Networking and Influencing Project Coordinator 142 views0 applications

Shaping a stronger Oxfam for people living in poverty.

ABOUT OXFAM

Oxfam is a global movement of people who won’t live with the injustice of poverty. Together we save and rebuild lives in disasters. We help people build better lives for themselves. We speak out on the big issues that keep people poor, like inequality, discrimination against women and climate change. And we won’t stop until every person on the planet can live without poverty.

Oxfam GB is a member of the international confederation Oxfam.

Our values and commitment to safeguarding 

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

 The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

OUR TEAM

The Gender Team will manage the Oxfam Gender Programme as a standalone programme but also, provide technical support to the country team to mainstream gender across other programmes as institutionally.

Gender inequality is the most serious and pervasive form of discrimination in the world. While this affects everyone, women and girls form the majority of those living in poverty and face the most discrimination. Gender inequality is a key driver of poverty and a fundamental denial of women’s rights and socio-economic empowerment. They have fewer resources, less power and less influence in decision making when compared to men. They are exposed to various forms of violence and exploitation and experience further inequality because of their ethnicity, age, race, class, marital status, sexual orientation and (dis)ability. Oxfam believes that transforming gender and power relations, the structures, norms and values that underpin them, is critical to ending poverty and challenging inequality. We believe that women taking control and taking collective action are themselves, the most important drivers of sustained improvements in women’s rights.  It is more important than ever for women to be supported in developing their own visions and strategies for change, and building the organizations and movements required to affirm that achieving women’s rights is a foundation for all development goals. This is part of Oxfam in Ethiopia Country Strategy and its integrated theme of Gender Justice.

 JOB PURPOSE 

The Networking and Influencing Project Coordinator will be responsible for overseeing the project titled’ ’A strengthened network for greater impact’’, a 3-year regional project in Ethiopia funded by European Union and jointly implemented by OXFAM, FEMNET (The African Women’s Development and Communication Network) and local partners. The Coordinator will lead Oxfam team in designing and implementing high quality and sustainable policy and influencing initiatives in line with Oxfam’s commitments under the EU Programme Action through innovative programme approaches and models that meet the needs of targeted women’s rights networks and partners under the following components:

1. Enhancing effectiveness and impact of the targeted country umbrella organizations working on women’s rights at continental, regional and country levels to influence policies on women’s rights and gender equality.
2. Building the capacities of Oxfam Ethiopian partners and women’s rights organizations in policy advocacy and influencing on women’s rights and gender equality at national and regional levels, holding government accountable to implementing Maputo Protocol, gender commitments under 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Africa Agenda 2063.
3. Improving collaboration, networking and sharing of information between Ethiopia’s women’s rights networks and their members and providing transformative leadership in support of women’s rights.

The Project Coordinator, in close coordination with the Gender Program Manager and country program team, will catalyze the growth and development of the project in Ethiopia and provide hands-on support to mainstreaming learning from this project into the work of local and regional FEMNET partners and across Oxfam’s One programming and policy influencing areas. The position also provides support to thought leadership, effective coordination and resource mobilization in line with the project for local FEMNET partners and to Oxfam in Ethiopia’s country strategy.

Core Details

Location:	Addis Ababa
Our package:   Internal Grade:	According to Oxfam Salary Scale   C2, National
Contract type:	Fixed Term contract for 3 (three) years
Hours of work:	37.5 hours per week. This is a full-time role; however, Oxfam offers various flexible arrangements which candidates can discuss with the Recruiting Manager at interview stage
This role reports to:	Gender Program Manager
Staff reporting to this post:	None
Annual budget for the post:	N/A
Key relationships/interactions:
Screening checks:	All successful candidates will be screened through Refinitiv World-Check One to comply with counter-terrorism and financial sanctions regulations.

Key Responsibilities

Projects Delivery/Implementation and Partnership management – 70%

• Provide leadership and direction to the project and to local partners and ensure that targets and objectives are achieved in line with project proposals, donor rules, and regulations and guidelines.
• Manage and coordinate the delivery of the “Network for Greater Impact’’project portfolio in the country, with support from Oxfam colleagues assigned to this project (finance, advocacy, MEAL).
• Coordinate with Oxfam support unit, and other colleagues towards a unified One Programme Approach to ensure smooth programme implementation.
• Overseeing Oxfam’s systems and liaising with other teams to meet Oxfam programme management and compliance standards.
• Develop, implement and review quarterly and annual programme work and project activities that contribute to the achievement of project outcomes at thematic and project levels, in association with FEMNET members and other stakeholders.
• In collaboration with the FEMNET/Oxfam Regional Programme Management Coordinators, take final responsibility for the project’s plans and reports (activities and financial).
• Maintain financial and programmatic management, monitoring, evaluation and learning as per Oxfam rules and procedures.
• Works closely with the MEL team on MEAL tools to measure project impact.
• Ensure partnership coordination and linkage between programme outcomes and project components.
• Provide partners overall substantive and strategic guidance and operational management of the project including planning, approval, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
• Build strong linkages with regional and global FEMNET/Oxfam project stakeholders, making direct visits and working with other staff, local partners and constituent communities in planning, implementing and tracking progress against plans and milestones.
• Establish and maintain excellent working relationships with FEMNET partners in Ethiopia and work closely with them to support their capacity and organisational development over the three-year programme and other strategic needs as identified through a formal SWOT process in the project’s first year.
• Work with project partners to identify opportunities and resources to grow and sustain the programme and its impact – and be involved in the development of new proposals for donor funding where relevant.
• With support from FEMNET/Oxfam and in-country MEAL colleagues, ensure that the project in Ethiopia learns from and contributes to the regional programmes feminist learning ethos and approach and delivers high-quality learning, including research, review and evaluations.
• Liaison with the Gender Program Manager to represent the ‘Strengthened Network for Greater Impact’ project in relevant fora (Forums, Ministerial and International NGOs Network working Groups, policy forums, national and international meetings, etc.) and give an appropriate and high-quality technical representation of the programme.

Policy, Advocacy/Lobbying and Influencing – 20%         

• With FEMNET members and Oxfam partners, develop influencing, advocacy and lobby strategies and operational plans following the “Strengthened Network for Greater Impact’’ programme theory of change, and project goals to maximize the impact of Oxfam and FEMNET’s collective Influencing work.
• Develop a follow-up mechanism and lobbying strategy to influence the policy and lawmakers and continuously maintain the liaison with them.
• Coordinate the FEMNET/Oxfam and in-country Advocacy and Influencing colleagues; support project partners in the planning and coordination of the lobby and advocacy components of the project, including through outreach to international, regional and national stakeholders; and ensure linkages and synergies with other FEMNET and Oxfam global campaigns.
• Support alliance-building, including women’s rights organisations and other civil society organizations and strengthen organizational capacity and sustainability of new and growing networks.
• Build project partner’s and women rights organizations (WROs) skills in advocacy and campaigning risk analysis, transformative leadership and monitoring of complex change.
• Work with project partners to support their coordination influencing, campaign, lobby and advocacy components of the project.
• Support WROs to influence decision-making processes, law reform and implementation and use the direct influence of global, regional and national level duty bearers in alliance with WROs.
• Work with project partners to support peer-to-peer learning on gender equality and women’s rights across women’s organizations and other civil society organizations.
• Initiate and strengthen liaison with key stakeholders including academia, UN agencies, policymakers, private sectors and media.
• Provide regular updates to project partners and to the Oxfam/FEMNET programme team to be up to date with developments in government circles and other actors
• Facilitate and support greater communication between local, national, and international women’s rights networks.
• Promote women’s agency and transformative leadership across the “Strengthened Network for Greater Impact’ project.
• Attend relevant external meetings and build networks and collaborate with local and national level civil society movements and contribute in the global and regional level advocacy, lobby and influencing as per country plan with guidance from management.

Project Conceptualisation and Business Development – 10%   

• Build proactive and positive relationships with donors, government officials and academia to promote the “Strengthened Network for Greater Impact’’ programme and Oxfam’s partnership with FEMNET.
• Ensure visibility of the projects, its EU funding, and the implementing partners with other donors and stakeholders.
• Leverage evidence gathered through the work for influencing (policy, campaigning and advocacy) working with partners, local and regional influencing networks.
• Manage Oxfam’s relationships with and sub-grants to FEMNET members.
• Contribute to the development and submission of high-quality concept notes and proposals.

Other

• Required to adhere to Oxfam’s principles and valuesas well as the promotion of gender justice and women’s rights.
• Understanding of and commitment to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles
• Undertake other tasks at the request of the Line Manager to ensure the effective implementation of the project.

Job Requirements

Skills, Experience, and Knowledge

Essential

• University Degree and/or Master’s in Social Sciences, Sociology, Social Work, Communication, Law, Education and, or relevant disciplines/any other related areas that can bring added value to the job from a recognized university/college.
• Relevant/practical 7-10 years working experience in civil society organizational capacity development and network building with interpersonal skills (e.g. experience of coaching, mentoring, organisational culture and governance development), out of which 2 – 3 years’ should be supervisory and managerial experience in supporting, working or investing in the building of networks of collaborating parties.
• Strong knowledge of national and international gender policies, women’s rights laws, policies, strategies, principles, and standards.
• Being conversant with the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), gender commitments under 2030, Agenda for Sustainable Development and Africa Agenda 2063 regarding gender equality and women’s rights.
• Sound understanding of the Ethiopia political economy and global context with a theoretical understanding of gender and social change process.
• Proven record of working with the government as a partner, private sector, academia, and media or in influencing national and local government policies and practices.
• Strong background in managing research projects, policy advocacy including lobby and negotiation.
• Demonstrated financial management, budgeting, expenditure tracking, and financial reporting experience, with previous responsibility for complex projects/programs
• Excellent information gathering, analytical and conceptual thinking skills; able to understand complex issues and translate them into simple, workable actions and plans.
• Strong coordination, facilitation and influencing skills, with the ability to build strong, credible relationships and to communicate with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated communicational, motivational persuasive skills with strong writing skills in English, preferably with a history of writing for influencing materials and donor reports.
• Ability to liaise, network with a wide range of women’s rights networks at national, regional and global levels.
• Ability and willingness to travel at grassroots, districts and international levels.
• Ability to work independently with minimum guidance, manage time efficiently, willingness to work under pressure, plan and prioritize work accordingly and follow a flexible time schedule.
• Commitment to and knowledge of creating a partner-led operational environment, with an ability to implement a programmatic approach that is focussed on developing and supporting partner organisations to achieve direct impact and results relating to programme objectives.

Desirable

• Awareness on Feminist principles.
• Knowledge of other Ethiopian languages would be an advantage.

Key Attributes

• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to cultural differences and gender issues, as well as the commitment to equal opportunities
• Ability to demonstrate an openness and willingness to learn about the application of gender/gender mainstreaming, women’s rights, and diversity for all aspects of development work
• Commitment to undertake Oxfam’s safeguarding training and adherence of relevant policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible

Organisational Values

Accountability – Our purpose-driven, results-focused approach means we take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable. We believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions

Empowerment – Our approach means that everyone involved with Oxfam, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can make change happen

Inclusiveness – We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences

Note to candidates: Shortlisted candidates will be assessed on our organisational values and attributes at the interview stage. The successful candidate(s) will be expected to adhere to our code of conduct. We encourage candidates to read and understand our code of conduct here.

How to Apply

As part of your online application, please upload your up to date CV and a covering letter explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile through using Oxfam internal application portal https://jobs.oxfam.org.uk/  or https://jobs.oxfam.org.uk/vacancy/11998/description on or before 27^th February 2020.

Your application will be shortlisted based on your CV and your responses to the above questions. You need not comment on your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.