Ethiopia humanitarian policy and practice advisor

Purpose

To serve as the humanitarian policy and practice specialist with the Oxfam Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), with responsibility for maximising the impact of, and learning from, Oxfam’s humanitarian programmes through policy work with local, national, regional and international actors.

Key responsibilities

• Serves as Oxfam International (OI) Ethiopia Humanitarian Policy and Practice lead. Leads on developing and delivering Oxfam’s policy analysis and learning on humanitarian issues in Ethiopia.
• Ensures that strategy development and delivery draws on programme experience, and the expertise and relationships of programme and policy staff in Oxfam affiliates,  Oxfam International offices round the world, and allies and partners, particularly among other international NGOs working in Ethiopia.
• This role will advise the Oxfam International Country Director to support her or his representational work on humanitarian issues.
• Undertakes vigorous networking, investing in relationships in Addis and in the field to continually inform, challenge, and improve Oxfam’s humanitarian strategy.
• In particular, supporting the steering group of the humanitarian INGO forum, of which Oxfam GB a member; and supporting NGOs to coordinate with Government and UN mechanisms and dialogue on strategic humanitarian issues, including humanitarian reform and shifting to a DRM approach.
• Builds and maintains close links with the Oxfam humanitarian country team, and Oxfam affiliates’ humanitarian programmes, especially the Oxfam International Senior Humanitarian Programme Manager.
• These links include: ensuring substantial integration of analysis and learning into programme planning and implementation, including training and mentoring of programme staff;
• Gathering experiences and evidence from programme staff so that analysis is grounded in and supports Oxfam’s programme work.
• Conducts representation work when required with in-country bodies such as the Government of Ethiopia, the UN, donors, and embassies, or otherwise supports the Country Director and others in their representational roles.
• Supports the Africa Climate Change Resilience Alliance (ACCRA) project and the Together for a Food Secure Ethiopia initiative so that the analysis and learning on DRR, food security and humanitarian issues is coherent and supports the strategic goals of the team.
• Support development and implementation of humanitarian media and communication strategy.
• Undertakes other related tasks as required and agreed by manager.
• For example, may undertake and commission policy research as appropriate and agreed with line management.

Essential skills

• International experience in humanitarian situations with a demonstrated understanding of context, dilemmas, challenges and ways of working. Experience can be management but with a track record in policy work
• Experience in working with government, donors, and other organisations, including multilateral bodies such as the United Nations and how they operate internationally
• Strong understanding of humanitarian principles and how it is applied in emergency contexts, based on experience from different countries  Excellent teamwork skills and ability to build good relations within the organisation, with other organisations, and with colleagues in different countries
• Behavioural role model for peers and fellow team members
• Analytical, with an ability to crystallise issues in complex situations
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Experience in dealing with the media and acting as a spokesperson
• Ability to think strategically and beyond the local/country context
• Sensitivity to cultural differences
• Thorough understanding of and active commitment to promoting gender equity issues and interests of marginalized people
• Ability to work independently when necessary and at times with minimal supervision
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Willingness to travel at short notice and live in difficult circumstances sometimes subject to travel restrictions and insecurity
• Post-graduate education in political science, international development, communications or an equivalent qualification

Desirable skills

• Knowledge or experience of Oxfam's programme work
• Knowledge of Ethiopian context and/or dynamics in the Horn of Africa
• Understanding of the challenges of chronic emergencies and linking from relief to disaster risk reduction and development
• Understanding of large-scale humanitarian responses (including humanitarian coordination and funding mechanisms).
• Understanding of food security issues in emergency and development contexts (including social protection/safety nets)
• Experience of adopting different ways of working in challenging contexts
• Knowledge of local languages (Amharic, Oromifa, Somali, etc.) an asset