Humanitarian Support Personnel - Policy & Advocacy
OXFAM PURPOSE: To work with others to overcome poverty and suffering DIVISION PURPOSE:The Campaign and Policy Division's purpose is to: · lead Oxfam's global campaigns · support programme learning and development; · help develop Oxfam policy on what we do and say to ensure policies are informed by our experience. We will address gender equity in all of our work. TEAM PURPOSE:The Humanitarian and Security Team lead political advocacy in Oxfam's conflict and humanitarian campaigning. This involves developing cutting-edge analysis to inform our campaigning, frequent high-level contact with decision makers, and providing strategic direction to our public response to conflicts and natural disasters. The team links closely with other departments in the Campaigns and Policy Division, the Humanitarian Department, our offices overseas, other Oxfam International affiliates and external allies. JOB PURPOSE: To be deployed to support teams in-country to ensure the integration of advocacy into emergency programme response. Support and deliver national and global advocacy whilst ensuring Oxfam's advocacy strategy and messaging are sufficiently informed by, linked to and prioritised by the programme.
Key Responsibilities For each deployment, specific Terms of Reference will be negotiated and agreed with relevant parties, prior to, and possibly revised in the early stages of the deployment. Deployments will be to humanitarian situations (either conflict or natural disaster or complex emergencies) or sometimes to Oxfam's international advocacy offices. Priority will be given to rapid-onset emergencies but deployments may also be at later stages. Policy issues will cover protection and assistance and are likely to cover some of the following in any given deployment: protection of civilians, including peacekeeping and international humanitarian law principles; quality and quantity of humanitarian assistance including humanitarian access, equity, donor performance, humanitarian coordination, and water and sanitation policy. 1. Analysis of context, problems and solutions (other than Oxfam's programme response) to addressing a new onset crisis, building on assessment information gathered by the programme. Deployment into a more mature programme would require updating of the same. 2. Be the main in-country resource for producing policy and advocacy messages and papers, in consultation with programme staff, and generating analysis and information from colleagues and programme beneficiaries and other players. Generate policy papers, confidential lobby briefs to inform in-country, regional and global advocacy actions, and advice to media and campaign colleagues, as part of the delivery of the advocacy strategy 3. In-country representation and lobbying with UN, donors, government officials, in agreement with management line in terms of division of labour 4. Vigorous networking to continually inform, challenge, and improve advocacy messaging and tactics, investing in relationships and attending meetings. 5. Act as or support the policy lead for the crisis for Oxfam GB and for Oxfam International (OI) when Oxfam GB is the lead affiliate, coordinating an OI crisis campaign group - through telcons around strategy, messaging, short term actions/tactics, and sign off. 6. Provide initial topline advocacy strategy for first 1 month if deployed at the onset of an emergency, and a 3-6 months strategy depending on dynamics of the context and based on more in depth assessment of who has influence to change and how Oxfam can influence, when and with whom. 7. Work with programme team to ensure integration of advocacy into planning, and providing training and capacity-building as necessary. Work to establish systems for longer-term post holder where agreed. Work with programme colleagues in such a way to enable an efficient handover at the end of deployment. 8. Working with programme and advocacy teams to assess and advise on risk management within advocacy strategies. 9. Manage or coordinate with media and communication/information colleagues in country. 10. Ensure that all advocacy clearly articulates a gender perspective to messaging and tactics. The post-holder can expect to spend almost all their working time (excluding annual leave) on deployment, with some short periods in Oxford or at their home base between deployments. When not on deployment the post holder will; § Undertake tasks or research normally in Oxford as designated by Humanitarian Adviser (Conflict) - this may be ongoing support to the crisis from Oxford or work on other crisis, and/or inputting into global projects, or documenting lessons learnt and contributing to institutional learning. § Undertake public speaking and media work on emergency work as requested. Provide cover for Oxford based colleagues when necessary. Skills and Competence Essential 1. Proven practical experience of emergency and development work with a mature understanding of context, dilemmas, challenges and ways of working. Experience can be in programme but with a track record in policy/advocacy. 2. Proven understanding of key global humanitarian issues, institutions and policy debates. 3. Experience of influencing government, donors and other organisations through representation and/or advocacy. 4. Strong analytical ability and ability to crystallise issues in complex situations 5. Ability to think strategically and beyond the local/country context 6. Excellent communication skills, verbal and written. 7. Training and capacity building skills and ability to support programme staff to take on advocacy work. 8. Sensitivity to cultural differences, and the ability to work in a wide variety of cultural contexts. 9. Excellent inter-personal and teamwork skills and a proven ability to build good relations both internally and externally. 10. Thorough understanding of and active commitment to promoting gender equity issues and the interests of marginalised people in all advocacy related work. 11. Fluency in spoken and written English 12. Willingness to travel at short notice, and often in difficult circumstances, spending almost all working time on deployment. Desirable 13. Other languages would be an advantage, especially French though Spanish and Arabic may be useful | ||||||
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| HSP_JD_policy_and_advocacy_Jan_2011[1].doc | ||||||
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