ARK Group is a stabilisation, development and conflict transformation company that provides research-informed analysis and policy recommendations, as well as delivers evidence-based, cost-effective, impactful programming, in areas of conflict and instability globally on behalf of public and private sector clients.

Working with and through local communities, we seek to understand and then mitigate the negative effects of conflict and instability to enhance community safety and promote human security, development and economic opportunity with a focus on the following UN Sustainable Development Goals – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, Reduced Inequalities, Gender Equality and Partnerships for the Goals.

OUR VISION ON GENDER AND INCLUSION:

Our vision is to support fairer, more inclusive and sustainable development, stabilisation and peacebuilding in which all persons – regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality or ability – are valued equally and can share equitably in the distribution of power, responsibilities, knowledge and resources. To this end, we have established several strategic objectives:

• ARK Group DMCC becomes a leading organisation in promoting and integrating gender equality, social justice and inclusion in stabilisation, and peacebuilding work.
• ARK companies integrate gender equality and inclusion into all stages of programming from identification and design to implementation and monitoring and evaluation.
• ARK companies meet donor requirements on gender equality, inclusion and conflict sensitivity.
• ARK staff have the knowledge, attitudes, skills and competencies – and access to specialist expertise – to sustainably integrate gender equality and inclusion objectives into strategies, programmes and working practices.
• ARK companies’ working culture is equitable and inclusive and free from discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, religion, age, sexual orientation or ability.

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

ARK is seeking to engage a Gender and Inclusion Adviser to lead on implementation of this vision and strategic objectives. The Gender and Inclusion Adviser will be responsible for driving and overseeing the integration of gender and inclusion across ARK policies, programmes and operations in accordance with global best practices and donor requirements. The Gender and Inclusion Adviser will oversee the design and execution of internal gender and inclusion policies and training for company employees and field staff and will advise on how to integrate gender and inclusion issues across programme design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation in various fragile and conflict-affected contexts.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversee implementation of ARK’s Gender and Inclusion Policy and Action Plan and keep the latter updated on an annual basis in consultation with the Senior Management Team.
• Provide technical leadership across all projects to ensure the integration of gender equality and inclusion objectives in programme design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Support the development of a practical system to determine the level of ambition on gender integration, inclusion and conflict-sensitivity in individual programmes – ensuring a minimum of ‘do no harm’ and that where appropriate, ARK proactively identifies and acts on opportunities to reduce inequalities and tensions, promote inclusion and prevent discrimination and violence based on gender or other identities.
• Develop guidance on conducting gender and inclusion analysis and manage/oversee/conduct these analyses to ensure they are high quality and relevant to ARK’s programming.
• Work with the SMT to track and analyse social, political and conflict dynamics and risks in the key countries where ARK operates and report on how these may impact programming and achievement of objectives on gender and inclusion.
• Design department-specific tools, frameworks, and resources to educate new and current ARK staff and support gender integration, inclusion and conflict-sensitivity of projects.
• Deliver specialised training for programme teams, functional teams, senior management, partner staff and gender advisors and officers to ensure they are equipped to integrate gender and inclusion objectives in their everyday work and work environment.
• Mentor ARK staff in gender mainstreaming and lead efforts to increase gender knowledge and foster positive attitudes and norms on gender and inclusion among staff.
• Lead ARK’s team of gender advisors and officers to ensure all participate actively in the implementation of ARK’s vision and objectives and are trained and mentored for these roles.
• Engage proactively with donors and partners on gender issues and develop external communication materials to explain ARK’s gender strategy to partners and clients.

REQUIREMENTS:

Essential

• Significant experience and demonstrated results in the integration of gender and inclusion across programmes operating in fragile or conflict-affected contexts.
• Experience in designing and delivering training and mentoring to promote individual behaviour and institutional change with respect to gender and inclusion issues.
• Programme design, implementation and/or monitoring and evaluation experience in fragile, conflict-affected or humanitarian contexts.
• Ability to navigate politically sensitive terrain and maintain constructive relationships with a diverse set of key stakeholders, including external donors, project and company staff and partners.
• A Master’s Degree or higher in a relevant subject area(s) e.g. Gender, Social Work, Public Health, International development, Conflict, Peace Studies or Community Development, is required.
• Excellent report-writing, research, editing and oral presentation skills.
• Fluency in English.
• Excellent communication, networking and inter-personal skills.

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience of programming in the areas of stabilisation, peacebuilding and development.
• Experience working and/or living in ARK key target countries: Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
• Language skills (Arabic, Farsi, Bahasa, Urdu, Somalia, European languages).

ARK Group places human dignity at the centre of its development and stabilisation work and is thus committed to the protection from sexual exploitation and abuse of children and adults. All ARK employees and related-personnel are expected to share this commitment, and only those who also uphold these values will be recruited as part of our team. This vacancy is therefore subject to a range of due diligence checks.