Call for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Advisor

Technical Assistance Facility for Iraq (TAFFI 2.0)

Location: Remote, potential travel to Baghdad and/or Erbil if necessary but not mandatory.

Type of engagement: Part-time consultancy role

Expected start date: As soon as possible

BACKGROUND

Adam Smith International is a global advisory company that works locally to transform lives by making economies stronger, societies more stable, and governments more effective. We work on behalf of governments, foundations, and companies that share our ambition to take on the big challenges facing the world. We have a distinguished track record in Iraq, where we have been implementing programmes for several clients since 2005.

The Technical Assistance Facility for Iraq (TAFFI 2.0) is a 3-year programme that started in April 2024 and is running until March 2027. This programme is a continuation of TAFFI, which was also implemented by ASI from 2021 to March 2024. TAFFI 2.0 aims to work with the British Embassy in Baghdad (BEB) and the British Consulate in Erbil to provide technical assistance to the Federal Government of Iraq (GOI) and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) respectively.

In this new phase, TAFFI 2.0 will work to enhance anti-corruption efforts, combat serious and organised crime (SOC), improve cybersecurity capacities, and support defence and security reform initiatives. TAFFI 2.0 will scope the needs and offer support to selected government institutions, advising them on their strategies, policies, processes and adherence to international standards. The support is designed to be strategic, catalytic and sustainable and can often involve coordination with other donors and implementing partners. The support will take the form of individual Technical Assistance Ventures (TAVs), each TAV designed with its own outputs and outcomes, but contributing to the overall programme objectives.

ROLE SUMMARY

ASI is seeking a GESI Adviser to be part of TAFFI’s Core Team. The Core Team is responsible for managing the Programme and ensuring its strategic value, including designing catalytic and demand-led interventions. The GESI Adviser will contribute to this function by ensuring the mainstreaming of GESI throughout the programme. The GESI Adviser will report directly to the Deputy Team Leader and will work closely with the Team Leader, the Core Project Manager, the TAV Managers and the TAFFI consultants throughout the programme lifespan.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The GESI Adviser will be responsible for the following:

1. Support to Political Economy Analyses (PEAs) and other analyses:
   1. Review PEA design documents to ensure GESI considerations are integrated in the thinking around PEA questions, as well as selected literature and stakeholders.
   2. Input GESI insights into PEA drafts, recommending amendments and highlighting gaps and conducting complimentary research when necessary.
   3. Hold discussions with TAFFI team members to identify opportunities for GESI-transformative TAVs based on findings from the PEAs.
   4. Review TAFFI’s Strategic Frameworks which define TAFFI’s intended outcomes and types of interventions in each thematic focus area.
2. Mainstream GESI in the development and implementation of TAVs:
   1. Review TAV concept notes to identify potential GESI risks and opportunities and draft a rapid GESI assessment.
   2. Once a TAV is approved, engage with TAV delivery teams to discuss and agree actions for the integration of GESI activities and principles in their work.
   3. Periodically review TAV progress to ensure agreed actions have been implemented, support the consultants with GESI-related challenges, as well as review TAV material, tools, and deliverables when needed.
3. Integrate GESI into Monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) tools and processes:
   1. Review TAFFI’s TOC and Framework for Results to ensure they are GESI-sensitive.
   2. Conduct quarterly assessments of TAVs to determine if TAVs performed against agreed GESI-related outputs and outcomes and to identify unintended effects (positive or negative). Submit a a quarterly assessment of all active TAVs.

Contribute to bi-annual strategic reviews of TAFFI’s portfolio around GESI and ensure learning from past interventions is integrated into new TAVs.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

A successful candidate for this assignment will normally fulfil the following requirements:

• Excellent theoretical and pragmatic understanding of GESI principles and best practice of how to design GESI-sensitive interventions and how to integrate GESI in existing non-GESI focused programming.
• Creativity and strong skills in brainstorming new ideas for GESI-sensitive interventions in their fields of interest with technical consultants, while effectively navigating various constraints.
• Experience working on international programmes as a GESI advisor, ideally for FCDO or HMG programmes, with knowledge of FCDO ways of working and recommended GESI tools such as the GESI Marker.
• Experience and/or a good understanding of at least one of the thematic areas in which TAFFI operates (illicit finance, SOC, cybersecurity, Security & Defence). Experience or knowledge of all four areas will be a considerable advantage.
• Experience and/or a good understanding of the context in Iraq, including factors that hinder gender equality and marginalise vulnerable groups.
• A pragmatic individual who can thrive in a dynamic and often unstructured programme environment. The role requires flexibility, adaptability to evolving interventions, and active participation in brainstorming sessions. It is best suited for someone comfortable with flexible, evolving programme designs, rather than strictly pre-determined or pre-structured approaches.
• Experience working for technical assistance funds directly supporting governments or similar types of projects is an asset.
• Working-level Arabic language skills are an asset.

This position is open to both national and international candidates. However, we strongly encourage applications from Iraqi nationals and consultants from the Middle East, as well as women and members of traditionally marginalised and vulnerable groups.