National Gender Specialist

Organizational Setting
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the
FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.
FAO's commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations. FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads internation efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide. The primary goal of FAO Country Offices is to aid governments in creating policies, programmes and projects that secure food security and diminish hunger and malnutrition. They also support the development of agriculture, fisheries and forestry, ensuring the sustainable use of environmental and natural resources.
This post is located in the FAO Representation in Ghana, Accra.
The cocoa sector remains one of Ghana's most important agricultural commodities, contributing significantly to employment, export earnings, rural livelihoods, and national economic development. Women play essential roles throughout the cocoa value chain, including production, post-harvest handling, processing, marketing, household welfare, and community development. Despite these contributions, persistent gender inequalities continue to affect women's access to productive resources, land ownership, agricultural inputs, finance, extension services, leadership opportunities, technology adoption, and participation in decision-making.
To promote a more inclusive and equitable cocoa sector, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), working in partnership with the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), is supporting the development of a comprehensive Cocoa Gender Policy and the establishment of an evidence base through a Gender Baseline Study.
The assignment seeks to generate robust evidence on gender dynamics across Ghana's cocoa value chain while providing technical support for the development, validation, and finalization of a national Cocoa Gender Policy that aligns with national priorities and international commitments.
The incumbent will undertake analytical, technical, and stakeholder engagement activities that will contribute to strengthening gender mainstreaming within Ghana's cocoa sector through strengthened community dialogue, conflict prevention mechanisms, and improved natural resource governance.
Reporting Lines
The Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and the Program Coordinator.
Technical Focus
The National Gender Specialist will undertake analytical, technical activities that will contribute to strengthening gender mainstreaming within Ghana's cocoa sector through strengthened community dialogue, conflict prevention mechanisms, and improved natural resource governance.
Tasks And Responsibilities
The Specialist will undertake, but not limited to, the following activities:
Gender Baseline Study

• Review existing national policies, strategies, reports, legislation, research publications, and datasets relating to gender and Ghana's cocoa sector.
• Develop an inception report detailing the study methodology, sampling framework, workplan, and data collection tools.
• Provide technical support in developing gender-sensitive quantitative and qualitative research instruments.
• Conduct field data collection across selected cocoa-growing regions.
• Assess gender disparities in:
• Access to land and productive resources;
• Agricultural inputs, finance, extension and advisory services;
• Participation in producer organizations and leadership structures;
• Labour allocation and workload distribution;
• Household income control and benefit sharing;
• Climate resilience and vulnerability;
• Access to markets, technologies, and digital services;
• Youth and women's participation across the cocoa value chain.
• Analyse quantitative and qualitative data using appropriate statistical and thematic analysis techniques.
• Prepare a comprehensive Gender Baseline Study Report highlighting key findings, challenges, opportunities, and recommendations.
  

Cocoa Gender Policy Development

• Review existing draft Cocoa Gender Policy and related documents.
• Ensure consistency with:
• Ghana National Gender Policy;
• National Cocoa Development Strategy;
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW);
• African Union Gender Strategy;
• Other relevant national and international frameworks on gender.
• Organize and facilitate policy validation workshops.
• Incorporate comments and recommendations from stakeholders into the revised policy.
  

Coordination and Reporting

• Present study findings during stakeholder consultation meetings.
• Submit periodic progress updates.
• Produce high-quality technical reports in accordance with FAO standards.
  

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's or PhD) in Gender Studies, Development Studies, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, Sociology, Public Policy, or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in gender analysis, policy development, social research, or agricultural development.
• Demonstrated experience conducting gender assessments and baseline studies.
• Experience supporting policy formulation and validation processes.
• Familiarity with Ghana's cocoa sector and agricultural policies will be considered an asset.
• Working knowledge of English
• National of Ghana
  

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
  

Technical/Functional Skills

• Strong expertise in gender analysis methodologies.
• Experience in qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Excellent report writing and policy drafting skills.
• Knowledge of statistical analysis software (SPSS, STATA, R or equivalent) is desirable.
• Experience facilitating stakeholder consultations and validation workshops.
• Familiarity with gender-responsive monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
• Good understanding of cocoa value chains and agricultural development.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and facilitation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Prior experience working with FAO or any UN agency
• Prior experience working with the government and other relevant institutions in Ghana
  

Job Posting
06/Aug/2026
Closure Date
20/Aug/2026, 2:59:00 PM
Organizational Unit
FRGHA - FAO Representation in Ghana
Job Type
Non-staff opportunities
Type of Requisition
PSA (Personal Services Agreement)
Grade Level
N/A
Primary Location
Ghana-Accra
Duration
47 days (WAE basis)
Post Number
N/A
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

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