Gender in Humanitarian Action (GiHA) Focal Point

 Terms of Reference (ToR)

Gender in Humanitarian Action (GiHA) Focal Point

Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development (PWWSD)

Organization Overview:

The Palestinian Working Women Society for Development (PWWSD) is a feminist, progressive grassroots NGO dedicated to promoting gender equality, women’s rights, and social justice. With decades of experience, PWWSD leads projects across the West Bank and Gaza that are grounded in intersectional feminist values, psychosocial support, and community engagement. Its mission is to empower women and advocate for their political, economic, and social rights.

Context and Rationale:

In humanitarian settings marked by conflict, emergencies, and displacement, gender inequality is a significant driver of vulnerability. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by crises, facing heightened risks of gender-based violence, loss of livelihoods, limited access to essential services, and an increased caregiving burden. This inequality is often exacerbated during emergencies, particularly for those with intersecting vulnerabilities, such as women with disabilities, adolescent girls, older women, pregnant and lactating women, and female-headed households.

The GiHA Focal Point will be responsible for coordinating and advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in humanitarian action, acting as PWWSD’s representative as they are selected as co-chair of the Gender in Humanitarian Action (GiHA) Working Group.

Role Purpose:

To coordinate and drive gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in humanitarian action as part of the GiHA Working Group. This role will be responsible for integrating gender perspectives into all phases of the Humanitarian Programme Cycle, from needs assessments to response strategies, and promoting effective collaboration with various humanitarian actors.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Technical Support and Guidance:

• Provide leadership and technical guidance to integrate gender across the entire Humanitarian Programme Cycle (needs assessments, response strategies, appeals).

• Advise humanitarian clusters, sub-clusters, and technical working groups to ensure gender considerations are embedded in all strategies and project documentation.

• Lead the operationalization of the GiHA Accountability Framework by creating annual work plans with practical recommendations, timelines, and performance monitoring.

2. Coordination:

• Facilitate collaboration among humanitarian actors, ensuring the inclusive participation of all members in planning and implementation of activities.

• Actively participate in cluster and sub-cluster meetings to advocate for gender analysis, gender mainstreaming, and gender-responsive programming.

• Work with other technical groups (e.g., Cash Assistance, PSEA, Disability Inclusion) to ensure cross-cutting issues are coherently addressed across humanitarian actions.

3. Analysis, Data, and Evidence:

• Produce context-specific gender analyses, including Rapid Gender, to inform needs assessments and response strategies.

• Advocate for and support intersectional data analysis, considering factors like religion, education, socio-economic status, and geographic location.

• Facilitate participatory consultations with affected communities, particularly women and girls, to integrate their needs into humanitarian strategies.

4. Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing:

• Organize capacity-building sessions (trainings, workshops, webinars) to improve knowledge and skills related to gender mainstreaming and gender-responsive programming.

• Develop tailored guidance documents, tip sheets, and tools on gender topics for specific clusters and technical working groups.

• Establish regular mechanisms for sharing best practices, lessons learned, and innovative approaches to gender integration in humanitarian programming.

5. Advocacy:

• Advocate for the inclusion of gender equality in all humanitarian planning and decision-making processes.

• Promote meaningful leadership, participation, and representation of women and girls in humanitarian coordination.

• Advocate for dedicated humanitarian financing mechanisms to support gender-responsive and women-led initiatives.

6. Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Monitor the implementation of the GiHA Accountability Framework, tracking progress against predefined indicators, targets, and outcomes.

• Contribute to reports (e.g., Flash Appeals, Humanitarian Response Plans) by providing progress updates and case studies.

7. Other Tasks:

• Support additional related tasks as requested by the Director General or Programs Manager.

Educational Background:

• A university degree in Social Sciences, Gender Studies, International Relations, Development Studies, Humanitarian Affairs, Public Health, Political Science, or a related field.

Skills and Experience:

• Humanitarian Experience: Background in humanitarian work, including emergency response, disaster relief, and familiarity with international humanitarian frameworks and guidelines.

• Project Management: Ability to effectively coordinate projects, manage timelines, budgets, and teams.

• Advocacy and Policy Analysis: Experience advocating for gender equality and influencing policies to include gender perspectives.

• Strong Communication: Ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups, including local communities, government bodies, donors, and humanitarian organizations.

• Cultural Sensitivity: Ability to navigate and work in diverse cultural settings, with a deep understanding of gender-related issues.

• Languages: Fluency in English and Arabic (both written and spoken) is required.

Position Title: GiHA Focal Point
Location: PWWSD Head Office – West Bank
Duration: 6 months (with possibility for extension)
Reports to: Director General / Programs Manager

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should send their updated CVs to [email protected] by 12:00PM on Sunday, 20th July 2025, with the subject line: GiHA Focal Point / PWWSD.