Gender,Communications and Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

The work of the Environment and Climate Change Portfolio is focused on supporting the Government of Botswana to realize its national priorities in environmental management focusing on managing the trade-off between income generation and environmental sustainability. The trade-offs between development and environmental sustainability are becoming more evident in the form of threats to fauna and flora, air pollution and water pollution. Ensuring that sustainable resource extraction levels are within the capacity of the environment to assimilate and regenerate is a key concern. Waste management which includes safe disposal and transformation of waste material into safe and reusable resources is an opportunity that the government is exploring. Incidents of Human-wildlife conflicts are on the rise, particularly where geographic proximity does not necessarily ensure formal access to benefits. Efforts at environmental management are hampered by a multiplicity of factors including weak coordination capacity, inadequate research and data production, inadequate follow-up on environmental assessments, weak cost-benefit analysis of investments, and limited active engagement of citizens in environmental protection and management. The Environment and Climate Change Portfolio, through its various projects collaborates with Government through development of policies and implementation of pilot projects to deliver on the specific environmental management and climate change initiatives and the 2030 Agenda. The ECC Portfolio is aligned to the development objectives of the Botswana Vision 2036 and NDP 11 thematic area of Sustainable Environment and the SDGs: 1, 2, 7, 12, 13, 15 and 17.

The Environment and Climate Change portfolio, amongst other projects includes the Kgalagadi Ghanzi Dryland Ecosystem Project which promotes an integrated landscape approach to managing Kgalagadi and Ghanzi drylands for ecosystem resilience, improved livelihoods and reduced conflicts between land uses (biodiversity conservation, economic and livelihood activities). Natural resource management in the Kgalagadi landscape is characterised by competition and conflict between conservation goals, economic development and the preservation of livelihoods. Home to large herds of ungulates and iconic predators, the landscape was dominated by low-density wildlife populations, with primarily hunter-gatherer livelihoods being practiced until borehole farming enabled cattle ranching a few decades ago. The consequent rangeland degradation and ecosystem fragmentation threatens wildlife and economic development. Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) — established to support wildlife-based economic activities and secure migratory corridors linking the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve — continue to be lost to livestock encroachment, because of delayed gazettement. Additionally, wildlife in the region is also under threat from poaching, wildlife poisoning and illegal wildlife trade (IWT).

Stakeholders lack the planning tools, institutional coordination and operational capacities to balance competing needs and optimise environmental, social and economic outcomes. In particular, there is a need for: i) improved coordination in addressing poaching, wildlife poisoning and IWT; ii) enhancing capacity for improved rangeland management in the communal lands; iii) incentives for local communities to protect wildlife. The project will remove these barriers using the following strategies:

• coordinating capacity for combating wildlife crime/trafficking and enforcement of wildlife policies and regulations at district, national and international levels (Component 1);
• incentives and systems for wildlife protection by communities to increase financial returns from natural resources, reduce exploitation and prevent human-wildlife conflicts, thereby securing livelihoods and biodiversity in the Kalahari landscape (Component 2);
• integrated landscape planning in the conservation areas and Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices in communal lands to secure wildlife migratory corridors and increase productivity of rangelands, respectively, thereby reducing competition between land-uses and increasing ecosystem integrity of the Kalahari (Component 3); and
• gender mainstreaming, knowledge management, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) (Component 4).

Overview of position

The Gender, Communications and M&E Officer will execute the inter-related functions of gender and communications and work closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Analyst Office in the UNDP Country Office (CO) in the execution of the project M&E. S/he will be responsible for implementing the Gender and Communications mainstreaming plans of the project and developing relevant gender and communications tools.  In collaboration with the CO M&E Analyst office develop M&E tracking systems for the project and supporting all project staff and partners in monitoring progress on project implementation and gender mainstreaming. S/he will particularly focus on the documentation of lessons learnt and the appropriate communication of project results and learning.

The Gender, Communications and M&E officer will form part of the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the Kgalagadi and Ghanzi Drylands Ecosystems Project (KGDEP), working under and reporting to the Project Manager (PM). In close collaboration with the Livelihoods Officer, Finance and Administration Officer, Chief Technical Advisor (CTA), as well as the UNDP CO M&E Analyst, the Officer will ensure that all gender, communications and M&E-related activities are effectively implemented and monitored. In addition, he/she will support the PMU to carry out its various project management-related responsibilities. 

Project Implementation

1. Formulate, implement and update the gender mainstreaming plan, including training project staff on gender, and coordinating training on gender for other project stakeholders.
2. In collaboration with the PM and the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA):

• Produce monthly project progress reports highlighting achievements, challenges, gender mainstreaming process (extent) and the next steps; and
• Document and synthesize project results and lessons learnt and sharing thereof.    

3. In collaboration with the PM produce relevant reports to the Global Wildlife Programme (GWP) and other fora.
4. Work with relevant Implementing Partners (Ministry of Environment Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism (MENT)) in the setting up and maintenance of multi-stakeholders for biodiversity (BD) conservation; and lead the development of a campaign concept and TORs for consulting firm; oversight of consulting team implementing the national campaign to combat poaching and IWT in Botswana.
5. Perform other duty deemed relevant to the assignment and advancement of the project objective.

Project management and monitoring

1. Provide hands-on support to the PM, staff and other government counterparts in the areas of project management and planning, implementation and monitoring of activities, as well as impact assessment.
2. Assist the PM in the preparation and revision of the Annual Work Plans (AWPs) — with specific technical contributions to gender, communications and M&E activities under Component 4 in particular.
3. Assist the PM in adjusting the project’s Results Framework, as required, and in line with corporate requirements.
4. Ensure that data and information generated through the implementation of the project’s gender-related interventions are collected and collated as part of project monitoring activities.
5. Identify and implement tools required for project gender mainstreaming and monitoring, and uptake of recommendations from the project Gender Mainstreaming Strategy.
6. In collaboration with the CO M&E Analyst office operationalize the project’s M&E plans, based on the Project Results Framework, monitor project implementation through monthly and quarterly data gathering through:

• working with project partners in establishing relevant data capturing and tracking in monthly, quarterly and annual (PIR/ARP) reporting;
• In particularly ensure that gender makers are included in the M&E plan and are considered.

7. Assist in the development and finalisation of Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the consultancies and studies planned in the AWP.
8. Assist in the procurement process, including selection and recruitment, for the advertised positions to ensure that suitable candidates are identified and hired without delay.
9. Assist the PM in the drafting of Project Implementation Reports (PIRs) and Annual Project Reports (APRs), technical and status reports for submission to the Implementing Partners (IPs), and Project Steering Committee (PSC) and UNDP-GEF as required.

Communication

1. Oversee project communication, development, implementation and maintenance of the communications strategy to ensure that all stakeholders are informed on an on-going basis about the project’s objectives and activities; overall project progress; and the opportunities for involvement in various aspects of the project’s implementation.
2. Organise/facilitate participation by relevant/appropriate staff such as PM, Programme Analyst and other officials in information dissemination or reporting platforms such as District Development Committees (DDC), District Land Use Planning Unit (DLUPU), Full Council, Land Board and others.
3. Oversee the generation of online content — including social media and blog posts — on the project for sharing via UNDP Botswana’s website and social media pages.
4. Together with the Livelihoods Officer, and CTA, identify the opportunities and avenues for the development of technical publications, and contribute to the generation, and quality control, of the publications.
5. Assist the PM with the preparation of material for PSC and Technical Reference Group (TRG) meetings, including reports and presentations.

He/she will require substantial training and experience in gender, communications and M&E in Botswana (experience in the Kgalagadi and/or Ghanzi Districts will be an added advantage) and development initiatives. In addition to experience working with communities, CSOs, government staff, local government authorities, NGOs and research or private institutions, the Officer should also have extensive experience with technical support to project development, implementation and management. Prior involvement in implementing UNDP/GEF funded projects in the region would be an advantage. In summary, the LO should possess the competencies listed below.

Corporate

• Proven ability to plan, organise and effectively implement activities.
• Ability to coordinate and work in teams, as well as in complex environments.
• Proven experience in participatory processes, and in facilitating dialogue between government, development partners, the private sector and civil society.

• Strong communication and advocacy skills.
• Excellent written, oral and interpersonal skills.

• Ability and proven experience in multi-tasking, in taking initiative and working effectively under pressure.
• Familiarity with branding compliance.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office and related communications software.
• Fluency in written and spoken Setswana and English.
• Willingness to undertake fieldwork in/travel to remote areas of the Kgalagadi and Ghanzi Districts.

Technical

• Expertise and proven experience in gender and M&E.
• Experience in the implementation and management of gender mainstreaming activities at the community level.
• Strong research and analysis skills.
• A good understanding of the social and environmental dynamics in Botswana, particularly in the Kgalagadi and Ghanzi districts.
• Understanding of UNDP/GEF functioning and reporting procedures.

Education:

Master’s Degree in Development Studies, equivalent or relevant field; - additional training in gender and development, project management, communications and/or business administration is an added advantage;

Exprience:

• At least five (5) years’ experience in project management, with a focus on gender, M&E and documentation of lessons learnt from project interventions.
• Experience in developing and implementing gender mainstreaming and action plans.
• Expertise is assessing and addressing gender-related issues in rural communities in Botswana.
• Experience in facilitating gender-sensitive consultations in rural communities in Botswana.
• A proven track-record of professional experience in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing or a related field.
• Capability and proven experience in crafting communications strategies with an eye toward results-based management.
• Capability and proven experience crafting messages in various formats (press releases, websites, success stories, blog entries, tweets, etc.) targeting a variety of audiences.

Women are strongly encouraged to apply. The selection process will be fair and transparent.