Policy and Advocacy Adviser NGO Job, Nairobi, Kenya

Resilience & Horn of Africa Plan of Action

Policy and Advocacy Adviser

Horn, East and Central Africa

Base: Nairobi

Contract Type: Fixed Term (12 Months)

Starting Salary: GBP £24,245 (net) per annum

Level: National Plus - C1

Background 

Oxfam is one of the world's leading humanitarian agencies assisting people affected by natural disasters and conflict throughout the world.

With over 5,000 staff and dedicated volunteers in more than 80 countries, Oxfam is able to achieve the greatest impact to end poverty and suffering through combining emergency response work, long-term programmes for poverty alleviation and campaigning for lasting change.

The role

• Working closely with regional focal points for WFP, FAO, Oxfam, UNDP and OCHA to develop ambitious strategies for implementation of Horn of Africa Plan of Action.
• Lead on the development of policy and advocacy work on HoA PoA issues, both as Oxfam and as the Horn of Africa Plan of Action group, for use at regional level.
• Supporting country teams in Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Uganda to deliver national level roadmaps for Horn of Africa Plan of Action– including guidance on strategic implementation as well as country level policy and advocacy work.
• External representation of Oxfam and Horn of Africa Plan of Action Group to key international, regional and national stakeholders as appropriate.
• Support Regional Director and other colleagues to develop regional and country advocacy programmes on resilience, DRR and future of pastoralism with reference to humanitarian programmes
• Deliver high quality research on the different options for sustainable livelihoods in the region, working with the REGLAP programme and sustainable livelihood programme colleagues
• Work with the Inter-Agency Working Group on advocacy around sustainable livelihoods in drylands areas in Horn and East Africa
• Provide the link between country, regional, continental and global work on pastoralism, resilience, and Horn of Africa Plan of Action implementation within Oxfam
• Act as a focal point for the region on development of Oxfam’s Grow campaign on agriculture and pastoral issues
• Representing the organisation externally at lobby meetings

What we're looking for 

• Excellent analytical and critical thinking ability (E)
• Good understanding of long term food security and resilience issues, DRR, pastoralism and sustainable livelihoods in dryland areas (E)
• Excellent organisational skills (E)
• Track record of high performance and ability to deliver in high pressure environments (E)
• Experience of working with UN agencies, government bodies and RECs and ability to build coalitions and gain consensus (E)
• Ability to liaise with and represent Oxfam to wide range of actors (E)
• Ability to think strategically, achieve results with excellent project management skills (E)
• Strong interpersonal skills including good team work (E)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to motivate, influence and negotiate both internally and externally, strong English skills (E).
• Sympathy with the aim of Oxfam to end poverty and suffering. (E)
• Strong track record of effective advocacy in East Africa (D)
• Experience of capacity building and working effectively with civil society in African contexts (D)

About Oxfam

A simple, inescapable truth underlines everything we do at Oxfam. There's enough wealth in this world to go around. It's not unfortunate that people live in poverty. It's unjustifiable. And it's not just their problem. It's ours too.

At Oxfam we believe that with the right support, we can beat poverty and injustice. More than 8,000 people already commit their time and talents to our campaigning, humanitarian and long-term development projects. Now we're looking for yours.

If you believe you fit the job and person profiles please send your application to hecajobs@oxfam.org.uk or apply online at Oxfam Jobs using INT 5078.

Due to the urgency of the positions, short listing will be on-going as applications are received.

The closing date for applications is 27th January 2012

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