Call for Gender Rights Experts from Dalit and CDWD Communities in Nepal and Bangladesh

We are looking for  "Gender Rights Experts” from Dalit and CDWD Communities in Nepal and Bangladesh to work closely with the Asia Dalit Rights Forum (ADRF) and all its partners and allies.

Position: Gender Rights Expert

Number: 4 from Nepal and 8 from Bangladesh

Location: Based in Nepal and Bangladesh

Based: Partners based

Background

Asia Dalit Rights Forum (ADRF) is a regional platform, functioning as a collective movement of Dalit rights protagonists and amplify the voices of over 220 million individuals affected by caste, work and descent-based discrimination in their all domains of lives. It intends to make invisible Dalit & CDWD community visible not only in Asia but also globally. Asia particularly South Asia, as the homeland of Dalit community, holds a significant historical narrative of oppression. Despite facing systemic discrimination, Dalits have maintained a legacy of resilience, embodying radical and revolutionary ideals. More than just an institution, it expresses a rights movement, functioning as a coalition of movements striving for dignity, freedom, and equality with its secretariat office in Nepal.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Requires autonomy and commitment of time. Will be involved in documentation,research and networking processes, and a high interest in and willingness to engage in national, regional and global advocacy processes and mechanisms.

2. Requires a commitment of about 10 months, with a 3-month probation period.

3. Participate and organise capacity building, mutual learning and general advocacy activities.

4. Contribute to the development and implementation of the ADRF’s country, regional and global engagement strategies.

5. Gathering of the information and GESI data related to Dalit and CDWD women and girls for the reports, critical interventions and articles or contribute to specific ideas and concept notes on the concerns of CDWD as per the requirements CSW-Beijing 30+ 2025.

6. Work in close coordination with Country Focal Point of specific Country in regular communication with Project Manager, Director, ADRF Secretariat and undertake national, regional and global tasks assigned as per required.

Requirements and qualifications

The mandatory requirements for the position are

Education:

Minimum Bachelor's degree or advanced university degree in Gender, Sociology, law or related field and experience in the field of women’s rights, Dalit & CDWD Women Rights will be considered in the application process.

Experience:

·       Knowledge of women’s rights and gender issues. Dalit and CDWD women and girls’ issues in their specific country.

·       Participate and organise capacity building, mutual learning and general advocacy activities.

·       Contribute to the development and implementation of the GFoD regional and global engagement  strategies.

·       Author statements, reports, critical interventions and articles or contribute to specific ideas and concept notes on the concerns of CDWD as per the requirements of HLPF and other UN and human rights instruments, mechanisms or initiatives.   

·       Communicate regularly with the GFoD Secretariat and undertake national, regional and  global tasks assigned as per required.  

Requirements and qualifications

In order of preference, characteristics and qualifications are listed below. 

Please note that given our preference for candidates from respective communities, applicants are not required to have English as a working language. 

1. Anchored and rooted in Communities Discriminated by Work and Descent : Persons from CDWD are highly encouraged to apply to this position. Women, youth and other underrepresented and marginalised groups from CDWD will be preferred for this position.        

2. Experience: Candidates must be social or community leaders within their own community with considerable experience in field level engagements and familiar with the  processes at the national, regional and international levels. It is highly desirable that candidates are established human rights defenders in their country/region/community and are experts in one particular field area related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For example, (Access to water and sanitation – SDG 6, decent work – SDG 8, Inequalities – SDG10 etc.). Please mention in your application which SDGs you are most interested in/have worked on.

3. Commitment: Candidates who have shown ongoing commitment and leadership to the cause of CDWD are encouraged to apply.

4. Academic qualifications: Academic qualifications such as University qualifications, publications of books, articles or other journalistic work will be considered in the application process.

Recruitment and timeline

Please submit your applications to RE2024@globalforumcdwd.global which shall include your Curriculum Vitae and one page cover letter referencing the relevant experience mentioned in  Requirements and Qualifications. The last date for the application is 29.02.2024. English as a working language is preferred, but Spanish, Portuguese, French, Russian and Arabic are also accepted and will be considered for the roles. Please mention all your working languages in your application. 

Successful candidates will be appointed for a period of 12 months with a 3-month probation period.

Due to the high volume of  expected applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

Candidates from the CDWD community and Non Binary folks are encouraged to apply.