Gender, equality and social inclusion (GESI) advisor

Review board: Siren is establishing a review board of subject-matter experts to provide regular, external oversight on a complex, multi-year, systems change project in the Lebanese public sector. Siren has a comprehensive in-house Research, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (RMEL) team that oversees project quality, progress and effect on a daily basis. Siren will establish this external review board to provide regular, expert advice and feedback, which will add a further layer of transparency and accountability to project activity, as well as provide invaluable information to inform decision-making.  

The GESI advisor will serve a technical function on the review boarding, ensuring that all gender, confessional, ethnicity, disability, nationality, sexuality and/or other relevant intersectional markers and considerations are sufficiently and appropriately addressed and mainstreamed across project activity, including research and M&E activity.  

On a quarterly basis, Siren expects the board to review key project documentation from the previous quarter, and then convene a workshop with project stakeholders to collaboratively discuss challenges, opportunities, innovations and adaptations for the next quarter.  

Siren has already integrated GESI into the project theory of change. Subsequently, GESI concerns are manifest in specific activity workstreams, and related outputs and outcomes. Siren also does regular context scanning for GESI concerns, and additionally, uses GESI as a framework for developing research products. 

Scope of role The GESI advisor will be expected to do the following – or similar – tasks, which will be agreed at contracting stage: 

• Review key research outputs and/or upcoming research designs to ensure sufficient GESI mainstreaming  
• Review key M&E reports (baseline, monitoring reports etc.) or upcoming plans for key reports to ensure GESI mainstreaming 
• Review results framework and ensure measurement of specific indicators and/or indicator progression to assess achievement of GESI aims or objectives, as well as quality of reporting.  
• Present feedback to key project stakeholders and discuss potential improvements or challenges 
• Support project stakeholders as requested to adjust activity to be more GESI responsive in relation to specific context or operational changes  
• Coordinate with other colleagues on the review board to discuss project progress and performance and any overlapping thematic areas, including any arising or on-going challenges to achieving gendered goals on the project or specific activities. 
• Conduct targeted, short trainings or mentoring sessions with key project stakeholders where there are identified needs or requests. 
• Any other reasonable tasks related to GESI concerns on the project that are requested by the RMEL lead or project manager.  

Profile description 

Essential 

• 15 + years’ experience working on gender, equality and social inclusion issues on development projects 
• Advanced degree, or relevant demonstrable professional experience 
• Previous experience advising on GESI considerations on large scale, complex projects or programmes  
• Past experience working with major international and bilateral donors  
• Extensive and up to date knowledge of Lebanese context 
• Spoken and written Arabic  

Desirable 

• Experience working on security sector or public sector reform projects a plus 
• Experience working with CSSF  
• Previous publications on gender, inclusion, equality a plus