Gender Equality & Human Rights Specialist – Global Fund TB/HIV/RSSH Grants

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years, and are now active in more than 80 countries.

PROPOSE ROLE

Through a federation of 72 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, Plan International strives for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Together, we are taking action so that 100 million girls can learn, lead, decide and flourish.  Plan International has been implementing grants from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria since Round 4, and has worked in Benin, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Cameroon, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, El Salvador, Thailand, Togo and Zimbabwe. At the proposal of the Country Coordinating Mechanism, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has designated Plan International Liberia as the Principal Recipient to implement the combined TB-HIV prevention grant for 2024-2026. Aligned with the Global Fund (GF) and the Government of Liberia, Plan International Liberia will prioritise the integration of a gender and human rights-based approach to implement actions to reduce barriers based on gender inequalities and exclusion that contribute to poor results in the fight against TB and HIV. An essential part will be advocacy and mobilisation strategies to facilitate the active engagement of the most affected women, men, girls and boys and decision-makers at local, regional and national level.  The aim is to ensure that key populations are better taken into account in health, social and judicial policies, with the aim of improving their state of health by reducing the risk of HIV and tuberculosis, and in a context where gender-based inequalities and human rights violations are taken into account.

In order to achieve the commitments to gender equality and human rights, the Human Rights and Gender Advocacy Specialist is a technical position whose main responsibility is to ensure the integration and consistent application of:

• Human Rights Principles (Zero Discrimination In The AIDS Response By 2020, Informed Consent And Confidentiality),
• Gender Equality And Agency of women, girls and LGBTQIA+ people from key and vulnerable populations in the context of HIV and tuberculosis

The Human Rights and Gender Advocacy Specialist will ensure that the project is well on the way to becoming a framework of excellence for gender equality, inclusion and the application of human rights at all levels, from community demand creation to the provision of services, through the dissemination and promotion of good practice. He/she will be responsible for  leading in advocacy and communication to raise awareness and mobilise the relevant ministries, elected representatives, opinion leaders, religious leaders and the military.

Dimensions of the Role

The Human Rights and Gender Advocacy Specialist will play a critical role in supporting a three-year TB HIV grant funded by the Global Fund in Liberia. The specialist will be responsible for promoting and ensuring the integration of human rights and gender perspectives in the implementation and monitoring of the grant activities. This position will work closely with government agencies, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to advocate for the rights and needs of vulnerable populations affected by TB and HIV.

The Human Rights and Gender Advocacy Specialist will report to the project’s Chief of Party. He/she will be responsible for implementing the advocacy strategy for the protection of the rights of key populations and people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Liberia. The implementation of this strategy requires a good knowledge of the drivers  of vulnerability to HIV and TB linked to the legal environment and socio-cultural and religious factors prevalent in Liberia and a good understanding of the types of discrimination experienced by key populations (sex workers (SWs), men who have sex with men (MSM)) and by people living with HIV and/or TB in Liberia.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential

• University degree, Masters in law, social sciences, political sciences or equivalent
• At least three (3) years’ professional experience in project management, gender transformative programs relating to gender equality and human rights in health and/or social justice;
• Experience in advocacy for key, vulnerable, child-adolescent populations is an advantage;
• Good knowledge of the socio-cultural environment and specifically of gender and human rights considerations in HIV, TB and/or sexual and reproductive health;
• Has relevant experience of advocacy ;
• Knowledge of international and national policies and efficient approaches to gender and human rights;
• Proven experience in conducting gender analysis and gender mainstreaming;
• Technical knowledge of child and youth protection and participation would be an asset;
• Negotiation skills, adult learning and meeting facilitation;

Desirable

• Experience of working with central and decentralised departments of the Ministries of Health, Family and Education;
• Good interpersonal skills ;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Empathy and conceptual flexibility ;
• Acquire, develop and maintain credibility for your performance;
• Learning and personal development ;
• Be committed to the well-being of children and adhere to the vision and mission of Plan International, including a commitment to gender equality;
• Be of very good character.

Location:                  Country Office, Monrovia

Type of Role:            Fixed Term Contract

Reports to:               Gender Equality and Inclusion Advisor with dotted lines to the COP – Global Fund TB/HIV/RSSH

Grade:                       14

Closing Date:           15 January 2024

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.