Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty.

The Role:

Oxfam GB in Syria is looking for Food & Economic Security (FES) Advisor

TEAM PURPOSE: The Oxfam team in Syria implements integrated humanitarian, resilience and advocacy interventions in line with Oxfam’s country strategy for Syria, including Food and Economic Security (FES), WASH, Protection and Gender with a strong commitment to strengthening partnerships. 

JOB PURPOSE: The Food and Economic Security Advisor provides timely and high-quality technical support to Oxfam and partner teams in Syria on all matters related to Food Security, Livelihoods and economic recovery and resilience. This will involve contextual analysis, sector assessments, planning, internal and external coordination/representation, supporting the implementation/follow-up of Oxfam's FES strategy in Syria and integrating FES into multi-sectoral programming with WASH, Gender and Protection. The role will influence strategic decision-making in line with the Oxfam's overall strategy for Syria. S/he promotes programme learning and continuous improvement of programme quality and effectiveness, strengthened and accountability, and supports the production of evidence from programmes underpinning effective advocacy and campaigns. In addition, she/he supports in identifying scaling up opportunities and new project ideas in line with needs on the ground, and in consultation with program teams.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (Technical, Leadership, People and Resource management)

Strategic technical advice and programme design implementation and learning:

• Provide technical and advisory support to the FES teams and as needed, to national partners to enhance a solid and systematic contextual understanding of programmatic areas, people’s needs and capacity as well as power dynamics.
• Maintain an up-to-date and comprehensive understanding of food security, livelihoods and economic resilience issues in Syria and ensure that programme teams are operating according to emerging evidence on what works, and what does not work, within the Syria context and the legal framework;
• Identify, test and replicate innovative solutions related to programme activities and explore technical partnerships in the field of innovation and technology;
• Support the development of context appropriate detailed operational plans and budgets for the delivery of activities aimed at increasing food security, restoring livelihoods, supporting early recovery activities and creating enabling environments for communities to increase their resilience.
• Based on the FES strategy (2031-2036), develop, together with the FES teams, Annual Action plans and budget as well as carried out yearly learning processes of the FES activities and documenting best practices and case studies to shape in-country strategies and programme approaches;
• Provide technical inputs in project and proposal development, and provide support, where required, to write reports;
• Work closely with other programme teams (WASH, Protection, Gender, Policy and advocacy, partnership, MEAL), to enhance programme integration, social accountability, support LHL and ensure ongoing monitoring of Oxfam’s programme activities as well as sound learning activities;
• Support, in coordination with Partnership Coordinator, the expansion and consolidation of partnerships related to the FES sector.
• With support from the communications team, advance the visibility of Oxfam’s FES activities in Syria.

Capacity Building: 

• Work closely with relevant Managers to identify capacity building needs for FES team members and develop context appropriate initiatives for individuals and teams using a variety of approaches.
• Support on identifying FES-related capacity building opportunities for Oxfam staff and local partner organisations; support the development and implementation of capacity building plans and design and deliver training as appropriate. This includes identifying staff secondments and team/partner participation in global/regional learning events as well as on-the-job capacity building.

Contribute to programme quality standards:

• Provide technical advice and support for the implementation of FES activities in Syria – including ensuring coherence, standardized approaches, programme quality, and integration with other sectors. This also includes providing support on ensuring Oxfam and sector minimal standards are met;
• Ensure effective, quality and timely programme execution and operationalise processes by providing guidance and leadership to matrix-managed technical FES team in field offices.
• Linking the Syria team with the wider Oxfam confederation through making use of the resources available, using the learning from other countries, understanding and incorporating the broader Oxfam policies and procedures into the Syria programme;
• Support the FES team in risk analysis and mitigation activities prior to programme implementation, and provide strategic steer on amending activities and approaches where necessary;
• Support the FES team in safeguarding, safe programming and gender risk analysis and mitigation activities prior to programme implementation; provide strategic steer on amending activities and approaches where necessary.
• In close coordination with other sector leads and technical teams ensure that Oxfam’s FES intervention is sensitive to the context while addressing the need of the most vulnerable and remains impartial;
• Be familiar with and abide by Oxfam's Code of Conduct and other regulatory codes such as the Red Cross Code of Conduct, Partners in Aid Code, Oxfam International Protocols and the Inter- Agency Field Co-operation Protocol.

Coordination and Representation:

• Represent Oxfam externally in relevant UN/(I)NGO or government coordination fora; develop alliances with organisations and other relevant stakeholders (academia, private sector, research institutions etc.) working on Food security, livelihoods and economic resilience, with a view to enhancing coordination, and adopting complementary approaches including active participation in relevant coordination and planning mechanisms;
• Attend donor meetings when relevant and support the organization of field visits as required;
• Support advocacy and campaigning on relevant issues, and advise on relevant research so that influencing and policy work is based on sound programmatic evidence;
• Be the focal point to liaise with technical staff from other country programs in the Region to identify opportunities for collaboration and joint learning.

What we are looking for: 

We’re looking for a candidate who cares about Oxfam's mission to end poverty and is personally aligned to our feminist principles and values of empowerment, accountability and inclusion in all you do.

An ideal candidate for the role will also be / have:

ESSENTIAL

• Self-Awareness
• Enabling
• Vision Setting
• Influencing
• Strategic Thinking and Judgment

In addition:

• Higher Education in a relevant field (Agriculture, Rural Development, Economics, Political Science or Development Studies);
• Minimum of 10 years’ international and/or national experience in the humanitarian/development sector delivering food security, livelihoods, economic resilience and developmental conflict settings and protracted crisis.
• Experience working in an advisory/coordinator and supportive capacity, providing effective support to a multidisciplinary and multicultural team.
• Experience working with local and international partners.
• Knowledge of a wide range of methods and approaches that can be used for rights-based food security, livelihood, and market-based programming.
• Knowledge of FES issues and priorities in Syria, including an understanding of Syria’s social, economic and political context.
• Strong analytical and planning skills, including critical thinking beyond the programmatic but within the regional context; understanding of risks, power analysis and stakeholder mapping; • Experience in food security, livelihood and market based interventions.
• Strong experience in project design, proposal development and concept note development (including budgets) and indicators of food security, livelihoods and economic resilience interventions with a market systems approach;
• Proven experience in managing complex teams, remote management and capacity building.
• Strong coordination skills including the experience in representation with Government, civil society organizations, private sector and other external actors, in a sensitive political environment. Diplomacy, tact and negotiating skills are essential.
• Ability to work under pressure, ability to prioritize and commitment to meet deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including high-level interpersonal and representational capabilities.
• Professional fluency in written and spoken English;
• Strong commitment to the aims and objectives of Oxfam, including strong commitment to gender equality and social justice;
• An understanding of gender and diversity considerations.

Desirable:

• Professional Written and spoken Arabic is an advantage;
• Ability and willingness to work in insecure environments and remote field locations;
• Experience of having worked in conflict settings with remote access / limited access is an advantage.
• Experience of working with local/civil society organizations and/or community based organizations.

We offer:

We offer a competitive salary and a range of additional benefits to staff including flexible working options, generous pension scheme, annual leave, additional leave allowances, company sick pay, life assurance and a range of other benefits. 

From the day you join Oxfam we invite you to stretch and learn in your role. Our wide range of Learning & Development opportunities includes in-house courses, e-learning modules, on-the job learning opportunities, coaching and mentoring, and much more. 

You can read more about all Oxfam has to offer here.

How to apply:

As part of your online application, please upload your up to date CV and Cover Letter explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile.  

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.

About us

Oxfam is a global community who believe poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s right activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.

Oxfam GB is a member of international confederation of 21 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries. 

A thriving diverse Oxfam:

It’s people power that brings about change. To play our part as a global organisation working to overcome poverty and inequality, we need equality, diversity and inclusion across our community of staff, partners and volunteers. Together, we’re committed to becoming a more diverse workforce, better able to tackle the global challenges that face our world today.

To do that:

• We need to dismantle the unequal power structures that exist everywhere, this including Oxfam and the wider development and charity sectors.
• We need an inclusive Oxfam where everyone can bring who they are to our work and feels celebrated for the differences they bring.
• We want and need everyone, and that means we need you.