INDIGENOUS, DIVERSITY, EQUALITY AND INCLUSION (IDEI)SPECIALIST

JOB DESCRIPTION
POSITION: INDIGENOUS, DIVERSITY, EQUALITY AND INCLUSION (IDEI)SPECIALIST
PROGRAM: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ALLIANCE FOR RIGHTS AND DEVELOPMENT (IPARD)
Location: Global/Flexible
Reporting to: IPARD Deputy Program Director/FSC-IF Regional Director for Africa & Asia
Work Percentage: 100%
Duration: 1 year renewable

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND
In 2019, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) established the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC- IF) as the operational office of the Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC). The FSC-IF is a private interest foundation in accordance with Law No. 25 of June 12, 1995, of the Republic of Panama. The mission of FSC-IF is to enable an enabling environment to guarantee the rights of Indigenous Peoples and promote sustainable forest-based solutions within 300 million hectares of Indigenous forests on the planet. The vision is that Indigenous Peoples’ global values, rights, livelihoods, ecosystem services, natural capital and communities are incorporated into forest governance, climate change governance and market systems.
We are Indigenous Peoples; our strategies and our future actions are shaped by ancestral knowledge, practices, cosmovision, values, and respect for Mother Earth and our past. We as FSC-IF are providers of Indigenous-based solutions, and our ancestral knowledge and traditions have driven Indigenous-based solutions for centuries. We are Indigenous Peoples; we are the owners of Indigenous-based solutions to global challenges, and the FSC Indigenous Foundation is the global vehicle to design, manage, facilitate, and scale up Indigenous-led solutions through multi-sectoral partnerships. The FSC Indigenous Foundation has an Indigenous perspective driven by Indigenous values, vision, principles, ancestral knowledge, and traditional practices connected to Mother Earth. FSC-IF is shaped to respond to key challenges and opportunities faced by Indigenous Peoples to achieve their self-development, self-governance, and self-reliance. Driven by this perspective, the way we operate differs from traditional organizational planning because our cultural and traditional way of thinking, acting, and interacting do not fit into a predetermined Western tradition of thoughts, organizational management, or governance.

We are committed to work driven by our values of being guided by and supporting Indigenous Peoples’ values of: 1) Respect for Mother Earth Managing our lands, waters, and ecosystems with great respect to nature and care by recognizing that we only borrow them from future generations and 2) Respect for ancestral knowledge Keeping our promises to our ancestors to manage nature and the resources provided by the Mother Earth in a sustainable and respectful way.

Indigenous Peoples Alliance for Rights & Development
The FSC-IF is the implementing agency of the five-year Global Development Alliance (GDA) program funded by USAID and FSC—the Indigenous Peoples Alliance for Rights & Development (IPARD). The IPARD Program isguided by three development objectives:
● Objective 1: Organize and convene a capacity-building program for Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and stakeholders;
● Objective 2: Foster an enabling environment for the recognition, effective participation and joint decision-making by Indigenous Peoples in matters affecting them; and
● Objective 3: Promote the sustainable development of Indigenous Peoples based on sustainable economic models.

IPARD uses three interconnected approaches to support Indigenous Peoples in overcoming their development challenges:
A. Multi-Sectoral Approach (MSA): The Program convenes and leverages the expertise of multi-sectoral partners to ensure that the needs of Indigenous communities are considered across a wide range of sectors.
B. Country-Focused Approach (CFA): IPARD’s programmatic strategy is driven by specific national contexts related to Indigenous Peoples, implementing a structured process to identify, evaluate, and select countries for its programs.
C. Indigenous Project Management Approach (IPMA): Leveraging FSC-IF’s networks and relationships with Indigenous leaders and organizations globally, IPARD seeks ongoing dialogue, consultation, and feedback with Indigenous Peoples to inform the Program.
Through these three approaches, IPARD aims to empower Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and catalyze an enabling environment where Indigenous Peoples can pursue their development.

FSC Indigenous Foundation
We are Indigenous Peoples; our strategies and our future actions are shaped by ancestral knowledge, practices, cosmovision, values, and respect for Mother Earth and our past. We as FSC-IF are providers of Indigenous-based solutions, and our ancestral knowledge and traditions have driven Indigenous-based solutions for centuries. We are Indigenous Peoples; we are the owners of Indigenous-based solutions to global challenges, and the FSC Indigenous Foundation is the global vehicle to design, manage, facilitate, and scale up Indigenous-led solutions through multi-sectoral partnerships. FSC-IF is shaped to respond to key challenges and opportunities faced by Indigenous Peoples to achieve their self-development, self-governance, and self-reliance. Driven by this perspective, the way we operate differs from traditional organizational planning because our cultural and traditional way of thinking, acting, and interacting do not fit into a pre-determined Western tradition of thoughts, organizational management, or governance.

We are committed to working driven by our values of being guided by and supporting Indigenous Peoples’ values of:
1) Respect for Mother Earth—Managing our lands, waters, and ecosystems with great respect to nature and care by recognizing that we only borrow them from future generations and
2) Respect for Ancestral Knowledge—Keeping our promises to our ancestors to manage nature and the resources sustainably and respectfully.

CONTEXT
The FSC-IF’s Global Strategy 2023 – 2027 prioritizes Indigenous Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (IDEI) as a standalone component. This includes the ‘Indigenous Social Inclusion and Intersectionality for Sustainability’ programmatic area, ensuring social and marginalized groups within Indigenous Peoples are not left behind. Initiatives like the Indigenous Women’s Economic Empowerment (I-WEE) and the scholarship program for Indigenous youth are efforts to generate enabling environments for active participation and advocacy, and to strengthen productive capacities.
The FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF) is recruiting an Indigenous, Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (IDEI) Specialist to ensure that IDEI components are integrated within all its programming, internal policies, and operational manuals.
OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION
The FSC-IF seeks a strategic and results-driven Indigenous, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (IDEI) Specialist to work closely with the IPARD Program. The IDEI Specialist will ensure the integration of gender equality, women’s empowerment, and social inclusion from an Indigenous perspective into all aspects of FSC-IF and IPARD’s program planning and implementation. The Specialist will provide programmatic and technical support to the project team, Indigenous organizations, government counterparts, and other stakeholders. They will identify gender and inclusion gaps affecting Indigenous groups and ensure the effective integration of gender and social inclusion considerations. Additionally, the Specialist will work with the IPARD team to integrate gender and social inclusion elements into the M&E plan and provide necessary guidance for mainstreaming these within IPARD’s internal operations and processes.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

● Guide the project team in preparing a gender and indigenous youth analysis applying the Gender Analysis Integration Matrix methodology from USAID and FSC.
● Develop a participatory gender and inclusion mainstreaming plan for the IPARD Program, ensuring alignment with USAID, FSC, and FSC-IF policies, focusing on roles, benefits, impacts, and risks for women, men, and marginalized groups.
● Provide guidance on inclusion and gender issues to the FSC-IF, IPARD team and strategic partners across all programs, projects and activity areas.
● Conduct participatory gender analysis at program outset for the different countries or activities incorporating findings into work plan and baseline data for ongoing monitoring and learning.
● Develop online training and capacity building courses for Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations, Government Agencies and Private Sector to be included in the Virtual Learning Database (VLD).
● Deliver technical assistance to key stakeholders to build capacity around development of inclusive practices and policies.
● Support the program’s information and communication strategy and informational materials by formulating messages specifically for women and men, and other marginalized groups.
● Conduct Internal capacity development training courses for the IPARD, FSC-IF and Steering Committee on gender and inclusion.
● Develop annual project work plans in collaboration with staff, and contribute inputs to all donor related reporting mechanisms;
● Develop tools for the design and implementation of specific technical components.
● Support the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Program Lead (MEL PL) to track and report against gender-related indicators and ensuing date is appropriately disaggregated for analysis.
● In collaboration with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) PL, conduct annual gender and social inclusion assessments to measure progress and adjust and/or refine project activities.
● Support FSC-IF and IPARD´s technical team to ensure that training materials of the different IPARD´s three objectives and participant engagement are gender- and social inclusion-sensitive.
● Review and provide technical feedback on results required by the donor to ensure quality and full compliance with donor gender and social inclusion policies and progress.
● Identify successful practices that can be showcased in publications, communication materials, and conferences.
● Prepare communications materials that highlight the FSC-IF and IPARD´s gender and social inclusion activities successes, and lessons learned.
● Support the FSC-IF Finance and Administration Unit in the review and development of internal IDEI responsive procedures including HR manual.
● Assist FSC-IF in gender mainstreaming of its governance structures to ensure IDEI responsiveness.

QUALIFICATIONS

● Master´s degree in social sciences, gender and social inclusion studies, community development, peacebuilding or other relevant field;
● At least 5 years’ relevant professional experience managing and implementing development activities, including those related to gender integration and inclusion in Indigenous Peoples’ contexts;
● Demonstrated experience and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples’ rights, cosmovision, cultures and values and sustainable development globally.
● Ensures the quality of implemented technical activities and systems at all levels.
● Experience managing and implementing programs related to prevention of sexual and gender-based violence preferred;
● Demonstrated ability to influence, motivate and collaborate with others;
● Experience with gender equality, social inclusion and Indigenous People’s analyses highly desired;
● Knowledge of behaviour change methodologies to promote the participation of men in reducing gender gaps for instance the Men-to-Men Approach
● Knowledgeable about laws and regulations regarding human rights.
● Demonstrated cultural awareness and sensitivity to the diversity of values, views and approaches to issues relevant to the FSC-IF and to Indigenous Peoples’ at large.
● Being a member of an Indigenous communities or Peoples would be a plus.
● Strong oral and written communication in English, Spanish, French presentation, and negotiation skills.