Gender Specialist – ELEVATE Project (Economic Livelihood Capabilities and Violence Elimination for Women)

GENDER SPECIALIST – ELEVATE Project (Economic Livelihood Capabilities and Violence Elimination for Women)

Role Of Purpose:

ELEVATE (Economic Livelihood Capabilities and Violence Elimination for Women) is a 48-month initiative led by Save the Children Indonesia in partnership with Forum Pengada Layanan (FPL) and several local civil society organizations in South Sulawesi. Implemented across 20 villages in the districts of Luwu, North Luwu, and East Luwu, the project aims to protect women and girls from gender-based violence (GBV) and empower them economically. The action responds to the high prevalence of GBV, economic dependency among women, and systemic barriers to accessing protection and livelihood services. It integrates survivor-centered GBV response systems with women’s economic empowerment (WEE) strategies, aligned with national priorities (e.g., RPJMN 2025–2029, UU TPKS) and international frameworks such as the EU Gender Action Plan III and SDG 5. 

The project has two specific objectives: (1) strengthening the capacity of duty bearers and stakeholders to deliver integrated GBV prevention and response services; and (2) enabling women, including GBV survivors, to access improved livelihoods and financial independence. Key activities under the first objective include the formation of community-based task forces, development of joint service protocols, policy advocacy, and comprehensive capacity building for frontline actors and local CSOs. Under the second objective, ELEVATE empowers women through agency-building workshops, gender-transformative training (GALS), financial literacy sessions, village savings and loans associations (VSLA), and the establishment or revitalization of integrated business hubs. These interventions are designed to dismantle harmful gender norms, increase women’s agency, and promote local ownership. 

The Gender Specialist will actively promote collaboration and strengthen coordination mechanisms among all key actors to develop inclusive governance frameworks. This includes facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues and working directly with partners to enhance gender-responsive services, particularly those addressing GBV prevention, response, and women’s economic empowerment (WEE). By embedding gender equality principles into the project’s core strategies, the specialist ensures that interventions in economic empowerment are designed and implemented in a way that challenges discriminatory norms and power imbalances. 

In seamless collaboration with the WEE Specialist and field partners, the Gender Specialist plays a critical role in bridging gender equality with economic inclusion. This synergy is vital for combining efforts in institutional capacity building and economic empowerment, thereby driving sustainable, long-term progress toward reducing vulnerabilities, ending violence against women, and creating a more equitable social and economic environment in Tanah Luwu. Through this integrated approach, the position ensures that gender mainstreaming is not a standalone activity but a foundational element that shapes the project’s overall impact and sustainability. 

The post holder will contribute to the achievement of all the global KPIs on Operations Delivery, some of the KPIs on Awards management, and all Risk and financial management KPIs in relation to the program. 

In the situation of major humanitarian emergency, the post holder will expect to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly. Furthermore, there is also a possibility for temporary relocation to disaster affected area. 

What You Will Do:

Gender Integration & Stakeholder Engagement 

• Identify and profile key stakeholders across public, private, and civil society sectors who contribute to gender equality, GBV prevention and response, and women’s economic empowerment (e.g., CSOs, UPTD PPA, women’s groups, local government units, and service providers). 
• Facilitate regular coordination forums and technical working groups to strengthen multi-sectoral collaboration on gender-responsive programming and GBV service delivery. 
• Promote inclusive governance mechanisms that ensure meaningful participation of women, especially GBV survivors, in decision-making processes related to livelihood and protection services. 
• Support the development and formalization of joint frameworks (e.g., MoUs, SOPs, referral pathways) that clarify stakeholder roles and responsibilities in advancing gender-transformative outcomes. 
• Ensure gender considerations are mainstreamed across program planning, implementation, and MEAL activities, in alignment with national policies and global standards.

Partnership Governance and Strategic Collaboration 

• Collaborate with the Partnership team to develop gender-responsive engagement strategies that promote shared value, local ownership, and sustainability in advancing GBV prevention and women’s economic empowerment. 
• Design and support governance models for multi-sector partnerships that integrate gender equality principles into decision-making protocols, coordination mechanisms, and communication flows. 
• Ensure gender-focused partnership strategies are aligned with district and provincial development priorities, particularly in areas such as GBV response, women’s empowerment, and social protection. 
• Coordinate closely with the National Office’s Gender and Partnership teams to ensure synergy of roles, avoid duplication, and contextualize gender-transformative approaches at the sub-national level. 
• Contribute to the implementation of the National Office’s localization and gender strategy by strengthening local systems, building capacity of partners, and fostering equitable, inclusive partnerships with stakeholders committed to gender justice. 

Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing 

• Build the capacity of local actors—including CSOs, service providers, and government units—to collaborate effectively and adopt gender-responsive approaches in GBV prevention, response, and women’s empowerment. 
• Serve as a technical resource in designing and implementing inclusive outreach strategies that ensure rural women and GBV survivors can access protection services and empowerment opportunities. 
• Document and disseminate gender-related partnership learnings to promote replication of best practices, foster innovation, and inform policy development at local and national levels. 

Monitoring, Learning and Reporting 

• Support the MEAL Specialist/Staff in tracking gender-related partnership indicators and conducting stakeholder feedback assessments, particularly around GBV response and women’s empowerment services. 
• Maintain records of gender-focused stakeholder engagement, including databases and meeting documentation; contribute to internal and donor reporting by highlighting progress, challenges, and outcomes related to gender equality and protection efforts. 
• Identify risks within gender and protection partnerships and propose mitigation strategies that uphold principles of transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability. 
• Share progress, strategies, and lessons learned from gender-focused partnerships to foster a learning culture where teams and individuals reflect openly on successes and challenges, driving continuous improvement in gender-transformative programming. 

General

Any other task & responsibilities given by the Supervisor and to comply with Save the Children and Save the Children Indonesia's policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures. 

What We Need:

Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in Gender Studies, Social Development, International Relations, Public Policy, or a related field, with a minimum of three (3) years of professional experience in managing gender-focused programs. Proven track record in leading integrated and holistic initiatives that promote gender equality, strengthen GBV prevention and response systems, and support sustainable outcomes for women’s empowerment. 
• Demonstrated ability to engage government institutions, civil society organizations, and other key stakeholders in the design and implementation of gender-responsive and GBV-focused programs within complex social and development contexts. 
• Strong facilitation, negotiation, and convening skills. 
• Good understanding of the political, institutional, and economic landscape in South Sulawesi. 
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills in Bahasa Indonesia; working proficiency in English. 

Desirable:

• Experience in designing and implementing gender equality and GBV prevention and response programs, with a strong understanding of community-based protection and women’s empowerment approaches. 
• Knowledge of gender-transformative programming, survivor-centered service delivery models, and multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms that support GBV survivors and promote women’s access to protection and livelihood services. 
• Familiarity with EU-funded programs and compliance standards. 
• Prior work experience in South Sulawesi or Eastern Indonesia. 
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children's aims, values and principles, including rights-based approaches. 

Location: (Luwu, Luwu Utara, Luwu Timur) South Sulawesi

Save the Children encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.