Gender & Social Inclusion Coordinator

Equity Bank is one of the region’s leading banks whose purpose is to transform the lives and livelihoods of the people of Africa socially and economically by availing them modern and inclusive financial services that maximize their opportunities. With a strong footprint in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and DRC Congo, Equity Bank is now home to over 12 million customers - the largest customer base in Africa. Currently the Bank is seeking additional talent to serve in the role of Gender & Social Inclusion Coordinator

THE ROLE PURPOSE:

Lead the design and delivery of ARCAFIM’s technical assistance and gender and social inclusion agenda, enabling small-scale rural producers and small and medium-sized agribusinesses to access, use and benefit sustainably from climate-responsive finance. The role ensures that capacity-building activities prepare end-borrowers for green lending, are aligned with the programme’s lending interventions, and deliver measurable benefits for women, youth, low-income rural producers and other underserved groups.

the KEY responsibilities:

Technical Assistance Strategy & Delivery

· Lead the design, implementation and continuous improvement of the Component 2 technical assistance workstream, including needs assessment, delivery models, implementation plans, partner coordination and quality assurance.

· Ensure capacity-building interventions strengthen end-borrowers’ readiness to qualify for green finance and their ability to deploy loans effectively, manage their enterprises and sustain repayment.

· Tailor support to the needs of small-scale rural producers and SMEs in agribusiness, including practical guidance on business planning, financial management, climate-smart practices and investment readiness.

· Oversee delivery plans, milestones, budgets and partner outputs, escalating implementation risks and proposing corrective action where required.

Gender & Social Inclusion Strategy

· Develop and implement an inclusion strategy that enables women, youth, low-income rural producers and other underserved groups to participate in and benefit from ARCAFIM technical assistance and lending.

· Identify barriers to participation and finance, and design practical measures to address gaps in access, capability, affordability, information and decision-making.

· Ensure inclusion considerations are built into programme design, beneficiary selection, outreach, delivery methods and monitoring—not treated as stand-alone activities.

· Promote meaningful consultation with women and marginalized groups so that interventions reflect their priorities, constraints and local context.

Mainstreaming Across the Programme Cycle

· Integrate gender and social inclusion analysis into programme documents, operational plans, implementation tools and review processes.

· Participate in operational missions and programme reviews, providing advice on gender-responsive and socially inclusive design and implementation.

· Support implementation of the Bank’s gender strategy and ensure appropriate gender balance and inclusion in programme teams, training activities and beneficiary participation, consistent with applicable requirements.

· Work with programme and Bank teams to translate inclusion commitments into clear actions, responsibilities, indicators and follow-up mechanisms.

Alignment with Green Lending & Climate Adaptation

· Work closely with the Climate Change Adaptation Banking Coordinator and relevant Equity Bank teams to align technical assistance with lending priorities, eligibility requirements and the needs of prospective borrowers.

· Ensure capacity-building helps producers and agribusinesses understand climate-related risks, adopt relevant adaptation practices and identify suitable green investments.

· Facilitate feedback between borrowers, technical assistance providers and lending teams to improve borrower readiness, appropriate loan use and the effectiveness of programme interventions.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

· Prepare accurate and timely financial and physical progress reports for Component 2 in accordance with the ARCAFIM Operations Manual and donor reporting requirements.

· Work with the M&E Coordinator and relevant Bank teams to track activities, outputs, outcomes and inclusion results, maintaining reliable evidence for programme management and reporting.

· Monitor participation and results by relevant disaggregation, including gender, age, location and beneficiary category where appropriate and feasible.

· Use monitoring findings, beneficiary feedback and implementation evidence to recommend adaptations and strengthen programme effectiveness.

Safeguarding, Social Risk & Stakeholder Engagement

· Identify and help manage social risks associated with programme activities, including exclusion, unequal access, exploitation and risks of gender-based violence.