Targeted communication for mothers of moderately and acutely malnourished children). The project will employ the care group model to improve the nutirition status of children in the project area. Households with under five childred will be targeted to learn how to make nutritious food from local resources, follow hygiene standards in food preparation, use clean drinking water, or follow breastfeeding practices. Depending on need, children will be referred to appropriate institution local health facilities for medical care.
Nutritionally sensitive agriculture. Central to promoting food diversity and resilience is the development of Sustainable Integrated Farming Systems (SIFS). SIFS prioritizes healthy nutrition and aims to ensure year-round availability and accessibility of diverse foods for smallholder farmers
Microplanning focused on nutrition. The goal of microplanning is to enable communities to work with local authorities to develop, implement, and monitor both nutrition- and climate-sensitive community development plans and individual plans for severely affected households.
e)Institutional strengthening
In order to guarantee long-term behavioral and structural change, community-based institutions are assigned an important role. In particular, existing self-help groups, farmers’ organizations and committees/commissions (WASH, nutrition, youth, etc.) established under various government programs will be strengthened and trained.
Community Initiative for Self Reliance therefore seeks to fill the following positions:
Project Title:
Nutritional Smart Community
Job Title:
Gender Officer (1 Position)
Reports To:
Programs Manager
Job Purpose:
The Gender Officer will be responsible for gender mainstreaming and provide technical support to Nutrition Smart Communities Project in Mangochi. S/he will work with all program staff to ensure that gender equity principles are incorporated into all activities. S/he will plan, implement and follow up on gender-related activities and provide support to counterpart staff. S/He will work on mainstreaming gender in Nutrition Smart Communities program and its activities, including design and implementation of trainings in gender-related topics. S/he will provide technical assistance to field staff and community level committees including beneficiaries on gender and related topics and to ensure integration of gender in the day-to-day activities.
Major Responsibilities
Gender Mainstreaming – Technical Support to the Project
Support the project team to ensure integration of gender in the program in line with the Gender minimum standards, including technical and administrative work.
Mainstream gender into needs assessment frameworks, including adaptation of tools, collection, analysis and reporting processes to ensure that different beneficiary needs are identified and met.
Provide technical assistance to the Nutrition Smart Communities team and community members on gender concerns, taking into account the family needs. This includes practical gender related activities for addressing violence and other priority concerns during the program implementation.
Support capacity building for staff, stakeholders, community groups and beneficiaries on how to practically integrate gender during implementation.
Facilitate systematic gender analyses, so that the Program staff identify strategic and practical responses to advancing gender equality in Nutrition Smart Communities activities.
Qualification and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in development studies, gender, social work or related field
Good knowledge of nutrition and gender situation in Malawi
General knowledge on national gender policies
2 years working experience in gender related field
Duration of the contract
1 year contract with possible extension based on experience
How to Apply
Interested applicants are invited to forward a CV and covering letter expressing their motivation and experience related to this position not later than Wednesday 7th December, 2022.
Community Initiative for Self Reliance (CISER) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, colour, religion, gender, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, factors, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit
The executive Director
Community Initiative for Self-Reliance (CISER)
P.O. Box 95
Mangochi
Or
Email: ciserapplications@gmail.com