2 Close existing gender gaps pertaining to energy access at regional and country level:
I. Regional Approach Interventions
a) Technical assistance focusing on integrating gender in different aspects of the project and support the building of gender capacity in the COMESA PIU for the implementation of gender commitments under the COMESA regional energy access
acceleration platform.
b) Support the Gender and Social Affairs Division to successfully coordinate and implement the ASCENT MPA’s gender action plan and to lead the closing of gender
gaps in the energy sector of COMESA Member States.
c) Auditing of gender policies on energy access in COMESA Member States with the purpose of harmonizing the policies to accelerate closing of gender gaps related to energy access in the region.
d) Developing programs that attract women with STEM backgrounds to the energy
sector in COMESA member states.
e) Develop a regional Women’s Leadership Institute and a regional STEM Skills Accelerator Institute to support skills development of women in leadership positions and prospective women leaders within the sector as well as address the skills gap women experience to be employed in the energy sector.
f) Promote women’s participation in the energy sector as entrepreneurs, champions,
and role models.
g) Manage the monitoring and evaluation component of gender commitments underthe ASCENT MPA  and documentation of good practices.
II. Support for Country Approach Interventions:
While ASCENT country-specific interventions will be implemented by respective ASCENT project PIUs and gender focal points, the Gender and Social Inclusion Officer will provide
guidance and support to the implementing teams, including for:
a) Employing gender interventions appropriate for the respective country context in alignment with the regional approaches to ensure the acceleration of clean energy access to female-headed households and women-owned/women-led enterprises, as well as work towards an increased percentage in the share of the employment of women with STEM backgrounds in the OGS, private sector, and energy utilities of the respective countries.
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b) Gender-responsive consumer awareness and education campaigns at the country level will be critical to reaching the intended beneficiaries.
c) Interventions including technical assistance to the private sector to create workenvironments  conducive to women’s employment.
III. Maximize equitable development outcomes consistent with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 7 (Sustainable Energy for
All):
a) Prepare a comprehensive strategy to accelerate the closing of gender gaps in energy access in Eastern and Southern Africa (particularly ASCENT countries)
b) Conduct gender assessments to account for the gender differences in the demand, access, and usage of energy and use it as a baseline to track progress.
c) Provide advice and support for consolidating legal and policy frameworks that support gender parity in the energy sector, including the development of genderresponsive policy frameworks.
d) Design and conduct training on gender and social inclusion to fill gender capacity gaps at the secretariat, regional level, and national level in collaboration with the gender and energy focal points.
e) Engage in the collection, compilation, and analysis of gender-responsive data that
could be used to design effective interventions and policies that could close gender
gaps in the energy sector.
IV. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E):
a) Identify the indicators depending on the scope of the project for measuring the increase in the share of female-headed households and women-owned/women-led enterprises with access to electricity and track progress towards the achievements of the indicators.
b) Identify and document women’s employment in the energy sector (grid, DRE, and clean cooking), women with STEM backgrounds.
c) Track and document the efforts to increase gender capacity of the regionalimplementing agencies  including hiring of gender specialists with experience in the
energy sector at ASCENT Country.
d) Evaluate and document time savings experienced by women as a result of connections to electricity or access to clean cooking technologies.
5.3 QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
a) Bachelor’s Degree in gender studies sociology, development studies, international
cooperation, business administration, political science, or any related area is required.

b) Possession of a Masters degree in any of the above fields or related fields will be
an added advantage.
c) A minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in gender/social inclusion-related
roles (combination of program development, advisory, project management,
training/capacity-building roles, and development of gender tools).
d) Demonstrate knowledge of the institutional arrangements, key stakeholders, and
existing policy instruments in gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment in
the Eastern and Southern Africa regions.
e) Experience in energy access or similar fields, with specific experience in energy
access highly desirable
f) Have experience in organizing/leading discussions, facilitating a variety of events,
and workshops, working with government, local authorities, and community groups
as well as providing analysis and reporting.
g) Experience undertaking similar projects and assignments in Eastern and Southern
Africa. Previous experience with the World Bank or COMESA is an advantage.
h) Have an excellent understanding of the policies and strategies of Eastern and
Southern Africa regions regarding gender and the requirement of the World Bank
on gender and social issues.
5.4 SKILLS
a) Capacity to analyze an important quantity of information and to extract key issues
relevant to the assignment.
b) Ability to work independently with a high degree of responsibility, in a flexible manner,
and often under pressure.
c) Good command of IT applications such as MS Office and other basic computer skills.
d) Good presentation, interpersonal, and communication skills.