Senior Specialist for Gender Equity and Social Inclusion in DAI

Senior Specialist for Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Kyiv / Odesa / LvivThe vacancy is for Ukrainian nationals. All applicants must send a cover letter and updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English to [email protected] BACKGROUNDThe USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) is designed as an adaptive and flexible mechanism that supports Ukraine’s immediate development needs and overall economic resilience. Ukraine’s efforts to win the future – emerging from Russia’s full-scale war ready to accelerate its development as a sovereign, independent, democratic, and prosperous state – require a dynamic, inclusive economic recovery.STABILIZATION AND BUSINESS REVIVALERA participates in developing a resilient, inclusive, and growth-oriented economy in severely damaged areas. ERA empowers Ukrainians to establish and develop micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in promising economic sectors, innovate, and enter new markets in Ukraine, the European Union (EU), and other regions. ERA emphasizes the inclusion of internally displaced persons (IDPs), women, young adults, veterans, the elderly, LGBTQI+ and other vulnerable groups to ensure that these people also participate in building the region’s economic success.Starting in 2025, ERA is reviving its interventions around Stabilization and Business Revival and re-establishing a core focus on 4 eastern oblasts (Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson) and 3 adjacent oblasts (Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv); and, to a lesser extent, in 4 war-affected areas (Sumy, Poltava, Chernihiv, Odesa). This Stabilization and Business Revival intervention area aims to improve the economic resilience of eastern Ukraine by achieving the following goals:OBJECTIVE 1: Provide assistance to stabilize the economy of Ukraine; andOBJECTIVE 2: Support the sustainable development of micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Ukraine.Consequently, the economy of eastern and frontline communities in Ukraine will be able to withstand and respond to the challenge presented by Russia’s invasion and destruction of critical infrastructure; and individuals, businesses and government partners will be able to rebuild their lives and operation in these regions, thereby improving the economic resilience of the region.JOB OVERVIEW The Senior Specialist on Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) will play a pivotal role in ensuring ERA’s interventions are inclusive, equitable, and effectively support vulnerable populations, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), women, youth, veterans, elderly, LGBTQI+, and other marginalized groups. The Sr. Specialist will work closely with program teams, partners, and stakeholders to design, implement, and monitor activities that address the unique challenges facing women, youth and vulnerable groups and foster the participation of these groups in building a resilient, growth-oriented economy in eastern Ukraine and other war-affected regions. The Sr. Specialist for Gender Equity and Social Inclusion reports to the Director for Business Resilience and will work across teams to build team capacity around GESI and ensure inclusion is built into ERA’s technical approach.RESPONSIBILITIES:Program Design and Implementation:Integrate GESI principles into ERA’s Stabilization and Business Revival interventions, ensuring that project activities are inclusive and address barriers faced by women and vulnerable groups.Ensure ERA interventions are in line with best practices under policies such as the USAID Gender Equipment and Women’s Empowerment Policy , USAID Disability Policy , LGBTQI+ Inclusive Development Policy and Youth and Development Policy , amongst others.Collaborate with stakeholders to identify and implement strategies that analyze the unique challenges facing different groups in the war-affection, target oblasts for ERA; support GESI not only from a right-based approach but by understanding the economic incentives for more includes business practices.Provide technical guidance to teams on designing tailored support for vulnerable communities, particularly for SME development, skills training, and access to resources.Bring best practices in women’s economic empowerment and gender lens investing to ERA’s private sector engagement approaches.Support capacity building initiatives that empower local organizations, businesses, and government entities to adopt inclusive policies and practices.Engage with government partners, NGOs, business associations, and international agencies, to advocate for GESI priorities in economic recovery and business revival; identify investment and gran opportunities specifically targeting women and vulnerable groups.Represent ERA in GESI-focused working groups, forums, and conferences, highlighting project successes, challenges, and lessons learned.Collaborate with the M&E team to ensure disaggregated data collection and analysis (e.g., gender, age, displacement status) to assess participation, outcomes, and benefits for target groups.Develop and contribute to communication strategies that raise awareness about the importance of gender equity and social inclusion in economic recovery and stabilization efforts; prepare regular reports, success stories, and case studies showcasing achievements and challenges related to GESI integration.Ensure learning and adaptive management approaches are applied to improve GESI outcomes over time.Deliver training and workshops for ERA staff, partners, and stakeholders on GESI principles, best practices, and implementation strategies; build the capacity of program teams to integrate inclusive approaches into all phases of project implementation, from planning to delivery.Participate in routine technical meetings led by Senior Manager for Objective 1 (economic stabilization) and Objective 2 (SME development) to ensure GESI integration across all project components.Collaborate with grants, procurement, and business resilience teams to ensure equitable access to resources, services, and opportunities for underrepresented groups; develop creative ways to test and incentivize more inclusive business practices.Provide technical input on program plans, budgets, and proposals to reflect GESI considerations in program design and resource allocation.Other tasks as direct by supervisor, COP or their designee.QUALIFICATIONSA Master’s degree in social science, psychology, or a related field. A master’s degree is preferred.Minimum of 7-8 years of proven experience in gender equity, social inclusion, or related fields, with a strong understanding of intersectionality and systemic barriers.Proven experience working with international organizations, donors, or large-scale development projects. USAID-funded projects experience is a plus.Experience in designing and implementing GESI-focused programs, particularly in international development or community-based projects.Strong analytical and communication skills, with the ability to develop strategies, deliver training, and engage diverse stakeholders effectively.Commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment within the workplace and program activities.Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to engage diverse stakeholders, including community members, government officials, and donors.Fluency in Ukrainian and English is required; proficiency in other local languages is a plus.Capacity to operate in dynamic and challenging environments, addressing problems proactively and innovatively.Willingness to travel frequently to project sites, including remote and challenging areas.High level of integrity, accountability, and commitment to the organization’s mission and goals.Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, project management software, and familiarity with tools is a plus.WE OFFERContract length: 12-month employment agreement with a possibility of extension.Benefits Package:28 calendar days of annual leave10 days of internal well-being paid leave per annumMedical Insurance for ERA staff and their familiesLife Insurance for ERA staffCoverage of all expenses for the business tripsStart date: January 2025Application processAll applicants must send a cover letter and updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English to [email protected] qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.Closing date for applications: January 05, 2024.For further information about DAI GLOBAL LLC, please consult our website era-ukraine.org.ua. 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