Company Profile

CDF Canada is an Ottawa (Canada) based international development organization building prosperity in communities around the world. We work with local partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America to establish and grow community-owned co-operatives to help people achieve more prosperous, self-reliant lives.

Job Description

• Position Gender Officer
• Location CDF Canada, Ghana Office, Tamale
• Application deadline July 20, 2020
• Duration of initial contract One-year initial contract (extendable based on performance)
• Reporting to Country Manager

• Promoting women's empowerment and leadership in decision-making processes at all levels; 
• Ensuring equitable access to and control over the resources and benefits of co-operative development; and, 
• Providing gender responsive capacity building for partners and co-operative networks. This strategy takes a holistic approach to addressing gender constraints at the household, co-operative/community and institutional levels. 

• Work on enhancements in women socio-economic empowerment including access to income earning opportunities, productive inputs, training, and financial services.
• Support women in the realization of their full human rights by addressing inequality and promoting greater gender equality, and by fostering an environment that nurtures women’s empowerment in agriculture. 
• Facilitate the establishment of Gender Model Family (GMF) and peer-to-peer networks.
• Facilitate and engage in gender awareness programming (including positive masculinities) that engage men and nuclear/polygamous families in intra-familial, intergenerational and peer-based learning to nurture mutual respect, as well as model gender equitable behavior. 
• Implement strategies to create enabling environment for women to enhance their personal autonomy and empowerment,
• Providing leadership development training for women in agricultural and agriculture -related business.
• Ensure the provision of accessible resources for women which is essential for economic advancement including: labour-saving equipment for women, training and technical assistance, and improved agricultural inputs,
• Identify and address cultural barriers to women’s participation, provide basic financial and literacy trainings, and enhance women’s participation as leaders and peer agriculture extension agent,
• Ensure the interest and needs of women smallholders are addressed in production and post-production enterprises,
• Conduct gender assessment and identify barriers for women economic participation, conduct  training programs, and equipment/infrastructure with respect to women’s equal participation and access,
• Develop gender strategies to improve gender equality within these enterprises. 
• Conduct case studies and study tours in similar experiences in Ethiopia where inclusive and gender programing is of a particular success,
• Identify and timely address resistance, particularly from men and traditional authorities, to the project’s message of gender equality and women’s empowerment,
• Ensure the project initiative does not reinforce existing inequalities or create new ones. 
• Undertake a comprehensive men’s engagement strategy,
• Ensure the allocation of appropriate budget for specific activities such as establishing Gender Model Families (GMF), peer-to-peer initiatives, as well development of Gender Equality Strategy (GES),
• Provide gender trainings to the project team and project participants.
• Establish and maintain a working relationship with CDF Ethiopia team, CDF partners in Ethiopia and CDF gender specialist in Ottawa. 

Required Skills or Experience

• Bachelor’s level qualification is required in Gender & Development studies, Sociology, Rural development, Development studies, or related studies. A Master’s Degree in related studies will be an added advantage. 
• At least 4 years proven and progressive experience working on Advocacy, gender and women empowerment issues in rural smallholder set up is required,
• Strong public speaking skills and representational experience
• Substantive experience and record of accomplishment in gender equality and women's empowerment issues at policy and programming level;
• Experience with implementing gender mainstreaming agendas across a variety of sectors, including experience gender mainstreaming in governmental bodies.
• Experience working with women’s movements, and civil society and familiarity with women's rights organizations and networks in the region and globally,
• Ability to build the capacity of staff and partners to deliver advocacy work,
• Good networking and alliance building skills 
• Fluency in English and Amharic and other local languages.
• Good project report writing skills

• Advocacy and gender mainstreaming tactics,
• Adaptability, 
• Awareness and sensitivity regarding gender  issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Good knowledge of program formulation, implementation and Results Based Management,
• Professional integrity
• Knowledge and understanding of Canada ‘s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) 
• Passion and commitment to gender equality and women empowerment.