PARNERSHIP AND ADVOCACY OFFICER Full Time NEW

About oxfam

OUR WORK IN ETHIOPIA

Job details

We believe flexible working is key to building the Oxfam of the future, so we’re open to talking through the type of flexible arrangements which might work for you. This is a full-time role; however, Oxfam offers various flexible arrangements which candidates can discuss with the Recruiting Manager at the interview stage

The Humanitarian and resilience team is responsible for the strategic development, management and intervention of the country Humanitarian and resilience program. Supports Oxfam’s impact locally, regionally, continentally, and globally through ensuring Humanitarian program alignment to the key strategic objectives and program standards.

Project Profile

Since the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016 the global humanitarian community has acknowledged the role and importance of local humanitarian actors and leadership. Commitments like those in the Grand Bargain and the Charter for Change have received global recognition from donors, the UN, and humanitarian organizations of all types. It is an essential moment to capitalize on these commitments and invest in structures which strengthen and shift power to local groups—particularly community-based committees and organizations, refugee-led organizations (RLOs) and refugee-led groups (RLGs).

In both Ethiopia and Uganda, Oxfam is providing capacity strengthening support to RLOs and WLOs and their networks, in tandem with research, in-country learning, and cross-country learning. In Ethiopia Oxfam is supporting refugees from South Sudan living in Gambella Region with WASH, emergency livelihoods, and gender programming. We are also working with Gambella-based RLOs and WLOs and supporting them to build their institutional capacity and leadership, while also conducting research aimed at building the evidence base on refugee rights and representation. The objective of this work is that the RLOs and WLOs we partner with are represented more equitably in decision-making forums and have the necessary organizational abilities to lead advocacy and program delivery in their communities.

This project draws learning from Oxfam’s experience with RLOs in Ethiopia and aims to strengthen RLOs & WLOs and RLO networks at the national level, while also supporting them to enter global LHL policy spaces and consolidating and socializing learning about facilitating refugee leadership among donors and international humanitarian actors.

The Partnership and Advocacy Officer will support the core objectives of this refugee leadership project by working closely RR Program Manager, s/he will be responsible for implementing all partnership and advocacy-related activities of the project at the field level, including organizing trainings, advocacy workshops, meetings, campaigns, stakeholder consultation/dialogues etc. and support the other functions to deliver the project objectives.

JOB PURPOSE:

The Partnership and Advocacy Officer will be based in Gambella will support the organization’s partnership, grant management, and advocacy initiatives, with a particular focus on strengthening collaboration with Refugee-Led and Women Lead Organizations and advancing localization commitments. The position will be responsible for managing sub-grants, ensuring partner compliance, building partner capacity, and supporting advocacy efforts that promote meaningful participation, leadership, and funding access for local and refugee-led actors with overall guidance and management of Refugee Response Program Manager. The post holder will collaborate closely with the Partnership Coordinator and work in continuous consultation with the Influencing, Policy, and Communication Manager.

Partnership and Grant Management

• Coordinate and maintain documentation/records of partner (RLOs) due diligence assessment, selection, and onboarding processes, and manage partnership agreements, MOUs, and sub-grants management throughout the partnership lifecycle
• Strengthen long term engagement with Refugee-Led Organizations, Women-Led Organizations, community-based organizations, Networks, key stakeholders (RRS, RCC and UNHCR), and humanitarian actors to advance localization and community-led responses.
• Foster collaborative relationships by maintaining regular and effective communication along with promoting mutual accountability with RLOs, WLOs, and other partners, ensuring their meaningful participation in program design, implementation, monitoring, and decision-making processes.
• Regularly track and assess partnership performance while supporting ongoing improvement efforts, including capacity building and organizational development for RLOs and WLOs to strengthen their leadership, sustainability, and resource access. Actively identify potential risks during project implementation and communicate them to partners in a timely manner.
• Assess and address organizational capacity gaps in governance, financial management, safeguarding, MEAL, advocacy, and project management, and support the institutional strengthening coordination of RLOs and WLOs through targeted training, mentoring, and coaching.
• Provide technical support and monitor partner performance on work plans, budget utilization, disbursements, donor reporting, and project risk management to ensure compliance, quality, and timely implementation.
• Ensure compliance with donor regulations, organizational policies, and partnership guidelines, with particular attention to strengthening accountability systems within RLOs and WLOs.
• Track grant deliverables, milestones, and report deadlines for RLOs and WLOs, ensuring timely implementation and proactive risk management.
• Maintain accurate partnership and grant management databases and records.
• Coordinate joint review and learning processes to capture lessons learned, share good practices, and inform equitable partnership approach.
• Prepare and submit donor reports, partnership reports, and advocacy updates in a timely manner

Advocacy

• Promote localization principles and facilitate meaningful engagement of RLOs and WLOs in program design and implementation.
• Develop and implement advocacy initiatives that elevate the voices and priorities of RLOs and WLOs.
• Contribute for the development of advocacy strategies and plans, briefs, position papers, policy recommendations, and communication materials by RLOs and WLOs
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement with RRS, UN agencies, and humanitarian coordination platforms.
• Represent in relevant coordination, localization, and advocacy forums as delegated.
• Support alliances among refugee-led organizations to facilitate collective advocacy initiatives that amplify refugee women’s voices.
• Lead evidence-based advocacy by gathering field insights, documenting case studies, and translating community experiences into influencing messages.
• Develop and implement media and public engagement strategies, including social media and campaigns, to raise visibility of key issues.
• Monitor, evaluate, and report on advocacy outcomes, documenting impact and learning for continuous improvement.

person specification

1 Self-Awareness

2 Mutual accountability

3 Strategic Thinking and Judgment