What's New

Why is Big Business Investing in Women & Girls?

swon — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:11:18 +0000

‘Third Billion’ campaign launched this week; ICRW announces its March 7 Passports to Progress event

Fri, 02/03/2012

Private sector philanthropic initiatives to economically empower women have rapidly proliferated in recent years.

Private sector philanthropic initiatives to economically empower women have rapidly proliferated in recent years. From blue chip companies to Wall Street investment firms, CEOs and bankers have come to recognize both the charitable and bottom line benefits of bringing women everywhere – half of the world's population – into the world of business.

This week, La Pietra Coalition, an alliance of corporations, governments, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions supporting women's economic empowerment, launched the 'Third Billion' campaign with the goal of preparing and enabling one billion women to enter the global economy by 2025. It is a goal that reflects La Pietra member International Center for Research on Women's (ICRW) own vision.

Much of the momentum can be attributed to a growing body of evidence produced by institutions like ICRW showing that women's economic participation is critical in the fight against poverty in low-income countries. It is also a largely untapped source of potential growth. As The Economist put it in 2006, "Forget China, India and the Internet, economic growth is driven by women."

While the strategic objectives are clear, there are more questions than answers about which tactics are working – and which are not. Where is the private sector investing? Who is benefitting and how? What real change have we seen in the lives of women and girls? Is there evidence of economic growth, however nascent?

Along with a diverse panel of corporate and social enterprise investors, ICRW will strive to answer some of these questions and others at its fourth Passports to Progress on March 7, the eve of International Women's Day. The event builds on previous discussions about creating new opportunities for women and addressing the challenges that continue to stand in their way. Join us in Washington D.C. to find out – in their own words – how and why big business interests are banking on the future of women and girls half a world away.

ICRW's latest reports on economically empowering women:

Understanding and Measuring Women's Economic Empowerment
Bridging the Gender Divide: How Technology Can Advance Women Economically
Innovation for Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality

Maha No. 1 in Domestic Violence Cases: Study

swon — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:16:59 +0000

Tue, 01/31/2012

Times of India

The Times of India reports on a study about the implementation of India's Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, which was enacted in 2005. Findings show physical violence as well as emotional and verbal abuse were the most common forms of domestic violence reported, and 19 states did not have specific budget allocations for implementing the act. The research was conducted by the Lawyer's Collective of Women's Rights Initiative in collaboration with ICRW and UN Women.

Budget Analyst

smarfil — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:04:56 +0000

Job Location:

Washington, DC

Reporting to the Senior Director of Finance, the Budget Analyst provides support for contracts and budget functions.

Primary Duties:

Prepares grant related financial reports.
Prepares grant billings (invoices) and ensures that they are recorded in the ledger. Responsible for cash management as it relates to grant funding sources.
Reviews sub grant proposal budgets & financial reports. Monitors the timely submission of reports. Assists in sub-grant closeout.
Prepares, reviews and enters reconciling and other adjusting journal entries.
Reviews and assists in proposal budgets, revisions, new grant agreements, and modifications for compliance with funder regulations and ICRW policies.
Reviews monthly project costs. Meets with program staff to identify financial issues requiring program management action as needed.
Liaises with donors on financial issues such as no cost or costs extension requests and budget revisions.
Responsible for the financial close out of grants.
Prepares standard and ad hoc monthly financial reports for internal staff and external donors.
Assists in the Administration of the Budget system interface. Ensures integrity of data.
Assists in the preparation of the Institutional Budget for Board approval.
Assists in the preparation and review of audit schedules as assigned.
Prepares special reports for Senior Management as needed.
Ensures that grant and sub-grant files as well as the grant management database are up to date.
Prepares financial and operating reports including adjustments and closing entries.
Trains staff in using financial, contract and project control systems.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Skills:

Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent Accounting, Finance or a related field. Advanced training in contracts, finance or budgeting preferred.

Experience: Minimum Five (5) years experience with cost proposals to donors such as USAID, Private Foundations, and Multilateral organizations. Experience with grant accounting, budget monitoring, financial reporting to external donors, and experience training non financial managers. OMB circular experience preferred. Ability to communicate effectively with staff on grant related issues.

Skills: Computer literacy required to include a proficiency in standard business applications (e.g. in the MS Office Suite); advanced skills in database and spreadsheet software applications desired; demonstrated experience working with accounting software. Must be highly organized with a strong attention to detail. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required to work collaboratively with all levels of program staff.

How To Apply:

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and salary requirements as e-mail attachments to Human Resources at jobs@icrw.org. Candidates who do not submit all of the requested application materials will not be considered. Please indicate "Budget Analyst" in the subject line of the email. Candidates may be tested for their proficiency in the MS Office Suite. Due to the volume of resumes we receive, we are not able to respond to individual inquiries regarding the status of candidacy. Therefore, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. ICRW is an equal opportunity employer, M/F/D/V.

ICRW Rated as High Impact Nonprofit by Industry Experts

swon — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:57:55 +0000

Group of 77 experts ranks ICRW as one of top 14 organizations

Thu, 01/05/2012

Philanthropedia identifies ICRW as one of the most effective in reducing violence against women internationally.

A group of 77 experts identified ICRW as one of 14 high-impact nonprofits working to reduce violence against women internationally. Experts noted ICRW was an“influential think-tank that focuses on issues affecting women” with “committed and qualified staff” who do “high quality research.”

The rankings were facilitated by Philanthropedia, a nonprofit organization working to help donors make smarter donations by connecting them with some of the highest impact nonprofits in a cause. A subsidiary of Guidestar, Philanthropedia surveys foundation professionals, academics, researchers, nonprofit senior staff, policy makers, and other professionals to establish nonprofit ratings.

Read more about Philanthropedia’s ratings of high impact nonprofits.

Support our efforts to combat
violence against women

Fertility Declines and Gender Inequality in China, 1970-2010

swon — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:04:26 +0000

This paper explores the consequences of the recent dramatic fertility decline in China by examining the effects of sibship size and composition on inequality in socioeconomic achievement between men and women. Drawing primarily from the China General Social Survey, the authors' findings suggest that women from families with more siblings are more disadvantaged both in terms of their schooling and their job status.

Publication Year:

2011

Author(s):

Xiaogang Wu, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Hua Ye, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

PDF File Name:

Fertility Declines and Gender Inequality in China_Wu_Ye.pdf

Yes

Keywords and Metadata:

fertility decline, China, one child policy, empowerment

The Impact of Family Planning and Delayed Childbearing on Women’s Empowerment in Iran

swon — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:52:46 +0000

This study assesses the impact of contraceptive use and delayed childbearing on urban married women’s ability to seek educational and employment opportunities after marriage in Tehran. The paper examines trends across three marriage cohorts, based on a 2009 survey collected by the author examining birth and contraceptive histories and education and employment status of husbands and wives over the life-course.

Publication Year:

2011

Author(s):

Amir Erfani, Nipissing University, Canada

PDF File Name:

Impact of Family Planning and Delayed Childbearing on Women’s Empowerment in Iran-Erfani.pdf

Yes

Keywords and Metadata:

family planning, delayed childbearing, iran, middle east, women, empowerment

Senior Technical Specialist

smarfil — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:43:31 +0000

Job Location:

New Delhi, India

The Senior Technical Specialist will work as part of a project team and independently with ICRW’s Socio-Economic Development Group to implement activities and research related to population reproductive health and economic empowerment of women. S/he will be recognized as having highly specialized and valuable knowledge in quantitative research methods and analysis as well as five (5) to seven (7) years of practical field experience in leading evaluation research in the thematic areas of socioeconomic development of women. S/he will lead policy and program research; program-related activities pertaining to the design, implementation and evaluation of projects. S/he will also design and undertake trainings related to thematic areas and research methods. In addition s/he may be required to contribute to further conceptual development and fundraising for the team’s broader portfolio of work on socio-economic development.

ICRW offers a collegial work environment, challenging innovative and meaningful development projects and an opportunity to work with development professionals who are well regarded in their fields of expertise.

Primary Duties:

Take a lead role in conducting evaluation research that involves designing research approach, tools and sampling methods; implementing, managing and monitoring the collection of quality primary and secondary data; managing and analyzing the collected data; drafting sharp and comprehensive syntheses based on data analysis; and writing high quality reports and papers. Analytic work may include issues papers, design and conduct monitoring and evaluation studies, and quick turn-around briefs and background documents.
Provide technical assistance including practical gender guidance and inputs in population reproductive health and economic empowerment proposals on design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation; analysis and synthesis.
Design and conduct training and workshops related to research topics and methods on population reproductive health and economic empowerment.
Provide lead support as needed, on projects in population reproductive health and economic empowerment research and analysis, technical assistance and training.
Represent ICRW externally in its work on socio-economic development, including with donors, partners, and in conferences, events, and networks.
Work with Portfolio Director, and Vice President, ARO, to strengthen and expand ICRW’s socio-economic program including:
- Expanding networks and cultivating potential donors.
- Raising ICRW’s visibility through publications, working papers and reports.
- Developing proposals and raising funds.

Required Skills:

Ph D in Demography, Economic, Sociology or related discipline. M.A with additional experience acceptable.
Six (6) years to eight (8) years of experience, working on gender as it relates to population reproductive health and economic empowerment and broader development issues and five (5) to seven (7) years of practical field experience. S/he must have experience in playing a lead role in conducting large scale evaluation research. Advanced skills with quantitative research techniques, tools and analysis are essential.
Extensive knowledge in conducting large scale quantitative evaluation research, including demonstrated expertise in designing, implementing, monitoring, and synthesizing data in the fields of population reproductive health and women’s economic empowerment.
Demonstrated leadership abilities.
Proficiency in recognized statistical package (i.e. SPSS, STATA) as well as ATLAS-Ti for qualitative data analysis.
Ability to conceptualize, analyze, synthesize lessons learned, and document results for external audiences.
If required, provide leadership to the portfolio on project management activities, including a clear understanding of financial and technical required and expected project outcomes.
Experience with monitoring and evaluation of projects and demonstrated experience in designing and/or conducting training.
Ability to contribute to the development of successful business development opportunities either with existing projects (i.e., follow-on work) or new business.
Ability to lead or provide support to mid-size to large projects (as defined by ICRW).
Outstanding written and oral communication skills and demonstrated track record of producing high quality, well-written deliverables in a timely fashion.
Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills.

How To Apply:

Interested applicants: please submit a cover letter, resume, two writing samples and salary requirements as an e-mail attachment to Human Resources at arohr@icrw.org please indicate "TS3-SED" in the subject line of email. The last date for receiving application for the position is January 06th, 2012.

Technical Specialist 1

smarfil — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:37:04 +0000

Job Location:

New Delhi, India

ICRW seeks a Technical Specialist 1 for its Asia Regional Office in New Delhi, India who will be responsible for providing managerial and technical expertise in programming and research to projects focusing on a specific technical area. The incumbent will be required to work both in teams and independently on projects. Based on team and institutional priorities, the incumbent will undertake other tasks as assigned by the Team Director.

Primary Duties:

Project Management

Works in close collaboration with senior staff to define and update strategic direction and work plans for projects
Provides day-to-day management of project work streams and plans, including monitoring, coordinating and updating work plan to ensure project team, consultants and partners are on track with intermediate and final deadlines for deliverables
Ensures that team is on track to produce deliverables according to plans; manages routine communications with the team, consultants and partners on the routine functioning of projects; and produces project reports and updates, as needed
Assists in staffing management and ensures team members and consultants have necessary support and are fully utilized
Oversees, monitors and maintains the project budget in coordination with the PD

Research, Monitoring and Evaluation

Under the guidance of PD, helps lead conceptual development and implementation of projects’ research and program activities and deliverables, including literature reviews, secondary analyses, and portfolio monitoring & evaluation
Analyzes and synthesizes research findings on complex issues and develops products relevant to a range of audiences, most notably non-research audiences
Provides technical support to partners, including on conceptual and program design, research, capacity building, and dissemination of results
Produces project-related technical deliverables, including research briefs, powerpoint presentations, white papers, and M&E guidelines, indicators and frameworks

Required Skills:

Master’s degree in a relevant field (economics, business, public policy, public administration)

Two (2) to five (5) years post-graduate relevant organizational or field program experience. Previous research and/or program work experience at a global level is preferred. Experience with research for the private sector, monitoring and evaluation, and project management – including facilitating partner and donor relations, report writing, budget maintenance, and work planning – is preferred.

Management Skills

Ability to create, maintain and align team with project workplans and budgets. Experience managing projects at the headquarters and field levels strongly preferred.
Prior experience interacting with donors (existing and potential), developing proposals, defining scopes of work and managing all phases of projects (proposal, planning, implementation and close out)
Must possess strong organizational, networking and negotiation skills in order to sustain viable relationships with donors and other partners, as well as communicate knowledgeably about project concepts, progress and impact within and outside ICRW.
Excellent communications skills including: writing, powerpoint and presentation capabilities.

Research and Monitoring & Evaluation Skills

Experience in planning and implementing monitoring and evaluation (M&E) for projects and portfolios of projects required.
Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills, including a demonstrable proficiency in one or more of the following statistical software: SPSS, STATA, ATLAS, as well as widely-known research measures (e.g., ARRM, HBM, etc).
Specific experience in quantitative skills in management of field research, evaluation research, survey methodologies and implementation required

How To Apply:

Interested candidates are requested to submit a cover letter stating why you are suitable for this position and send the resume to arohr@icrw.org with subject line "Technical Specialist 1." The last date for receiving application for the position is January 06th, 2012.

Commentary: Generation Girl

swon — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:32:29 +0000

It’s time to end child marriage

Mon, 12/19/2011

By Sarah Degnan Kambou

Every day an estimated 25,000 girls are married off against their will, which leads to tragic consequences for girls and their societies. It doesn’t have to be this way. With growing global momentum to stop this harmful practice, the time is ripe to ensure no girl is forced to marry too young and give up her dreams.

Every day an estimated 25,000 girls are married off against their will. Some are as young as eight years old. Others have just entered puberty. No matter their age, the moment the wedding ceremony ends, so do the girls’ dreams of becoming a teacher, a health worker, a lawyer.

It’s a tragic scenario, but not just for girls. It’s tragic for all of us who desire an economically stable, healthy world. Instead of growing up to be women who can contribute to the overall well-being of their families and communities, most child brides will drop out of school. From Yemen to Nicaragua, many girls will give birth while their own bodies are still developing, leading to terrible health problems. Most will live in servitude and suffer abuse. These are common outcomes of child marriage that perpetuate the cycle of poverty, lack of education, poor health and gender inequity in low-income societies.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Investing now in girls at risk of early marriage can yield lasting social and economic benefits not only for the girls themselves, but their families and society, too. It’s the right thing to do, and it’s the smart thing to do.

ICRW has been advocating for the past decade on the need to end the harmful practice child marriage from a development, human rights and gender equity perspective. We have been putting ideas to practice in countries like Ethiopia and India. And now we find ourselves in the midst of an unprecedented growing movement to end child marriage: The Elders, an eminent group of former leaders like Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu and Mary Robinson, this year launched Girls Not Brides, a global campaign to raise awareness of the ills caused by child marriage. Other influential individuals also are shining a spotlight on the practice, such as award-winning photographer Stephanie Sinclair whose images documenting child brides have brought the issue into the mainstream. And news outlets such as The Daily Beast, National Geographic and many more are finally bringing much-needed attention to the poorest, most remote parts of the world where child marriage persists.

We must rush to take advantage of the global attention and harness this collective will so that girls are valued for being girls, rather than being considered economic burdens on their families. On the contrary, if they remain unmarried and are allowed to finish high school, girls at risk of child marriage can contribute to a future generation that could break free of the painful grip of acute poverty.

Indeed, in societies where early marriage is most common, girls are not valued in the same ways as boys. This is not to say that their families don’t love them. Many girls’ parents want to delay marriage, but with scant resources and social pressures, they feel they are left with no alternative.

But there are alternatives. Harmful social norms can – and do – change. The promising practices ICRW has uncovered are a starting point for creating a more equitable environment for girls. And what’s more, there is evidence that they are working.

Some approaches that address the multiple causes and consequences of child marriage include: Arming girls with information, skills and support networks so they gain confidence and know themselves, their world and their options; educating parents on the long-term economic benefits of delaying marriage; mobilizing communities to adopt social norms that support those willing to buck the custom of early marriage; and offering economic incentives for girls and their families, who often are motivated by poverty and the lack of viable income-generating options.

More than any other time in recent history, this is the moment to redouble our joint efforts and work toward ending the harmful practice of child marriage so no girl is forced to wed too young and give up her dreams. Let’s do just that by making more investments and demonstrating the political will to create the first generation of girls who will rightly worry about finishing their homework, instead of feeding their husbands.

Sarah Degnan Kambou is president of the International Center for Research on Women.

North Indian ‘Apni Beti’ Program Strikes a Blow Against Child Marriage

ggaynair — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:13:25 +0000

Mon, 12/19/2011

The Daily Beast

By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

The Daily Beast profiles an innovative program in north India that uses cash to encourage families to keep their daughters in school instead of marrying them off at a young age. ICRW is currently evaluating the program, which was launched in 1994. ICRW’s Anju Malhotra is featured in the article, which was reported by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, a New York Times bestselling author, fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and ICRW board member.

Director - Gender, Violence and Rights

smarfil — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:05:31 +0000

Job Location:

Washington, DC

The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) is a non-profit organization that conducts policy-oriented research, provides technical assistance, and undertakes strategic communications efforts to improve the economic, health, and social status of women in the developing world.

Primary Duties:

ICRW is looking for a Director to work within the Gender, Violence and Rights Portfolio, providing technical leadership and oversight to projects within the portfolio. The ideal candidate will have subject-matter expertise and professional experience in gender-based violence, men and masculinities and in women’s empowerment. The position requires strong research skills, including knowledge in quantitative, qualitative and participatory methodologies, experience in monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of gender programs, and ability to provide relevant technical support and strategic advice to a range of clients such as donors, partners, governments, and so on. The position also will involve considerable input on RFP’s and proposals and technical reports. S/he will serve as a senior member within Research and Programs and will contribute to further conceptual development and fundraising. The position is based at ICRW’s main office in Washington, DC.

Serve as Project Director and/or provide technical assistance to projects including having responsibility for vision, direction, implementation of project, strategic relations with donor/partner, staff, and administrative management.
Develop M&E frameworks, strategies, and plans for a range of publicly and privately funded projects on gender-based violence.
Oversee the analysis of data and information on research projects.
Manage project budgets, workplans, reporting, and relationships with partners and donors.
Lead business development activities and develop proposals on topics in core subject area.
Represent ICRW externally, including with donors, partners, and in conferences, events, and networks.

Required Skills:

The ideal candidate will have the following education and work experience:

Ph.D. in Sociology, Demography, Anthropology, Public Health, Gender studies or related field, or a Master’s degree with 7-10 years additional experience.
A minimum of 6 to 8 years post-graduate experience in gender and development.
Solid understanding of gender-based violence, men and masculinities and women's empowerment issues.
Sound research skills in quantitative, qualitative, and evaluation methodologies, including impact evaluation.
Strategic thinking and negotiation skills to help shape a strong agenda for moving forward ICRW's and partners' work on gender-based violence.
Significant experience and successful track record in project management in low-middle income countries.
Outstanding written skills and demonstrated track record of producing high quality deliverables in a timely fashion.
Excellent oral communication skills, especially in a cross-cultural settings.
Demonstrated people management skills demonstrating maturity and diplomacy.
Ability to package and communicate complex and technical information in accessible forms for lay audiences—in both written and verbal communication.
Versatility, flexibility, and adaptability in responding to projects under evolution.
Sense of confidence and comfort level with guiding donors, clients, and partners with clear direction and recommendations in mind.
Strong, strategic sense for business development.
Proficiency in Spanish or French desirable.

How To Apply:

Please submit a cover letter, resume, 2 writing samples and salary requirements as an e-mail attachment to Human Resources at jobs@icrw.org. Please indicate "Snr – Gender Violence Rights" in the subject line of email. Due to the large volume of responses we receive, ICRW is not able to provide candidacy status on an individual basis. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. ICRW is an equal opportunity employer, M/F/D/V.

Ideas in Action

ggaynair — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:02:59 +0000

Former ICRW President Geeta Rao Gupta honored with Commitment to Development award

Sarah Degnan Kambou is president of ICRW.

I’m delighted to honor former ICRW president, Geeta Rao Gupta, who will be celebrated today with the 2011 Commitment to Development “Ideas in Action” Award, which is sponsored by the Center for Global Development and Foreign Policy magazine. It’s such a befitting honor for my colleague of eight years at ICRW, who has dedicated her life to advocating on behalf of women and girls around the globe. The annual award recognizes an individual or organization that has changed attitudes and policies about the developing world.

We at ICRW are proud to stand alongside Geeta who spent 13 years leading this organization. During her tenure, ICRW built the evidence base to demonstrate to policymakers and donors that investing in women and girls was pivotal to achieving the world’s economic and social goals. Take for example ICRW’s trailblazing work on HIV and AIDS. Geeta led a 17-country study in the 1990s that explored the nature of women’s vulnerability to HIV. Evidence from that study propelled the HIV community to talk about the growing number of women living with HIV and to understand how gender inequality was fueling the epidemic. At a time when biomedical science tended to dominate the discourse on HIV, Geeta spoke with deep compassion of the human story behind the epidemiological data.

Under her leadership, ICRW provided rich data on how to empower the world’s women by giving them access to education and economic opportunities, providing for their unique health needs and protecting them from violence. She anchored the organization squarely at the intersection of research and advocacy. And she worked tirelessly to ensure that evidence drives program design and policy priorities for women in developing countries. This continues to be ICRW’s mission today because while the broader development community understands the “why” of addressing gender inequality, we are still grappling with the “how.” ICRW is at the forefront of discovering practical, evidence-based solutions to ensure that women and girls have equal opportunities.

As we honor Geeta today, I will be participating on a panel with Geeta and her ICRW predecessor, Mayra Buvinic. Each of us is committed to fulfilling ICRW’s vision for a world where women and girls – as well as men and boys – are able to reach their potential and contribute fully to their societies.

It’s a vision we – along with the rest of the global community – can only achieve together.

Full-time Employee and Consultancy Opportunities

smarfil — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:34:58 +0000

Job Location:

Nigeria

The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) is a global research institute which works to empower women, advance gender equality, and fight poverty in the developing world. ICRW works with partners to conduct empirical research, build capacity, and advocate for evidence-based practical solutions to change policies and programs.

Primary Duties:

With a growing presence in Nigeria, ICRW is looking for individuals with experience in a range of sectors for existing and potential projects on a long and short term basis. Our work focuses on the following areas:

Adolescents
Agriculture and Food Security
Economic Empowerment
HIV & AIDS
Population and Reproductive Health
Violence Against Women

Required Skills:

In particular, ICRW is seeking experts in the following fields:

Policy and governance
Reproductive Health
Economic Empowerment
Girls' Education
Increasing voice and leadership of girls and women
Engaging men and boys in gender-equitable development

How To Apply:

Candidates interested in full-time employment or a consultancy, should submit a letter of interest summarizing their background and interest, curriculum vitae, two writing samples and salary requirements to jobs@icrw.org with "Nigeria" in the subject line. ICRW is an equal opportunity employer, M/F/D/V

Moving the Goal Posts for Girls

ggaynair — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:09:25 +0000

Encouraging girls to join sports programs can help empower them and their communities

The role of sport in international development and in promoting gender equality continues to grow. Just this year, the United Nations’ Sport for Development and Peace International Working Group inaugurated a new thematic area dedicated to gender and sport, which focuses on three priorities: empowering women and girls, including them in sports and providing them leadership opportunities.

Many of those themes are being discussed Dec. 1 to 3 during the Maidan Summit 2011, the second annual Sport for Development (S4D) international meeting in New Delhi. The gathering brings together policy makers, donor agencies and nongovernmental organizations to advocate for sports as a tool to strengthen education, health and communities in India.

Ravi Verma and Madhumita Das of our Asia Regional Office in New Delhi will be right in the thick of it, and rightly so. They have already put theory into practice with our Parivartan program in Mumbai, helping prove that sports, development -- as well as gender rights and equality -- go hand in hand. In Parivartan, cricket coaches double as role models and mentors for young men and boys. This includes encouraging the young cricketers to respect girls and women, promote gender equality and to not use violence against women now or in their future adult lives.

Verma, ICRW's Asia Regional Office director, spoke on an opening day panel of the summit that focused on how athletics can help empower women and girls and include them more in society. On Dec. 2, Verma and Das will lead a workshop to examine how sports can to promote gender equality and the role of coaches in bridging the gender gap in sports in India. In her presentation, Das, a senior technical specialist, will highlight the successes of the Parivartan cricket program.

“There are lots of initiatives where organizations are trying to bring women into sports and encourage them to take it on as a profession. But most organizations are finding it difficult because there are more barriers than they expected," said Das, who underlined that coaches, too, have a part in making the sports field more inclusive of women and girls -- both on the playing field and on governing bodies.

“We need to work with men so that these barriers are tackled.”

Girls Take HIV Risk into Their Own Hands

ggaynair — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:09:13 +0000

ICRW project offers promising model for adolescent girl programs

Wed, 11/30/2011

By Gillian Gaynair

A pilot program designed by ICRW in Tanzania begins to shift social norms that make adolescent girls more at risk of HIV infection and unwanted pregnancies. It offers a promising – and needed – model that can be applied in a variety of settings.

In Tanzania's remote Newala District, adolescent girls are met with unwanted sexual advances on their way to the neighbor's house, to the water well, to the store. They feel forced to give in. Sometimes, they're raped. Girls are even scared to go to school because, they say, some teachers "just want to have sex with you."

The girls of Newala are not alone in their predicament. It reflects the experience of girls in many sub-Saharan African communities, where nearly 60 percent of all people living with HIV are women, according to UNAIDS. Sexual violence – along with early marriage, sex for pay with much older men and multiple, concurrent partnerships – are everyday realities for teenage girls. It's an environment experts say is fueled by numerous factors, including poverty, a breakdown in family and harmful norms that define girls' place in society.

All of this puts 12- to 17-year-old girls in Newala at greater risk of being infected with HIV. Unfortunately, HIV programming for vulnerable children gives little attention to teenage girls, whose needs tend to be eclipsed by those of very young children who lack basic food and care. And because of this, research evidence on adolescent girls' specific vulnerabilities and how to reduce their HIV risk remains insufficient.

Experts at the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) are working to change that.

ICRW was tapped by U.K.-based ViiV Healthcare's Positive Action program to study the variety of ways in which girls are susceptible to HIV in four Newala communities, and then design a pilot project to address the most pressing risks. Working in partnership with local nongovernmental organization Taasisi ya Maendeleo Shirikishi Arusha (TAMASHA), ICRW found that long-held social norms can begin to shift when girls are encouraged to talk about their experiences and when others, including boys, reflect on their own behaviors.

Called "Vijana Tunaweza Newala" or "Vitu Newala," which means "Newala Youth Can," the project in Tanzania adds to ICRW's ongoing research about best practices to serve youth, particularly girls, and provides a model that can be applied in other settings. It also places ICRW among a small subset of organizations globally that focuses on girls – instead of institutions, such as schools – to drive community-based social change.

"Too often, programs targeting vulnerable girls are created without actually talking to the girls," said Jennifer McCleary-Sills, an ICRW social and behavioral scientist who led the project. "What makes the approach ICRW designed for Vitu Newala unique is that it didn't treat adolescent girls as passive beneficiaries of a pre-packaged HIV prevention program. Instead, it empowered girls to define their own needs, lead and interpret research on the issues that affect them and educate their peers with activities they developed."

Meet them where they are

Located in southern Tanzania, Newala District is comprised of 28 rural, predominantly Muslim communities where families make a living farming cashews. It has one paved road. Mobile phone networks just developed more of a presence this year.

Women and girls here are expected to stay at home, and if they veer from that space, they risk harassment or sexual violence. The chances that girls will be sexually abused are so great that parents don't want to send their daughters to secondary school. Even taking part in Newala's traditional dance to mark girls' transition to womanhood has become risky. These days, young men attend. It's not uncommon for groups of them to fondle or sexually assault girls on the way home from the celebration.

"It all comes down to how gender is socially constructed – women are meant to live their lives primarily in the private, domestic sphere, whereas men control the public sphere," said Katherine Fritz, director of ICRW's global health research and programs. "When girls circulate in the public sphere, it can be seen as something that's outside of the norm and potentially provocative. If a girl is assaulted while moving around by herself, many people draw the conclusion that 'she asked for it.'"

Further fueling the situation, very few girls and boys grow up with two parents at home, in part because they have died from AIDS. When one or both parents die or separate, children often are left with grandparents or on their own. Researchers found that a number of teenage girls in Newala are heading households and providing for their siblings, a trend that has plagued girls across sub-Saharan Africa for years in countries where HIV-rates are high.

Such fractured families and the lack of adult presence in girls' lives contribute to their vulnerable state: Many are wooed by much older men who pay the girls for sex and help provide for their basic needs as well as those of their siblings. Sometimes, girls will have a series of such partners over time.

To better understand and address teenage girls' risks in Newala, ICRW designed an approach that allowed girls and the community to turn a mirror on themselves, analyze what they saw and determine the changes they wanted to make. Here's how it worked:

Girls ages 18 to 24 were trained by TAMASHA to be youth researchers who aimed to better understand younger girls' lives in Newala. Researchers talked to 12 to 17 year olds about their aspirations and roadblocks to achieving them. They asked them to draw maps identifying spots in their communities where they felt unsafe. Girls were then encouraged to come up with ways to reduce the risks they faced.

Meanwhile, project researchers spoke with parents, community leaders and service providers in Newala to hear their perspectives. ICRW found that many adults put the onus on girls, accusing them of not making "better choices." Girls were expected to wait until they were adults – or ideally, married – to have sex. At the same time, researchers found that men and boys were not being held accountable for their actions.

Girls also told researchers they didn't feel as if anyone in the communities took responsibility for keeping them safe. Many were frustrated that they were blamed for not avoiding risks from which no one helped protect them. With that, TAMASHA asked the girls to suggest community members who should be responsible for making dangerous areas in their communities safer.

"The protective factors that used to be there in all African cultures have broken down," which is in part why men's behavior goes unchecked and girls' risks increasingly rise, said Richard Mabala, executive director of TAMASHA. "And there's nothing that has really taken its place."

"This is why we believe by young people coming together they can start creating what takes its place."

Youth lead social change

Indeed, young people were the driving force behind Vitu Newala, which essentially sought to empower youth to advocate for themselves and reduce their vulnerability to HIV. The program included activities created by adolescent girls and boys, such as dramatic plays, to learn about and discuss everything from reproductive health to goal setting. Together with adults, they figured out how to better protect the community's young people, especially girls.

Such communal reflection by boys and girls had never happened before in Newala. For most girls, it was the first time they'd been asked their opinion or share their experiences. McCleary-Sills said this required a delicate balance – after all, men and boys perpetuate the forms of violence that increase girls' vulnerability to HIV. But she said they had to be involved if the environment for Newala's girls was to change.

"It was a matter of bringing boys and girls together on equal footing – not as good and evil, or victim and aggressor – and empowering them all to be agents of social change in their communities," McCleary-Sills said.

Anecdotal evidence from Vitu Newala shows that the pilot program made a difference in a short time: With the exception of school, girls reported that they felt safer at some of the most risky locations identified in the formative research. Communities are now supporting Vitu Newala to create youth centers and some are rewriting bylaws to limit boys' participation in girls' initiation ceremony. And young people said they now think and act differently about sex, relationships and their future.

Even if limited in reach and scope, Vitu Newala offers a promising model that can be applied to other efforts targeting vulnerable girls in sub-Saharan African communities and elsewhere.

"Although what we know so far is a small amount, it does appear to be moving social norms in the direction we want," ICRW's Fritz said. "But we need continued support to document and measure the impact at the individual and community level over a longer period of time."

Read more about ICRW's work with adolescents: Boys and Girls Becoming Equals, Changing for the Better

Gillian Gaynair is ICRW's senior writer and editor.

Tanzanian Youth Speak Up

ggaynair — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:15:17 +0000

Vitu Newala participants share their experience, observations

Wed, 11/30/2011

By Gillian Gaynair

Anecdotal evidence shows that ICRW's Vitu Newala pilot program in Tanzania made a difference. The program's participants and youth researchers tell us about the the risks they face and how the project helped them.

ICRW applied its expertise in research, program design and evaluation to examine the variety of ways in which adolescent girls in four rural Tanzanian communities are vulnerable to HIV. In partnership with the local nongovernmental organization, Taasisi ya Maendeleo Shirikishi Arusha (TAMASHA), we then designed a pilot project to address girls’ most pressing risks. The project was called “Vijana Tunaweza Newala” or “Vitu Newala,” which means “Newala Youth Can.” It was implemented in Newala District, Tanzania.

The effort was unique because it was entirely driven by youth: Newala’s girls defined their own needs. They led and interpreted research on the issues that affected them. Then, together with other community members – including young men and adults – they came up with ways to reduce the risky environment that contributed to their vulnerability to HIV and unwanted pregnancies.

Anecdotal evidence shows that in a short time, Vitu Newala made a difference. Here’s what some of the youth researchers and program participants* told us about the risks they face and how the project helped them:

On perceptions of girls:

“People see me differently now because I’ve been called to do trainings ... Even adults see me as different from the other girls,” said Amina, a 21-year-old youth researcher. “I got different ideas and views from the other girls and I learned about the problems we face, even some I didn’t know about before. I was so happy to do the research and to talk to girls in my community.”

A 19-year-old young man who helped lead peer-to-peer activities said he thinks of girls in his community differently now. “These changes are very important to me, my friends and my family as now they know the consequence of men’s behavior towards girls,” he said. “Some of them are our sisters, because when we are doing this to the girls outside, there are some boys out there who are doing the same to our sisters.”

“People treat me differently now. I feel like a president! I feel different now because I’m able to talk to my peers and get them to listen to me. They take my advice and allow me to explain things to them,” said Hawa, 23.

“I have a daughter, and I have decided that I won’t initiate her too young. I might have done it before coming to do the research. Before, I didn’t know the problems that early initiation can cause.” Hawa said that when she does allow her daughter to participate in the initiation, “I want to be sure she has self-awareness and that she knows sex can lead to pregnancy, HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis and other problems. I’ll teach her to avoid temptations from boys and men in the world. I’ll teach her how to say ‘no’ firmly.”

On sexual and reproductive health education:

“Teenage pregnancy is rampant in my village. Now, as an advisor, I can call the girls together and I can help,” said Hadija, 20. “I’m a girl like them; I can explain the dangers of boys in the community and help find ways to avoid these problems. I’d like to learn more about family planning to help them prevent pregnancy in the first place.”

Some girls said they don’t get any practical information at school about how to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies. “They talk to us about our body and the different parts, but they don’t’ tell us anything useful,” said a participant from the 12- to 14-year-old group. “What we really need to know is how do girls get pregnant and how can we avoid that?”

“I was so happy at the first sessions because we talked about these things,” a 17-year-old girl said about discussions on sexuality and reproductive health. “Nobody else talks to us about these things.”

On girls’ risk and fractured families:

“I feel different about myself now because I’ve learned about things that put me at risk as a girl. Now I can avoid these dangers and can help other girls avoid them, too,” said 21-year-old Leila. “There are so many ways I’ve benefitted from this experience. We’re just happy that you thought about Newala and came here to help us deal with the problems we face. Now we hope you can do more things to help us make changes in Newala.”

“If your family sends you to the farm to work and you get raped in the bush, people ask you why you went to the farm alone. But why did they tell you to go there alone when they know it’s dangerous?” said a participant from the program’s 15- to 17-year-old group.

“Nowadays, families break up all the time and parents end up seeing children as a nuisance and nobody cares for them,” an adult community member said. “They end up begging in the streets. Nobody protects them or provides for them.”

“We’re learning because of this education,” a 17-year-old boy said. “Even for older men in their 40s, they used to go with girls as young as 12 or 15 years old and have sex with them. That character is changing now because they’re seeing the risks they bring to girls.”

*In accordance with ICRW’s research protocols, program participants are not identified.

MORE: Girls Take HIV Risk into Their Own Hands

Gender and Global Health Specialist

smarfil — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:49:54 +0000

Job Location:

Washington, DC

ICRW is looking for a senior gender and global health specialist to work within the Global Health Portfolio, providing technical leadership and oversight to projects within the portfolio. The Gender and Global Health Specialist will be a senior member of the global health team and will work across program areas including HIV, stigma and Discrimination, and reproductive health. S/he will take the primary responsibility for working with project teams to help integrate gender issues in the aforementioned topical areas. The position also will involve considerable input on RFPs and proposals and technical reports. S/he will serve as a senior member within Research and Programs and will contribute to further conceptual development and fundraising.

Primary Duties:

Serve as Project Director and/or provide technical assistance to projects including having responsibility for vision, direction, implementation of project, strategic relations with donor/partner, staff, and administrative management.

Undertake core technical activities in supporting donors, including:
- Intervention design, monitoring and evaluation; i.e. development of frameworks, and conceptualization and operationalization of indicators.
-  Proposal review and input on partner selection, and proposal co-development with donor and local partners.
- Analysis and report writing: Developing literature reviews, analyzing primary and secondary data; drafting sharp and comprehensive syntheses based on data analysis; and writing high quality reports and other outputs.
- Technical support: Overseeing M&E activities and data management and providing and coordinating technical support.
- Workplan, staffing, and budget management.

Represent ICRW externally, including with donors, partners, and in conferences, events, and networks.

Work with Portfolio Director, and Vice President, Research and Programs to strengthen and expand ICRW’s Global Health portfolio, including:
- Expanding networks and cultivating potential donors.
- Raising ICRW’s visibility through in-house publications and in peer-reviewed journals.
- Developing proposals and raising funds.

Required Skills:

The ideal candidate will have the following education and work experience:

PhD in relevant field. Master's degree in relevant field with additional experience acceptable.
Six (6) years to ten (10) years of experience, working on gender as it relates to global health, including HIV, stigma and discrimination, reproductive health, adolescence, gender, and broader development issues. Significant experience with intervention research, project management and donor/partner relations is essential.
Demonstrated expertise in conducting gender analysis, gender assessments, and/or gender-focused research of health issues including HIV, stigma and discrimination, reproductive health and adolescence.
Sound understanding of program development, management, and evaluation principles. Experience with research for utilization in shaping strategic direction and advocacy activities, and demonstrated ability to translate research and evaluation data into accessible formats for non-research audiences.
Strategic thinking and negotiation skills to help shape a strong agenda for moving forward ICRW's and partners' work on global health.
Outstanding written and oral communication skills and demonstrated track record of producing high quality, well-written deliverables in a timely fashion.
Demonstrated ability to effectively manage projects, including staffing, workplans, deliverables, timelines, and budgets.
Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills.

How To Apply:

Please submit a cover letter, resume, 2 writing samples and salary requirements as an e-mail attachment to Human Resources at jobs@icrw.org. Please indicate "Gender & Global Health" in the subject line of email. Due to the large volume of responses we receive, ICRW is not able to provide candidacy status on an individual basis. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. ICRW is an equal opportunity employer, M/F/D/V.

Senior Economist on Gender and Evaluation

smarfil — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:35:31 +0000

Job Location:

Washington, DC

ICRW is looking for a senior economist with particular expertise in evaluation and gender issues. The ideal candidate will have subject-matter expertise and professional experience in women's economic empowerment issues in developing countries. S/he will also have strong research and evaluation skills. The position is based at ICRW's main office in Washington, DC.

Primary Duties:

The Senior Economist on Gender and Evaluation will work on a range of evaluation projects focusing on women's economic empowerment. Tasks may include – but are not limited to – the following:

Provide strategic guidance and counsel on evaluation and performance monitoring on economically empowering women to a range of clients, donors, and partners.
Develop M&E frameworks, strategies, and plans for a range of publicly and privately funded projects on women's economic empowerment.
Provide technical oversight and guidance to ICRW staff engaged in evaluation activities on women's economic empowerment.
Oversee the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data and information on evaluation research projects.
Synthesize and write reports, papers and publications on evaluation research on issues at the intersection of gender and economics.
Participate in the development of proposals to support ICRW's new business efforts.

Required Skills:

The ideal candidate will have the following education and work experience:

A doctorate in economics, business, public policy or related field with a specialization in monitoring and evaluation.
A minimum of 6 to 8 years post-graduate experience in gender and development.
Solid knowledge of economic empowerment and gender issues in developing countries.
Strong understanding of a wide range of impact evaluation principles, concepts and methodologies.
Experience with evaluation and research designed to help shape organizational or corporate strategic direction and grantmaking.
Ability to measure performance in a business context as well as in non-profit settings.
Experience working with or for philanthropic organizations (grant makers) and/or corporate donors in developing/implementing results-oriented evaluation models preferred.
Demonstrated ability to translate research and evaluation information into accessible formats for non-research audiences.
Outstanding written and oral communication skills.
A demonstrated track record of producing high quality, well-written deliverables in a timely fashion.
Demonstrated ability to coordinate and communicate effectively and diplomatically with a range of external and internal colleagues including donors/clients and partners, as well as senior and junior team members.
Successful experience managing staff and/or contractors.

How To Apply:

Please submit a cover letter, resume, 2 writing samples and salary requirements as an e-mail attachment to Human Resources at jobs@icrw.org. Please indicate "Senior Econ" in the subject line of email. Due to the large volume of responses we receive, ICRW is not able to provide candidacy status on an individual basis. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. ICRW is an equal opportunity employer, M/F/D/V.

Senior Adviser, Gender, Population and Development

smarfil — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:07:41 +0000

Job Location:

Washington, DC

ICRW is looking for a full-time senior adviser to lead projects on population, development and women's empowerment. The ideal candidate will have subject-matter expertise and professional experience in population and reproductive health issues, and in women's empowerment, especially on issues such as adolescents and transitions to adulthood, child marriage, sex selection, fertility trends, maternal health, and reproductive behavior. The position is based in ICRW's headquarters in Washington, DC.

Primary Duties:

Undertake research and technical work on population, gender, reproductive heath issues, prioritizing and focusing on specific issues relevant to ICRW overall program of research.
Guide and produce high quality papers, publications and presentations
Develop and execute strategic direction on research and programmatic work in core subject area
Manage project teams and ensure effective work and coordination, ensuring the quality of project deliverables and their timely execution
Manage project budgets, workplans, reporting, and relationships with partners and donors.
Interact regularly with clients and donors
Lead business development activities and develop proposals on topics in core subject area

Required Skills:

The ideal candidate will have the following education and work experience:

Ph.D. in Demography, Sociology, Economics, Public Policy or related field, or a Master's degree with 5 years additional experience
Minimum ten (10) years' experience on research and programs in population and reproductive health, managing development programs, supervising staff, liaising with key internal and external stakeholders, and monitoring and evaluating projects
Substantial experience managing the implementation of complex research programs in developing countries
Solid understanding of population, reproductive health, gender and development issues
Sound research skills in quantitative, qualitative, and evaluation methodologies
Demonstrated strategic skills and ability to translate expertise by leading and facilitating the work of peers, team members, field associates, and partners
Significant experience and successful track record in project management and development
Outstanding written skills and demonstrated track record of producing high quality deliverables in a timely fashion
Strong track record in business development with a variety of program concepts and donors
Excellent oral communication skills, especially in a cross-cultural settings
Demonstrated people management skills demonstrating maturity and diplomacy
Ability to package and communicate complex and technical information in accessible forms for lay audiences—in both written and verbal communication
Versatility, flexibility, and adaptability in responding to projects under evolution
Sense of confidence and comfort level with guiding donors, clients, and partners with clear direction and recommendations in mind

How To Apply:

Please submit a cover letter, resume, 2 writing samples and salary requirements as an e-mail attachment to Human Resources at jobs@icrw.org. Please indicate "Senior Adviser, Gender, Population and Development. " in the subject line of email. Due to the large volume of responses we receive, ICRW is not able to provide candidacy status on an individual basis. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. ICRW is an equal opportunity employer, M/F/D/V.

Cheers to Cherie Blair Foundation

ggaynair — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:12:10 +0000

ICRW partner releases new report on mobile communications and women

Congratulations to our partner, the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, which today launched a new report, “Women Entrepreneurs in Mobile Retail Channels: Empowering Women, Driving Growth.” This latest endeavor is another example of the foundation’s commitment to providing insight into how the mobile communications industry can benefit women entrepreneurs in emerging markets.

“If we are able to reach more women with mobile technology,” Blair told ICRW earlier this year, “it will bring valuable health benefits, education and increased income opportunities.”

We couldn’t agree more.

ICRW is also contributing to research about women entrepreneurs and the information and communications technology (ICT) field. Most recently, we collaborated with the Cherie Blair Foundation to examine how technologies such as mobile phones, the Internet and computers are changing economic opportunities for low-income women in India.

We’re putting the final touches on that ICT report – to be released in early 2012 – which builds upon our existing work that analyzes how innovation and technology can economically empower the world’s women.

Stay tuned for more at www.icrw.org