Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Advisor

Assignment Type:

Canadian International Volunteer

Eligibility Requirements:

Open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada only

Assignment ID:

VA-105069

Assignment Title:

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Advisor

Partner:

Tea Association of Malawi Limited

Country:

Malawi

Duration:

4 to 12 months (flexible)

Time Commitment:

Full time

Assignment Context

Are you passionate about gender equality?

As the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Advisor with the Tea Association of Malawi, you will provide support in improving gender equality in the important tea industry, through the sharing of skills and knowledge.

Apply today to help overcome gender inequality in Malawi!

Roles and Responsibilities

• Support the review of the organization’s policies, including the Gender Equality Policy and the Gender, Harassment and Discrimination Policy to ensure that they remain relevant and in line with international standards
• Develop communications materials and content about gender equality, harassment, and discrimination in the sector in order to increase awareness on workers’ rights
• Provide training to organization staff and other relevant disciplinary committees on procedures for sexual harassment case management
• Support in identifying women leaders working in the tea sector to be trained as mentors championing gender equality
• Develop training material and conduct leadership training of trainers and mentorship sessions for women leaders in the tea sector
• Provide support in planning events including a gender learning and sustainability symposium
• Participate in pre-assignment training
• Participate in at least 3 public engagement initiatives before, during, or after the assignment. Volunteers will be equipped with the tools, training, and support to achieve these goals. Volunteers will also have one virtual check-in with the Public Engagement Officer throughout the course of their assignment
• Set up a personalized volunteer fundraising page on the WUSC fundraising platform and share it in your networks. Volunteers will be supported with the tools, training and support to achieve the fundraising goal
• Ensure that a gender equality lens is consistently applied in the execution of all activities
• Support partners to empower young women and promote a culture of gender sensitive representation in all activities and program benefits
• Submit reports as required by the partner organization and by WUSC.

Experience and Qualifications

• Minimum two (2) years relevant professional experience in your field of expertise
• University degree in gender or women’s studies, social sciences, or equivalent experience in women’s rights and youth inclusion, or other relevant field
• Experience drafting content related to gender equality for publications, digital communications material and reporting
• Knowledge and experience in monitoring and evaluation will be an asset
• Strong understanding of organizational development, in addition to strategic and operational planning
• Ability to work independently as part of a remote working group
• Comfortable using online working platforms
• Access to a reliable internet connection
• A commitment to gender equality, youth inclusion, and international volunteering
• Flexibility, adaptability, excellent interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity
• Experience with group facilitation and trainings, including content development considered an asset
• Experience living and working internationally considered an asset
• Written and oral fluency in English

Project Description

Volunteering for development is one of the important ways in which WUSC pursues its mission. The IGNI+E project, funded by Global Affairs Canada, supports over 70 partner organizations to advance gender equality and the economic empowerment of 1.2 million youth around the world. IGNI+E harnesses the knowledge, capacity and expertise of skilled Canadians through volunteer assignments and public engagement activities to assist partners in improving their performance, advocating for gender equality, and implementing more sustainable, innovative and inclusive initiatives and services for poor and marginalised youth, particularly young women. Overseas, our volunteers collaborate with a wide variety of partners, including enterprise and social enterprise development incubators, skills training centres, women's organizations, and youth groups. In Canada, WUSC works with institutions and individuals to identify, prepare, and support volunteers who travel overseas to support our partners. Our network in Canada also works with WUSC to raise awareness among Canadians to inspire greater action on global development issues. Our collective focus is on sustainable and inclusive changes to create a better world for youth.

Partner Description

The Tea Association of Malawi (Ltd) is the representative body of all tea estates, tea companies, producers and processors, and it represents the interests of tea growers and producers in Malawi. Responsible for promoting all aspects of the tea industry and addressing all matters of potential concern by coordinating and communicating the interests of the Tea Industry in Malawi’s economy and maintains linkages with national and international associations.The Tea Association also disseminates information and assists members in answering questions about the industry and in working out any problems that they may encounter. Membership affords the opportunity to keep abreast of the latest tea trends and keep up-to-date on important governmental matters. To enable sustainable growth of the Malawian tea market as a whole, while guiding our membership through an ever changing external environment; it has created practices and mechanisms for issues relating to hired labor and smallholders that have significantly improved the terms and conditions on which the estate sector engages with both groups

Support Package

• Support and guidance from the WUSC Volunteer Mobilization Team prior to departure and from WUSC Country Team while on assignment
• Pre-departure training to learn about the volunteering for development program, gain practical skills for living and working in an intercultural context and network with other volunteers
• In-country orientation upon arrival in country of assignment
• Language training in country of assignment, where required
• Modest monthly living and accommodation allowance
• Airfare to and from the assignment country
• Visa/work permit
• Pre-departure medical exam
• Health insurance
• Vaccinations and antimalarial medication
• COVID-19 PCR testing
• Criminal record verification
• Vacation leave entitlement
• Debriefing after completion of assignment
• An incredible opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to global development, enhance your professional skills and participate in an experience of a lifetime!

WUSC’s Safeguarding Policy

WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion and sexual exploitation and abuse of any form. Successful applicants will be required to sign off on the WUSC Code of Conduct and the Self-Disclosure Form. International and national volunteers will also be required to submit a criminal record verification.

WUSC is a signatory to the Cooperation Canada Leaders’ Pledge on Preventing and Addressing Sexual Misconduct. The pledge represents the shared commitment as Canada’s global development and humanitarian leaders to ensure the full implementation of practices and policies that will protect and respond to our own staff, volunteers and the communities we serve. We are committed to creating safe and respectful workplaces and programs that promote gender equality and are free from gender-based violence, including by addressing and responding to all abuse of power, holding people to account, and protecting the vulnerable. Read the full pledge.