Self Help Group & Gender Advisor

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About the Company

Founded in 2011, WEEMA International is a nonprofit organization working in Southwestern Ethiopia. WEEMA International is entering an exciting new chapter—one that deepens our commitment to community-led development by centering women's Self-Help Groups (SHGs) as the heart of our work. We believe that when women come together, build trust, and take collective action, they transform families, strengthen local systems, and create lasting change. As WEEMA evolves from an implementer to a facilitator, we are investing in local leadership, digital innovation, and a culture of continuous learning. Joining WEEMA means being part of a team that believes in the collective power of women to end multidimensional poverty.

Job Summary

The Self-Help Group and Gender Advisor will be a key leader in advancing WEEMA's next chapter—helping the organization become a center of excellence for quality SHG approach ending multi-dimensional poverty, transitioning from implementer to facilitator, deepening gender-transformative practices, and embedding learning and data systems across its programs. The Advisor will provide technical and strategic leadership to strengthen WEEMA's SHG-based institutional structures (SHG–CLA–FLA) and ensure they are sustainable, inclusive, and capable of driving women's leadership and community transformation. This role will also champion gender equality across all programs—ensuring that women's voices, agency, and decision-making power are amplified while promoting equitable access to livelihoods, finance, and governance.

Reports To: Country Director

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the design and implementation of strategies to strengthen SHG, CLA, and FLA structures as inclusive, self-sustaining community institutions.
• Work closely with the SHG Associate Officer at the community offices and provide technical support on a regular basis.
• Develop project proposals and budgets in consultation with the Community Office Manager and the Self Help Group Associate Officer.

Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening

• Lead the development of manuals and learning resources to build the capacity of facilitators and other team members on the SHG approach.
• Develop a training roadmap for SHGs, CLAs, FLAs, and facilitators and ensure the quality of training deliveries.
• Build the capacity of FLA members in leadership, governance, and gender awareness.
• Develop practical tools and guidelines to enhance the measurement and sustainability of SHG and gender programming.
• Train and mentor WEEMA staff and field facilitators on participatory facilitation, gender mainstreaming, and adaptive learning.
• Support the graduation process of mature SHGs into CLAs and FLAs with strong, inclusive governance structures.
• Strengthen linkages between community institutions, local government, and other development actors for improved collaboration, accountability, and advocacy.

Gender Integration and Empowerment

• Provide technical leadership to integrate gender equality and women's empowerment across all WEEMA programs.
• Conduct gender analyses, audits, and mainstreaming assessments to guide program design and reporting.
• Promote women's leadership, address gender-based barriers, and encourage equitable participation in decision-making.
• Collaborate with teams to design gender-transformative and digitally supported livelihood initiatives.
• Provide gender training for the team in WEEMA and ToT for Federation and CLA representatives.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)

• Support SHG Web-based Information System (SWIS) by ensuring data quality and utilization.
• Facilitate reflection sessions and learning exchanges among CLAs and FLAs across woredas to promote adaptive learning.
• Document best practices, success stories, and learning related to SHG and gender programming.
• Collaborate with the PMERL team in identifying learning agendas, learning processes, and enhancing the quality of decision-making systems at all levels.

Partnership and Coordination

• Build and sustain partnerships with government bodies, NGOs, and financial institutions.
• Represent WEEMA in local and national forums focused on women's empowerment and community development.
• Foster collaboration and joint learning initiatives that advance SHG and gender-focused programming.

Reporting and Knowledge Management

• Produce high-quality reports, briefs, and donor updates on SHG and gender activities.
• Document and disseminate gender-transformative and community-led practices through digital and traditional platforms.
• Contribute to WEEMA's learning agenda, synthesizing SHG and gender insights for strategic decision-making.

Systems, Policies, and Compliance

• Adhere to WEEMA's HR Manual, PSEAH Policy, Child Protection Policy, Gender Strategy, Whistleblowing Policy, and Safety and Security Policy.
• Maintain confidentiality and integrity when handling work-related information.

Safeguarding and Organizational Values

• Promote WEEMA's values of integrity, gender equity, inclusiveness, and accountability.
• Contribute to creating a safe, respectful, and non-discriminatory work environment.
• Actively uphold safeguarding principles and immediately report any concerns related to misconduct, including sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment.
• Serve as WEEMA's Safeguarding/PSEAH focal point in Addis Ababa.

Minimum Qualifications

A) Education/Training: Master's degree in gender studies, social work, rural development, economics, or a related field.

B) Experience

• 6–8 years of experience in SHG promotion, gender equality, women's empowerment, and/or community development.
• Strong knowledge of gender-transformative approaches.
• Experience in livelihoods, microfinance, and financial inclusion programming.
• Excellent writing, communication, analytical, and interpersonal skills.
• Fluency in English and Amharic; other local languages desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including government, NGOs, and community institutions.

C) Core Competencies

• SHG institutional development and governance (SHG–CLA–FLA).
• Gender equality and women's leadership development.
• Community mobilization and participatory training.
• Livelihood and financial inclusion programming.
• Partnership and stakeholder coordination.
• Strong writing, facilitation, and reporting skills.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, digitally enabled, and learning-oriented environment.

Duty Station (Place of Work)

Addis Ababa with frequent travel to the field.

Mode of Employment

One-year contract with the possibility of extension.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants shall submit their application letter along with non-returnable CV and work experience via email to assefa@weema.org with the subject Self Help Group and Gender Advisor.

CV's of no more than 3 pages are appreciated.

Applications must be received at this email address by starting from January 1, 2026 to January 15, 2026 to be considered.

Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be shortlisted and contacted.

For any additional information, please contact us at 0116683160.

Note: WEEMA International is an equal opportunity employer and is nondiscriminatory regarding race, creed, ethnicity, disability, religion, gender, age, marital status, etc.

Women and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

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