Title: Expert in Gender Responsive Business Approaches

Project: German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) - Comprehensive Gender Responsive Business Approaches Services for Small and Medium Enterprises in Jordan

Location: Jordan (with potential regional travel)

Employment Type: 1099/Independent Contractor (ad hoc – effort details to be determined)

Anticipated Period of Performance: June 2025 – December 2026 (19 months)

POSITION NOT YET FUNDED. SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS FROM INTERESTED CANDIDATES FOR ANTICIPATED CONTRACT AWARD.

Project Overview

The assignment aims to implement and promote comprehensive Gender Responsive Business Approaches (GRBAs) in Jordanian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The objective is to enhance equal economic integration for women and men—with a special focus on women—within enterprises and across business value chains. By supporting 100 SMEs to adopt GRBAs, the project seeks to foster more inclusive workplaces, drive innovation and efficiency, and secure long-term profitability.

Role Description

We are seeking an experienced Expert in Gender Responsive Business Approaches to review, adapt, and operationalize GRBA frameworks tailored to the needs of Jordanian SMEs. The ideal candidate will have extensive expertise in gender equality mainstreaming, gender diagnostic methodologies (GDM), and gender auditing within the private sector. This role involves close collaboration with other experts throughout the project lifecycle—including inception, assessment, implementation, and dissemination phases—ensuring that GRBA practices are effectively integrated and their impact well-documented.

Key Responsibilities

• Best Practices Review: Lead the review of global best practices in comprehensive GRBAs and adapt the framework to the specific needs of Jordanian SMEs.
• Collaboration: Work closely with other project experts during the inception phase, advisory service implementation, and communications/dissemination efforts.
• Inception Phase:
  • Prepare a review of existing GDM and GRBA activities in Jordan.
  • Participate in interviews with key stakeholders.
  • Co-facilitate a stakeholder workshop to present revised GDM and GRBA approaches.
  • Support the development of the project workplan and the final report.
• Assessment and Preparation:
  • Adapt the comprehensive GRBA framework to the Jordanian context.
  • Implement capacity assessments for Business Service Providers (BSPs).
  • Develop tools and templates for BSPs to deliver GRBA services.
• Development and Implementation:
  • Provide technical support to BSPs in mobilizing SMEs.
  • Support the provision of GRBA services and monitor and document their impact.
• Communications and Dissemination:
  • Support the development of five case studies documenting the impact of GRBAs in SMEs.
  • Develop reporting templates for BSPs.
  • Contribute to the project’s final report.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in International Development.
• Language Proficiency:
  • English at C1 level (as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, CEFRL).
• Professional Experience:
  • At least 8 years of professional experience in gender equality mainstreaming with the private sector, including GDM and gender auditing.
  • Minimum of 6 years of experience supporting private sector companies in developing and implementing GDM and GRBA measures.
  • 7 years of international experience (outside of the country of birth) related to women’s economic empowerment in the context of private sector development.
  • 7 years of experience specifically in Jordan related to women’s economic empowerment with private sector development.
  • A minimum of 10 years of experience in development cooperation projects.