IUCN addresses Gender-based Violence and Environment linkages (GBV-ENV) through the hosting and facilitation of the GBV-ENV Center based on the 2020 publication Gender-based violence and environment linkages: the violence of inequality, which was the globe’s first wide scale study on gender-based violence and natural resources. The study also led to the creation of the Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Environments (RISE) grants challenge – the first and only mechanism in the world that provides finance and technical support to build further evidence and develop practical application of gender- based violence mitigation, prevention and response work in environmental projects. In 2022, IUCN began management of the RISE grants challenge, launching its first round of granting. In late 2023, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) joined the RISE grants challenge, contributing to the 2024 and 2025 rounds of funding with a focus on oceans/fisheries and adaptation – bringing the scope of the RISE grants challenge management to a further global level. Continuous work is ongoing to grow and scale the initiative.

RISE grantees and other key partners and stakeholders, including IUCN’s membership, participate in a community of mutual learning and enhanced capacity. RISE works as the strategic and operational core, leveraging RISE learning to influence broader policy, programming, and institutional strategies and goals: for example, GBV-ENV research and learning infuses rights-based, gender-responsive, socially inclusive positions, guidance and advancements in key environmental decision-making processes (i.e., UNFCCC and CBD), while the Center also collaborates with varied members and partners to improve institutional tools and capacities in environmental organizations and networks to mitigate, prevent and respond to GBV. In the period ahead, significant focus will also be on building leadership and investment from donors and other partners to address this topic.

IUCN’s Climate Change and Energy Transition (CCET) team is part of IUCN Secretariat. The team leads IUCN’s global thematic work on climate change, both to limit the future impact of climate change and to help vulnerable communities and ecosystems adapt to unavoidable climate impacts. The team engages on climate issues from multiple perspectives; from assessing the risks that climate change poses to communities and biodiversity to advocating for improved climate policy and practice; advancing Nature-based Solutions for both mitigation and adaptation centred on improved conservation, management, and restoration of natural ecosystems; and guiding climate investments to avoid maladaptation and ancillary negative impacts on biodiversity and nature-dependent livelihoods. The CCET works as a delocalised team across several IUCN duty stations with the staff divided between its Gland-based Headquarters, Bonn, and Washington D.C. Office. The incumbent will support the team in tasks related to the communications for several climate change adaptation projects. The Global Ecosystem-based Adaptation Fund (GEBAF) is a funding mechanism for catalytic, innovative, and inclusive projects that aim to create an enabling environment for the implementation of EbA to enhance the resilience of vulnerable communities and ecosystems to the impacts of climate change. With the focus on EbA, a nature-based solution that harnesses biodiversity and ecosystem services to reduce vulnerability and build resilience of human communities to climate change, the Fund is strategically positioned to connect and contribute to the delivery of global agendas on the Climate Change - Biodiversity nexus.

The Senior Gender Programme Officer reports to the Senior Gender Programme Manager and collaborates with the Climate Change & Energy Transition Team (CCET). Key responsibilities include coordinating RISE grants implementation, providing technical support for RISE initiatives, facilitating learning and resource mobilization, and supporting programme development. In close partnership with the Senior Programme Officer CCET, the role supports the Global EbA Fund (GEBAF) by scaling up grants and integrating gender and GBV risk mitigation into selected grants. The position focuses on pre- and post-award grantee management, overseeing pre-award processes, grantee implementation, quarterly and annual reporting, peer learning, and developing tools and knowledge products. The officer collaborates with the Senior Gender Programme Manager, HRCT, and Senior Programme Officer CCET to implement the RISE grants challenge, manage the annual call for proposals, and conduct selection and due diligence processes. The role includes direct line management of RISE and GEBAF grants challenge programme and/or support officer(s) and collaborative work with other programme officers and senior advisors. The officer may also oversee consultant advisors. As the post-award management lead, the position involves coordination with administrative, operations, M&E, communications, and other units, as well as Regional and Country offices for RISE and GEBAF implementation.

• • Meet regularly with grantees, supporting IUCN grantee focal points, in implementation meetings to monitor progress, provide tailored and timely advice for project adjustments/realignment, review financial questions and issues, and field and coordinating.
• • Provide expert advice to RISE and GEBAF (select) grantees on global best practices on gender-based violence programming, not least on survivor-centered and trauma-informed approaches to gender-based violence mitigation, response, and prevention methods and approaches.
• • Identify grantee and other partner knowledge and capacity gaps, tailoring learning opportunities and trainings to enhance project team capacity and delivery and identifying and securing external expertise to bolster capacities when necessary.
• • Lead quarterly and annual review and reporting processes, ensuring strategic reporting and supporting robust project and programme monitoring, conducting field visits to contribute to project monitoring, implementers’ capacity development, and story collection activities.
• • Oversee RISE mutual learning processes and support GEBAF associated processes, for example, through facilitating regular peer learning calls, tailoring technical trainings and topical learning sessions, and supporting the development and facilitation of a broader GBV-ENV Center community of learning and practice that includes RISE and GEBAF knowledge products and tools.

Pre-Award Support :

• • Work collaboratively with the Senior Gender Programme Manager and Senior Programme Officer CCET to ensure a cohesive implementation of the RISE grants challenge and GEBAF call for proposals processes.
• • Utilizing expertise on gender-based violence programming in alignment with global best practices, support applicants to develop high-quality projects.
• • Receive, review and ensure quality and clarity of all grantee deliverables, not least to approve disbursements of funds – including by supporting projects in implementing Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and Communications strategies and plans in alignment with annual updates to the overarching RISE and GEBAF MEL and communications strategies and plans in alignment with donor standard indicators and Performance Indicator Reference Sheets; reviewing and clearing budgets, in close cooperation with technical and finance expert colleagues; and contributing to IUCN’s results reporting framework.
• • Support the implementation of pre-award compliance criteria in accordance with IUCN and relevant donor policies and requirements, and in alignment with donor requirements and expectations, including reviewing financial amendments and facilitating disbursements with finance colleagues.
• • Facilitating and securing regional and country-level approvals and collaborations – particularly to support the adoption of RISE and GEBAF learning and advocacy opportunities with IUCN regional and country offices, commissions, and members.
• • Work collaboratively to ensure updates and refinements to the delivery of annual onboarding and capacity development sessions for new RISE grantees, not least to support the scaling of their administrative, reporting, and financial skills to receive and manage larger scale funds, working kindly and respectfully and across cultures to do so.

Support the elevation of RISE and GEBAF learning, influence, and resource mobilization :

• • Support staff and partners, spearhead delivery of RISE and GEBAF learning, shepherding activities and impact toward knowledge, advocacy, and technical support goals
• • Ensure projects’ learning is embedded across IUCN, including identifying and spearheading opportunities for new knowledge products, policy and programme guidance, and technical support strategies for rights-based, gender-responsive environmental programming

Programme support and development :

• • Including through leveraging learning and knowledge products from RISE and GEBAF, contribute to HRCT and CCET knowledge, policy guidance and mainstreaming support across IUCN and with other existing, new and emerging initiatives
• • Develop and/or support capacity building and other efforts to build awareness, skills and strategies for rights-based gender-responsive conservation, climate resilience and sustainable development
• • Support identification and development of proposals, collaborations and/or joint projects across the HRCT and CCET and wider IUCN community
• • Contribute to regular team communications, reporting, and other efforts as needed

REQUIREMENTS

• Master’s degree in a related field, such as international development, international law or policy, international relations, women’s rights and gender equality, human rights, or sector-specific environmental fields such as biology, fisheries, agronomy or forestry, with application of expertise in research, programming or policy spheres
• • Minimum 8 years of experience in programme development and project management, with demonstrated skills and impact, including specific experience developing, implementing or monitoring and evaluating grants mechanisms
• • At least four years' experience working to apply global best practices on addressing gender-based violence via relevant and appropriate mitigation, response, and prevention measures and can provide practical technical guidance and support to others is very strongly preferred.
• • At least three years of experience working in diverse country contexts, ideally with women’s networks, conservation implementers, or both.
• • Familiarity with global and/or national environmental policymaking processes (e.g., related to climate change, biodiversity) is a plus.
• • Track record as a multi-stakeholder mobilizer, network building and facilitator.
• • Exceptional English language skills (i.e., writing, editing, oral communications) as a primary working language is required, with a second working fluency preferred (Spanish and/ or French very highly preferred as IUCN official languages).
• • Outstanding ability to multi-task, juggle priorities, and meet deadlines; ability to digest and organize a lot of information from different sources, planning for efficient and high-quality delivery.
• • Good working knowledge of IUCN, its mission and members; previous working experience with IUCN or IUCN members or commissions is an asset.
• • Experience working with Norad is a strong advantage, including comfort liaising with Embassies, host governments, technical offices, and other advisors, and strong knowledge of grant-making policies and procedures.
• • A successful candidate will also offer tenacity, a great sense of humor, and a personal passion for and commitment to gender equality and eradicating GBV, and promoting climate resilience along with the vision and mission of IUCN of a just and equal future that conserves and protects nature.

Source:https://hrms.iucn.org/iresy/index.cfm?event=vac.show&vacId=11384&lang=en