Since 1963 and in 148 countries, ACDI/VOCA has empowered people in developing and transitional nations to succeed in the global economy. Based in Washington, D.C., ACDI/VOCA is a nonprofit international development organization that designs and delivers technical and management solutions in agriculture, economic growth, and resilience to promote economic prosperity and social inclusion.

Gender, Youth, and Social Inclusion (GYSI) Lead, Bangladesh

ACDI/VOCA is seeking a GYSI Lead for an upcoming Feed the Future Agricultural Development Activity in Bangladesh funded by USAID. The anticipated program will address the Sylhet region’s food security needs and potential for agriculture-driven development through developing nutrition sensitive value chains and expanding access to high-quality agricultural services.

The GYSI Lead will lead the development and implementation of the program’s overall GYSI strategy and will ensure the integration of women, youth, and other vulnerable populations into all program activities. The program is anticipated to start in 2025 and this position will be based in Sylhet, Bangladesh.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of the GYSI strategy which will guide the integration of GYSI concepts and approaches into all program activities, including technical implementation, monitoring, operations, policies, and procedures
• Collaborate with the Chief of Party, technical teams, and other personnel on GYSI strategy implementation and monitoring
• Lead or assist in the design and implementation of GYSI analyses, impact assessments, and support the integration of GYSI into other learning studies
• Provide technical advice and trainings to program staff, partners, and stakeholders to build their capacity to integrate gender, youth, and other relevant social considerations into designing interventions, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation
• Review and provide input to project work plans, with attention to GYSI dimensions of technical activities and operations and discuss GYSI issues and priorities with project senior management and other technical specialists
• Work with technical teams to incorporate GYSI into collaboration, learning, and adapting (CLA) plans and practices, including developing GYSI indicators and learning questions, incorporating GYSI issues into pause and reflect sessions, and ensuring that the project reports on GYSI outcomes and impacts
• Lead or assist in the preparation of reports and documents for submission to USAID and ACDI/VOCA home office
• Manage a team and provide coaching and mentoring support to junior specialists.
• Write, coordinate, and disseminate lessons learned among team and program stakeholders
• Maintain an up-to-date and thorough understanding of GYSI related to project components

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in sociology, gender, international development, or relevant field is required; master’s degree is desired.
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in international development, preferably in an agricultural or food systems context, including 5 years of experience in GYSI programming.
• Knowledge of and experience with USAID rules and regulations related to GYSI is required.
• Knowledge of do no harm and relevant USAID frameworks on women’s empowerment, positive youth development and others is preferred.
• Knowledge of the intersection of GYSI with agricultural or food systems and/or climate change strongly preferred.
• Experience conducting gender analysis and research a plus.
• Experience working in Bangladesh preferred.
• Fluency in English is required.

Bangladesh nationals are strongly encouraged to apply.