Head of Public Engagement and Influencing- Mali – Bamako

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

The Role

Strategic Leadership of Humanitarian Action

• Delivering rapid, safe and high-quality emergency surge capacity in case of crises.
• Leading Oxfam Mali humanitarian programme strategy, operational design, humanitarian preparedness and response.
• Facilitate the development of humanitarian capacity across the country (Oxfam staff and partners).
• Supporting the gathering of evidence to enable learning, innovation and advocating for change across the sector.
• Working with Campaigns and Policy to influence for greater respect of the basic rights of crisis affected men, women and children.
• Working closely with Oxfam staff, humanitarian local partners and stakeholders for the best interests of the affected communities.
• Ensure connection with regional and global and technical humanitarian system and coordination structures
• Share good practice, be informed of new national, regional humanitarian developments that could impact Oxfam and partners, maintain Oxfam’s reputation and seek to positively influence the humanitarian system.
• Set the strategic vision and direction of Oxfam in Mali’s humanitarian program to serve more people with the most responsive and highest quality programming possible and identify opportunities for appropriate expansion and growth of programs, supported by the acquisition and investment of human resources.
• Align programming to the country program strategy, sectoral expertise and technical standards.
• Ensure program quality through consistent use throughout the country program of: rigorous assessment, design, and proposal development and review processes; comprehensive monitoring and evaluation, accountability and learning systems; staff development investments; and partner organization capacity strengthening.
• Contribute to active risk management in Oxfam Mali to identify, analyse and mitigate against risks that may impact the country program and partners, to ensure Oxfam mission can be carried out appropriately in case of contextual changes.
• Ensure country program alignment with and involvement in meeting regional objectives.

Proposal Development and Fund Raising:

• Lead the timely, competitive and high quality development of humanitarian proposals, concept notes/EOIs in existing geographical programme areas and in new areas as required;
• Play a key role in conjunction with the wider Oxfam team in Mali to develop the long-term ‘resilient’ programmes, which reduce the impact and build community capacity to deal with ongoing disasters and Covid-19 in country;
• Liaising with donors’ in conjunction with Funding Manager for portfolio enhancement;
• Ensure that emergency preparedness planning is undertaken and fully understood by the all members of the Country team;
• Ensure that environmental and sustainability issues are considered in the program design, in keeping with Oxfam’s best practices and the guidelines.

Technical Assistance and Programme Implementation:

• Provides technical assistance in the implementation of DRR and Humanitarian programs serving communities in Mali;  
• Lead in the contingency planning process for the country and develop and review strategies for community mobilization in DRR activities;
• Participate in partner meetings on the development of the program and activities to ensure compliance and success of the DRR and humanitarian programmes;
• Implement program methods and operational plans in accordance with the agreed strategies;
• Ensure that all activities are developed in coordination with the partners;
• Ensure quality and timely narrative and budgetary reporting internally and to donors;
• Ensure that programme activities are transparent and well communicated and understood by beneficiaries and others in the wider community;
• Identify deviation from approved project plans through reviewing the budgetary information in a timely fashion and recommend corrective measures when necessary;
• Ensure internal and external reporting, (narrative and financial) is on time and of high quality. Provide regular updates to the management, requesting support as needed and flagging potential challenges or problematic issues in a timely manner.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL):

• Oversee humanitarian project management and manage Oxfam Mali’s overall humanitarian programme to a high standard of quality, ensuring a multi-sectoral approach and aiming to meet Oxfam and international standards;
• Works closely with the MEAL staff to design MEAL systems for DRR, Humanitarian emergency response, recovery and rehabilitation programming;
• Regularly monitor projects and programs through site visits and interviews with project beneficiaries;
• Ensure that all programmes take gender, protection and safeguarding issues into account and follow the Oxfam relevant framework;
• Ensure that programmes are implemented in a consultative, participative manner and take account of the different needs of men, women and children with high level of accountability to beneficiaries and appropriate feedback mechanisms in place;
• Ensure that risk assessments are done for the whole programme particularly looking at staff safety/security, areas of fraud and reputational risk;
• Evaluate projects’ effectiveness in achieving goal and objectives and propose course corrections wherever appropriate.

Financial management                                                                         

• Direct responsibility for providing oversight in the management of humanitarian project budgets under this department;
• Manage all revenue streams related to Humanitarian actions to maximize contributions to Oxfam;
• Responsible for formulating, managing and monitoring an annual budget to facilitate Oxfam Mali’s programme;
• Support the country office in identifying funding priorities that can support delivery on key income targets and determine appropriate distribution.

Staff Supervision and Development:

• Identify initial staffing needs and manage both the recruitment and onboarding of staff;
• Providing coaching and mentoring to direct reports and team members on program quality standards, management quality procedures, Oxfam policies and practices and DRR and humanitarian response best practices;
• Ensure that all staff receive formal performance planning, coaching, and assessment, in line with Oxfam International standards;
• Supervise staff to ensure the timely, efficient, and impactful implementation of the projects. Set and follow up on deadlines for key steps;
• Assist staff to coordinate with external consultants and agencies as needed to complete projects;
• Manage staff safety and security, ensuring the staff understands risks and that appropriate procedures are in place including for medical and security evacuations, in conjunction with Security Adviser. (particularly focus on programme areas);
• Actively implement Oxfam’s diversity and HIV policies in the recruitment and employment of staff, as well as in the delivery of project outcome such as disciplinary matters.

 Coordination:

• Representing Oxfam to government officials, UN agencies and other NGO staff at field level as appropriate, and at national level by delegation from Country Director.;
• Manage Oxfam’s contribution to Oxfam International’s work, represent and develop good relationships with official authorities and other agencies, be proactive in ensuring that Oxfam develops and maintains a positive profile;
• Undertake communications and media work in relation to programme as per the donor and Oxfam’s commitment and compliances.

What we are looking for

• 8-10 years of experience in similar roles – specifically in managing humanitarian (and DRR) programs funded by diversified donors;
• Master degree in the Humanities, Social Sciences, Administration, Development, Public Policy, Administration or a relevant subject/skill; A proven record of effective management in a humanitarian response including managing multi-million Euro budgets and large teams of national and international staff;
• Proven analytical skills and ability to think strategically for programme design and to implement the approach;
• Good knowledge of developing and implementing monitoring systems to track the effectiveness of programs and an ability to build cooperative, professional relationships with donors, partners and peer organisations;
• Knowledge of the Sahel area in terms of its political, economic and social trends plus a good understanding of the key development and humanitarian issues in the region;
• Excellent people management skills, with a good understanding and experience of team development and staff coaching;
• Strong interpersonal skills, and the capacity to work effectively in a multi-cultural team;
• Experience of managing staff safety and security, particularly in a civil-military context;
• Proven ability to work creatively, innovatively and effectively with limited direct supervision;
• Familiar with and abide by the NGO/Red Cross Code of Conduct, the People in Aid Code, Oxfam International procedures and other regulatory codes (e.g. InterAction Field Co-operation Protocol);
• Proven evidence of leadership skills including challenging, motivating and developing a team through periods of change;
• Commitment to humanitarian principles and action;
• Knowledge and experience of promoting gender equity, and an active commitment to promoting the interests of marginalised people in all aspects of Oxfam GB’s work;
• Excellent written and oral French and English is essential.

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.

How to apply 

As part of your online application, please upload your up to date CV and respond to three key questions related to your experience in HEAD OF HUMANITARIAN ACTIONS. Your application will be shortlisted based on your CV and your responses to the above questions. You need not comment on your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile.

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 19 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries. 

In response to Covid-19 if you are offered a role where you are required to travel between countries please ensure you have been briefed by the Hiring Manager about any changes to working or precautions you should take as part of your role.