Gender, Peace, and Governance Specialist

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Position: Gender, Peace, and Governance Specialist

Location: Makati, Manila

Reports to: Project Manager

About the Action

Relief Internationals' Tanggol Kababaihan: Operationalizing the Philippine National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security project is a three-year initiative funded by the European Union aimed at promoting peace, stability and well-being among conflict-vulnerable communities in the Philippines through effective civil society engagement and enhancing local implementation of the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAPWPS) leading to better informed policy processes along higher tiers of governance.

Together with Balay Mindanaw Foundation Incorporated and Coalition for Bicol Development, Tanggol Kababaihan seeks to empower women, girls, and gender-diverse groups by ensuring their active and meaningful participation among 40 Barangays in 12 cities and municipalities across 8 provinces in the country.

Position Summary

The Gender, Peace, and Governance Specialist plays a strategic and technical role in advancing gender equality and social inclusion across peacebuilding, governance, and development initiatives. The role-holder bridges gender advocacy, policy influence, and program implementation – ensuring that the Tanggol Kababaihan Action and Relief International's peacebuilding programs are inclusive, conflict-sensitive, and aligned with national and international frameworks. They will serve as the Action's technical focal person on Gender, Peace, and Governance and are expected to provide strategic direction, facilitation, and technical support for designing and implementing peacebuilding capacity programs within the Tanggol Kababaihan Consortium and across RI's peacebuilding programming.  This position also contributes to evidence generation, partnership building, and knowledge sharing to advance WPS localization and institutionalization in RI's target areas.

In coordination with the Project Manager, the Gender, Peace, and Governance Specialist supports the planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of RI's "Tanggol Kababaihan: Operationalizing the Philippine National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security." This will entail collaboration with Consortium partners and key local stakeholders (government, private, and civil society) to ensure sustainable project outcomes and impact.

Key Areas of Accountability

1. Technical Leadership and Strategy

• Provide technical guidance to ensure that peacebuilding, governance, and social cohesion initiatives are gender-responsive, inclusive, and conflict-sensitive throughout the Action and in RI's programming.
• Provide expert analysis on the current status of women's involvement in peace and security efforts in the Philippines, including barriers and opportunities for greater inclusion.
• Ensure alignment with frameworks such as the UNSCR 1325, WPS resolutions, NAPWPS, RA 9710, and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

1. Program Design and Implementation

• Lead or support project activities and/or processes, ensuring that the Action's interventions promote women's leadership, participation, and protection in governance and peace processes and are aligned with the NAPWPS.
• Provide technical support to ensure that gender equality and conflict sensitivity are mainstreamed across all project activities and deliverables.
• Provide sector-specific technical support to assessments (baseline, mid-term, end line) to identify community capacity and peace and security-related needs, conflict dynamics, and opportunities for peacebuilding, with a focus on the specific challenges faced by women and marginalized groups.
• Contribute to developing WPS-sensitive policies, programs, and tools for Tanggol Kababaihan's
• Advise on best practices and innovative approaches for implementing effective localization of the NAPWPS.

1. Capacity Development

• Design and conduct trainings, coaching, and mentoring sessions for project staff, partners, and local government officials on gender mainstreaming, WPS, and inclusive governance.
• Develop and adapt training modules, guidelines, and knowledge materials related to WPS and peacebuilding.
• Lead or co-facilitate training sessions, workshops, and mentoring activities for local partners on WPS, gender sensitivity, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding for RI staff and local partners.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing on the WPS agenda, ensuring that participants are equipped with the necessary skills and understanding.
• Provide ongoing technical backstopping to field staff and LGU counterparts in implementing WPS-related activities.

1. Policy Engagement and Advocacy

• Engage with government agencies (e.g., DILG, OPAPRU, PCW) and CSOs to promote policies supporting women's participation and leadership in governance and peacebuilding.
• Support advocacy initiatives that strengthen the implementation of GAD mandates and local WPS action plans.
• Represent the Action and RI in coordination meetings, clusters, and technical working groups on WPS alongside the Project Manager.

1. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning

• Support selection of participants for Tanggol Kababaihan's capacity-building program.
• Contribute to WPS-related components of the Action's MEAL framework, ensuring data quality and use.
• Help track progress of WPS mainstreaming efforts at the local level and flag implementation gaps.
• Support data collection, gender analysis, and reporting related to WPS indicators.
• Contribute to the development of knowledge products, presentations, and reports for internal and external audiences.
• Promote learning through documentation of good practices, lessons learned, and success stories.

Qualifications

Education

• Master's degree in Gender Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, Development Studies, Political Science, Social Work, or a related field (Bachelor's degree with equivalent experience may be considered)

Experience

• At least 5 years of progressive experience in gender mainstreaming, governance reform, and peacebuilding.
• Demonstrated experience in implementing WPS, GEDSI, or governance programs within humanitarian or development contexts.
• Experience in building and maintaining relationships with government institutions and other agencies, civil society, the private sector, and UN agencies in sensitive political environments;
• Proven record in capacity building, policy engagement, and advocacy at local or national levels.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong understanding of gender equality frameworks, conflict sensitivity, and inclusive governance.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build trusting relationships with diverse stakeholders, including community leaders, women's groups, and local authorities.
• Excellent facilitation, training, and report writing skills.
• Knowledge and interest in research and learning;
• Experience designing and facilitating training programs or workshops.
• Experience in resource mobilization, donor coordination, and compliance.
• Excellent command of English, both written and oral.

Desirable

• INGO experience and an excellent grasp of operational issues.
• Ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, and manage multiple tasks with minimal supervision;
• Adaptability and resilience in challenging work environments, including remote or underserved communities and areas affected by conflict;
• Prior involvement in projects related to NAPWPS localization or similar frameworks is an advantage.
• A detailed understanding of development challenges and funding mechanisms for development work, such as Relief International.
• Experience working in humanitarian, conflict-affected, fragile, and/or development contexts is an asset;
• Experience in the covered region and knowledge of local languages or cultural context is an asset.

RI Values:

We uphold the Humanitarian Principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality and operational independence. We affirmatively engage the most vulnerable communities.

We value:

• Inclusiveness
• Transparency and accountability
• Agility and innovation
• Collaboration
• Sustainability

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About Relief International

Relief International (RI) is a global humanitarian and development organization that partners with communities in fragile settings to address the root causes of poverty, respond to emergencies, and support long-term recovery. Founded in 1990, RI works across the nexus of humanitarian response and sustainable development, operating in over 15 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The organization specializes in delivering integrated programs in health, education, economic opportunity, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), with a strong emphasis on resilience-building and systems strengthening.

RI focuses its work in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, where state institutions are weak or under pressure and communities are most at risk. By collaborating with local partners, civil society organizations, and national governments, RI ensures that its interventions are contextually appropriate, inclusive, and locally owned. Its programming is guided by a commitment to accountability, gender equity, inclusion, and the protection of the most vulnerable populations—particularly women and children.

With an adaptive, evidence-based approach and over three decades of experience, Relief International combines rapid emergency response with long-term development strategies to support people in navigating crisis, restoring dignity, and building a more secure and self-reliant future.

RI Philippines

Relief International Philippines operates with a strong focus on peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and development programming in areas affected by conflict, natural disasters, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. Since establishing its presence in the country, RI has worked closely with local communities, civil society organizations, and government institutions to support conflict-affected populations, promote social cohesion, and deliver life-saving assistance. The country program integrates gender equality, youth empowerment, and community resilience across its portfolio, ensuring that interventions address both immediate needs and long-term structural challenges.

RI Philippines implements programs in Mindanao and other high-risk regions, supporting initiatives on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), protection, education in emergencies, and health. It also plays a role in disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness, responding to both conflict- and climate-induced emergencies. Through a localized and participatory approach, RI Philippines strengthens local capacities and promotes inclusive development, aligning with national frameworks and global humanitarian and development standards.