Gender and Natural Resource Management Research and Policy Expert

Mar 13, 2014 | UNDP

The Gender and Natural Resource Management (NRM) Research and Policy Expert will be responsible for working with UN Women, the Ministry of Gender and Development and its implementing partners to generate research and targeted recommendations on women’s participation in the management of natural resources in Liberia.  The research and recommendations will focus on the most pressing concerns and barriers for women in five specific geographic areas targeted by programming supported by the Peace Building Fund in Liberia.  The targeted geographic areas are affected by various natural resource management challenges including: access to and control over land (including community land), industrial mining, artisanal mining, commercial forestry and large-scale agricultural concessions.   The targeted areas are in Grand Bassa, Sinoe, Grand Gedeh, Gbarpolu, CapeMount and Bomi counties.

She/he will work with a locally contracted partner to produce a research report on the gender dimensions of natural resource management in Liberia, along with an accompanying policy brief for key stakeholders in the Government (including: Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy; Ministry of Internal Affairs; Land Commission; Governance Commission; Ministry of Justice; Forestry Development Authority; and the National Investment Commission).  The report should recommend tangible and concrete actions at the community and national governance levels for removing barriers and creating enabling conditions to build women’s capacity for productive and sustainable use of natural resources. 

Summary of Key Functions:

• Develop inception report for assessments and research study;
• Review relevant Government of Liberia policies, laws and concession agreements relating to community management of natural resources;
• Hold consultations with national institutions together with the locally contracted partner
• Lead and participate in community assessments in the five targeted geographic areas in order to generate a qualitative survey for a representative sample of community women on the issues of NRM and land with the locally contracted partner;
• Identify women’s specific roles in the key natural resource sectors of interest in the study, how these roles have been affected by the conflict, the role women can play in NRM in post-conflict reconstruction, and the next decade of Liberia’s economic growth;
• Identify entry points for Government partners / stakeholders to better protect women’s rights and remove barriers to women’s use of natural resources at the community level;
• Provide recommendations on how private companies operating in the extractives sector can better engage both men and women at the community level during environmental and social impact assessments, as well as throughout their project cycle;Co-author research on women and natural resources in Liberia, with accompanying policy brief targeted directly at policy makers in Liberia;
• Facilitate validation of report and policy brief for key stakeholders in Liberia.
• Provide recommendations for project’s implementing partner on the priorities for awareness-raising and sensitization of women at the community level in each of the five targeted areas on sustainable natural resource management .