Gender and Safeguards Specialist Job Vacancy at Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism December 2025

Vacancies announcement (re-advertised)

Background

The Project “Food Systems Land Use and Restoration in Tanzania’s Forest Landscapes” is a child project under the GEF Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) Impact Program. The 5-year project is implemented through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism as the lead Executing Agency, with the support of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as the GEF Implementing Agency.

The key environmental problem addressed by the project is the degradation of Tanzania’s rich forest lands and wetlands and the related loss in forest health and biodiversity. This is driven by agricultural development—particularly rice production—which negatively affects ecosystem services and related livelihood and economic opportunities.

Rice production in Tanzania more than tripled between 2004 and 2015, making the country the second-largest rice producer in South-Eastern Africa. Despite this growth, the sector faces significant challenges, including small-scale production, low yields (1.5–2 t/ha), inefficient supply chains, post-harvest losses, and poor transportation networks.

The project focuses primarily on the Kilombero Valley (mainland Tanzania) and the North Unguja (Zanzibar) landscapes. It applies an integrated approach combining sustainable food systems, deforestation-free supply chains, and landscape-level restoration planning and management. This approach supports rice production while safeguarding critical ecological systems.

The project’s three main pillars

1. Integrated landscape management approach
   Develop a multi-stakeholder framework for landscape planning that balances rice production, ecosystem preservation, and restoration.

2. Sustainable and socially inclusive value/supply chains
   Improve governance frameworks, financial and market mechanisms, and incentives that drive sustainable rice value chains.

3. Landscape restoration and management activities
   Restore degraded areas and strengthen ecological services important to the rice sector.

The project emphasizes gender-responsive and socially inclusive approaches, ensuring participation of women, youth, marginalized groups, and vulnerable communities. Safeguards measures are required to prevent adverse social and environmental impacts. A Gender and Safeguards Specialist will lead the Gender Action Plan (GAP), Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), and Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) implementation.

Position: Gender and Safeguards Specialist

Reports to: Project Coordinator, Tanzania Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration Project
Location: Dodoma, Tanzania
Duration: 1 year

Major function

The specialist will provide overall oversight of environmental and social safeguard measures and lead the implementation of gender-responsive and inclusive approaches across project components.

Key responsibilities

Gender mainstreaming and stakeholder engagement

• In collaboration with M&E, develop relevant awareness raising and knowledge products on sustainable rice sector development for upscaling and replication.

• Provide training on gender mainstreaming and stakeholder engagement requirements to Project Management Unit (PMU) and Landscape Coordination Unit (LCU) staff.

• Manage and oversee stakeholder engagement throughout the project duration, particularly with farmer groups.

• Collaborate with the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer to integrate gender-responsive indicators into reporting and knowledge products.

• Ensure implementation aligns with GEF and WWF standards and policies.

• Represent the project at various meetings and workshops.

• Review annual workplans and budgets to ensure activities support equitable participation of women, youth, and marginalized groups.

• Provide advice on addressing gender-related risks (e.g., Gender-based Violence, Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment) in the context of project activities.

• Design and promote methodologies for gender-sensitive participation in technical exchanges, roundtables, and restoration planning.

• Work with the Project Coordinator, Landscape Coordinators, and technical experts to promote inclusive participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable groups.

• Contribute gender-related inputs to the project Results Framework reporting, reflection workshops, and adaptive management discussions.

• Regularly review and update the Grievance and Redress Mechanism (GRM) to ensure responsiveness to women and vulnerable groups.

• Provide overall oversight of environmental and social safeguard measures during project implementation.

Qualifications and requirements

• At least 5 years of technical working experience as a Safeguards and/or Gender Mainstreaming expert.

• Post-graduate degree in social sciences, gender studies, community development, natural resource management, or a related field in social or environmental sciences.

• Knowledge of Safeguards and/or Gender Mainstreaming.

• Ability to interact with senior government staff and partners.

• Adaptive management skills.

• Experience in delivering technical reporting to donor agencies on large projects.

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Kiswahili.

• Experience with GEF Projects and GEF knowledge is an advantage.

General conditions

• All applicants must be Citizens of Tanzania with age not above 50 years.

• Applicants must attach an up-to-date CV with reliable contacts.

• Applicants should apply based on the information in this advertisement.

• Applicants must attach certified copies of:

  • Postgraduate/Degree/Advanced Diploma/Diploma/Certificates

  • Corresponding transcripts

  • Form IV and Form VI National Examination Certificates

  • Professional Registration and Training Certificates (where applicable)

  • Birth certificate

• The following are not accepted:

  • Form IV and VI results slips

  • Testimonials and partial transcripts

• Applicants in Public Service should route applications through their employer.

• Retired Public Service employees should not apply.

• Provide three reputable referees with reliable contacts.

• Certificates from foreign institutions must be verified by NECTA, TCU, or NACTE as applicable.

• Applications must be signed and written in Swahili or English and addressed to:

Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism
Government City – Mtumba
Ardhi Street
P.O. Box 1351
Dodoma

• Deadline for application: 10th December, 2025

• Only shortlisted candidates will be informed of the interview date.