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Project Officer-MEL Oxfam Great Britain

TEAM PURPOSE:

To support citizens to actively participate in a prosperous Zambia by focusing on improving the well being of poor women and men in Zambia particularly those in rural areas through increased citizen and civil society engagement and participation in governance processes

JOB PURPOSE:

To support the Country Director to deliver a quality country programme ensuring linkages between aims and the integration of gender and HIV and AIDS into the core areas of WASH, Essential Services, Rights in Crisis and Gender Justice. Overall leadership and responsibility for programme quality for the Western Province Programme.

REPORTING LINES:

Post holder reports to: Programme Manager WASH

Staff reporting to this post: None. However, the MEL Officer will direct some of the work of the Field Officers.
BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY: None

BACKGROUND:

In 2009, after the decision by Oxfam Affiliate Executive Directors, Oxfam Hong Kong and Oxfam GB began to develop a joint country analysis and strategy (JCAS). The process involved two meetings with partners, to discuss the Zambian context and opportunities for Oxfam to review the country programme to date. In addition, a number of consultations were carried out with partners and key stakeholders. The result of this consultation process and review is a strategy with the over-arching goal of improved well being of poor women and men in Zambia particularly those in rural areas through increased citizen and civil society engagement and participation in governance processes. Specifically, the Oxfam programme in Zambia has the following objectives for the period April 1 2011 - March 31st 2016

i) Economic Empowerment - To improve the economic status of ordinary Zambians through increased engagement and power in markets and increased benefits from FDI.

ii) Health and Education. To promote improved access to quality rural health and HIV services and education for poor people particularly women and girls.

iii) Community led WASH - To promote increased access to potable water, and sanitation for rural and peri urban communities.

iv) Disaster Risk Reduction and Preparedness - To promote sustainable livelihoods for poor people by building resilience to shocks and strengthening capabilities to mitigate and recover from disasters.

v) Reduce GBV. - To promote gender equality and reduce gender based violence through improved policy environment and changing attitudes and social/cultural norms in society.

Cross-cutting issues will include:

Gender - Gender will be integrated in all programme areas at every point in the project cycle through design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

HIV and AIDS - Programme approach will ensure HIV/and AIDS analysis is taken into account in all programme areas and that delivery strategies take into account the impact of HIV and AIDS on poor people.

Private Sector - Links to the private sector, as a key and sustainable driver of poverty reduction will also be woven into the programme,

Citizen Participation - Community participation in the programme is the essential component as well as a trigger for the programme's success.

Oxfam will implement the programme using a rights-based, one-programme approach with a focus on meeting needs in humanitarian circumstances where local and government capacity is exceeded, supporting development actions that address sustainable, capable responses and engagement in policy and advocacy work that will propel positive changes for poor people.


Dimensions

Scope of responsibilities & programme: -

No staff management responsibility

 Advice and training support to civil society partner organisations

 Provide input on gender and HIV and AIDS mainstreaming;

 Provide input on environmental impact management and climate change issues

 Link closely with the Aim Leads, in all programmes.

Scope & complexity of programme: -

Advising on developing programme objectives and content.

 Significant training and capacity building role

 Significant partner and programme monitoring role

 Support the development of new proposals

 Support advocacy and campaigning activity implementation at local level


Key Responsibilities

Monitoring and Evaluation of Programme Interventions and Impacts

· Lead the development / refinement and implementation of monitoring strategies for WASH as well as support the monitoring of other Oxfam programmes in Western Province

· Support staff and partner capacity building initiatives to strengthen monitoring, evaluation and learning skills, processes / systems and institutions

· Support work on accountability to beneficiaries, around the design and implementation of feedback / complaints systems, and ensure recommendations are taken on board by the programme management.

· With support from the Programme Manager, monitor the overall quality and appropriateness of Oxfam's response, with particular emphasis on key policy priority issues of gender, disability, child protection, HIV/AIDS, Disaster Risk Reduction / Environmental Protection.

Programme Learning, Development and Growth

· Lead / facilitate specific research activities, not only, to show, in details, the results of the programme, particularly the impact on beneficiary communities and individuals but also highlight opportunities for programme improvement and growth.

· Support the development of communication and advocacy strategy to enhance the capacity of Oxfam to positively influence duty bearers and other stakeholders in WASH

· Facilitate documentation, proper storage, analysis and sharing of information, experiences, and lessons from all aspects of programme planning and implementation with a view to contributing to regional learning generally and Oxfam institutional learning in particular

Programme Quality

· Critically analyse programme components to ensure internal coherence and coherence with donor requirements and Oxfam policy priorities

· Ensure all aspects of WASH inclusiveness are adequately addressed in programme delivery

· Critically analyse programme strategies and approaches and facilitate appropriate change to ensure programme outcomes are sustainable.


Skills and Competence


1. Diploma / Graduate qualification in a relevant field, such as social work, engineering, development, Public Health, Monitoring and Evaluation etc.

2. At least three years experience in inclusive WASH in different contexts ranging from emergency to development work

3. Experience research and monitoring and evaluating WASH and other related programmes.

4. Excellent verbal and written communications skills.

5. Must speak and write English fluently. Knowledge of Silozi and advantage

6. Developed computer literacy and skills - competence in the use of word, Excel and dbase programmes such as Access. Knowledge of computer packages for quantitative data analysis such as SPSS and qualitative data analysis is an added advantage.

7. Well-developed analytical, conceptual, numeracy, relationship and planning skills.

DESIRABLE SKILLS:

1. Good understanding of government and local government systems and processes

2. Sound understanding of current dominant research paradigms

3. Ability to design and query simple Access databases / SPSS

4. Adaptable, flexible and creative

5. Able to travel widely, on dirty roads, within the target districts