International Gender Consultant

Региональный экологический центр Центральной Азии

Recruiting for the position of International Gender Consultant at the CAREC project office in Turkmenistan

and requests a CV and a motivation letter in accordance with the terms of reference below:      

«International Gender Consultant »:

Background

The project " Catalyzing the Nature-Positive Transformation of the Agricultural Sector in Turkmenistan towards Enhanced Resilience to Climate Change ", financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by FAO in partnership with CAREC and national stakeholders, aims to strengthen the enabling environment for climate-resilient and nature-positive transformation of the agricultural sector in Turkmenistan.

Women play a key role in agriculture in Turkmenistan—as they do throughout Central Asia and in most countries worldwide. UN conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and land degradation recognize that women’s leading role in ensuring household food security places them at the forefront of the fight against climate change and environmental degradation, making them key participants in efforts to address these challenges. However, women cannot fully realize their potential as agents of change due to limited access—compared to men—to natural resources and factors of production, including land and water. Moreover, traditional gender norms often exclude women from decision-making processes regarding issues that directly affect their interests, at levels ranging from the household to the community and the nation. Their contributions frequently go undervalued, unpaid, and unrecognized. Nevertheless, this project will contribute to national efforts to improve the status of women and increase their participation in integrating Nature-based Solutions (NBS) into sustainable agriculture and ecosystem restoration. Mainstreaming gender is also a mandatory requirement of FAO and the GEF.

Under the overall supervision of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO), in close collaboration with the National Project Coordinator, national and international consultants, and relevant government counterparts, the consultant will contribute to the implementation of Components 1 and 2 of the project through the following Terms of Reference:  

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Purpose and objectives:

To integrate gender-sensitive approaches into project activities and ensure the institutionalization of gender-sensitive frameworks. The consultant will work closely with the National Gender Consultant to align efforts and strengthen gender mainstreaming across all components of the project. This role contributes to Output 1.2.1: Institutional gender-sensitive frameworks and Output 1.1.3: Participatory and inclusive approaches.

The consultant's participation in the implementation of project activities is carried out in accordance with:

·       the strategic goals of Turkmenistan’s national programs on environmental protection and climate change adaptation;

·       Turkmenistan’s obligations under international environmental conventions and agreements;

·       effective international practices for building agricultural resilience;

Carrying out this task requires the engagement of a qualified international expert with experience in leading and implementing long-term environmental projects.

DUTIES AND TASKS

20 days 

Responsibilities:

• Gender Analysis and Action Planning:
• Conduct a comprehensive gender analysis to assess gender dynamics, barriers, and opportunities within the project scope.
• Develop a gender action plan, in collaboration with the National Gender Consultant, to ensure the integration of gender-sensitive practices into all project activities.
• Tailor the action plan to address the specific needs of women, youth, and marginalized groups in pilot areas.
• Capacity Building and Training:
• Design and deliver training sessions on gender mainstreaming for stakeholders, including project staff, government agencies, and community leaders.
• Collaborate with the National Gender Consultant to create user-friendly training materials, incorporating local contexts and best practices.
• Facilitate workshops and seminars to promote awareness and build capacity for implementing gender-sensitive approaches.
• Collaboration with National Gender Consultant:
• Work closely with the National Gender Consultant to align gender strategies and ensure coherence between national and international efforts.
• Provide technical guidance and support to the National Gender Consultant in executing gender-focused activities, such as community engagement and impact monitoring.
• Co-develop methodologies for assessing the gender impacts of project activities and collecting disaggregated data.
• Monitoring and Reporting:
• Establish a monitoring framework for tracking gender-related impacts and progress in project activities.
• Support the National Gender Consultant in collecting and analyzing gender-disaggregated data from pilot sites.
• Prepare reports on gender impacts, highlighting achievements, challenges, and recommendations for improvement.
• Support for Participatory and Inclusive Approaches:
• Ensure that all participatory activities under the project include gender-sensitive considerations and actively engage women and marginalized groups.
• Provide input on the design of pilot projects to enhance their inclusivity and responsiveness to gender dynamics.
• Advocate for equitable participation of women and men in decision-making processes. 

3. Reporting and results

REQUIREMENTS

Candidates for the position of "International Gender Consultant" for the CAREC project office in Turkmenistan must meet the following requirements:

1.     Education

Higher education in the humanities, socio-economic, legal, environmental, or other related fields.

2.     Work Experience

At least 3 years of experience implementing or participating in environmental projects and conducting research or studies on gender issues.

3.     Skills

Good knowledge of agricultural practices in the Central Asia region.

Good knowledge of gender issues and specificities in the pilot region.

Good communication and training skills;

Good teamwork and collaboration skills;

Analytical and research skills.

4.     Languages

Good knowledge of English and/or good communication skills in Russian. 

NOTES:

·       Quotation currency: US dollars;

·       Payment method: non-cash payment;

·       Payment terms: payment for the expert’s services will be made monthly based on the contract and the submitted timesheet;

·       Tax calculation and payment are the personal responsibility of the consultant;

·       Ownership of deliverables: all materials prepared by the expert in the course of the assignment are the property of the CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan and may be used with the permission of the CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan. 

Interested candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, a detailed CV, and letters of recommendation, specifying the job title.

The CV must be submitted no later than 18:00 (Ashgabat time) on September 25, 2026, via email or courier service to the address below: 

Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia

15 Bitarap St., Ashgabat

Tel.: +993 12 942148

To: O. Isgenderova 

Email addresses for proposal submission: turkmenistan@carececo.org, officeassistant_Turkmenistan@carececo.org, carec@carececo.org 

Proposals submitted via email must be in PDF format, signed, and free of viruses. 

Proposals received by CAREC after the aforementioned date for any reason will not be considered. 

Shortlisted candidates will be notified and invited for an interview.