Gender Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
The REACTS-IN program is a collaborative initiative aimed at promoting gender equality and improving nutrition for women and adolescent girls in Bangladesh. It involves partnerships with international organizations such as World Vision, Nutrition International, IFPRI/HarvestPlus, and McGill University, focusing on gender transformative interventions in nutrition and health. The program is designed to address the barriers faced by women and adolescent girls in accessing nutritious food and health services, particularly in the context of climate change and economic challenges. The organization operates primarily in Bangladesh, with a mission to empower women and enhance their livelihoods through innovative agricultural practices, particularly the promotion of biofortified crops.

Job Overview:
The Gender Consultant will play a crucial role in evaluating the programming pathways of the biofortification component of the REACTS-IN project. This position requires a deep understanding of gender dynamics in agriculture and nutrition, particularly how these factors affect the adoption of biofortified crops like zinc rice. The consultant will be tasked with mapping cultural norms and beliefs that impact women's nutrition, identifying societal patterns of poverty and gender inequality, and developing strategies for integrating gender perspectives into the project's delivery model. The consultant will also assess the sustainability of the project's impacts and provide recommendations for future interventions. This role is vital for ensuring that the project's objectives align with the needs and realities of women and adolescent girls in the targeted communities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including:

• Mapping key gender-related cultural norms, beliefs, knowledge, attitudes, and practices in agriculture that affect women and adolescent girls’ ability to achieve proper nutrition.
• Identifying societal patterns of poverty and gender inequality that could be minimized through agricultural interventions, specifically focusing on biofortified zinc rice.
• Developing strategies for the inclusion of gender perspectives in the delivery model of the REACTS-IN project.
• Identifying nodes for gender-responsive interventions aimed at reaching marginalized households.
• Analyzing gender roles and norms that may influence the adoption and retention of biofortified zinc rice.
• Assessing potential negative outcomes from project implementation and proposing strategies to mitigate these effects.
• Designing capacity-building activities to enhance knowledge on gender aspects influencing food and nutrition security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security among various stakeholders.
• Developing a theory of change that illustrates how the project contributes to gender equality in Thakurgaon district.
• Preparing a comprehensive project report and at least one manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's or PhD in Gender Studies, Development Studies, or Social Science. They should have at least five years of experience working on gender-related issues, particularly in the fields of agriculture, food security, or food systems. The consultant must demonstrate a strong background in evaluating gender issues related to the adoption of new agricultural technologies and practices, as well as experience in appraising gender issues within developmental projects. Experience working with marginalized populations, especially women in rural areas, is essential.

Educational Background:
A Master's degree or PhD in relevant fields such as Gender Studies, Development Studies, or Social Science is required for this position. This educational background should provide a solid foundation in understanding gender dynamics and their implications for development and nutrition.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of relevant experience, particularly in gender-related issues within agriculture, food security, or food systems. Candidates should have a proven track record of evaluating gender issues in the adoption of new technologies and working with marginalized populations, especially women in rural settings.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, as the consultant will be required to prepare reports and manuscripts for publication. Knowledge of Bengali would be advantageous, as it may facilitate communication with local stakeholders and communities.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy assignment is expected to be completed by April 20, 2026, with specific deliverables due on March 15, March 30, and April 20 of the same year. The consultant will need to provide a detailed budget to support the completion of the outlined deliverables, and transport for data collection will be provided by the project. The application should include a description of the methodology to be used, fees for the duration of the assignment, and a CV. The deadline for submission of applications is February 25, 2026.