IHL Advocacy Advisor

JOB DETAILS
LOCATION: Belgium preferred, but other locations will be considered
where Oxfam has a presence, subject to Oxfam’s ability to employ in
that location, the affordability of doing so and right to work
requirements being met.
This role will work closely with colleagues in Europe, so ability to align
working hours and travel to European destinations is desirable.
Due to legislation constraints, it is not currently possible for this role to
be based in some locations. These include France, Italy, and Sweden.
Please indicate your preferred location and whether you have the right
to work there on your application.
CONTRACT TYPE: Fixed Term
starting as soon as possible and
ending 31/10/2025 (with possibility
of extension)
JOB FAMILY: Programme ONE OXFAM GRADE: C ZONE: 1
DEPARTMENT: Global Humanitarian Team TEAM: Performance and Innovation
Team
SALARY: Competitive salary and benefits packages will be offered in
line with local cost of living and national pay structures. Exact details to
be confirmed by employing Affiliate or Oxfam International office.
HOURS: Full time.
Exact working hours will be
according to contracting affiliate and
location
FLEXIBLE WORKING
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.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization.
GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN TEAM PURPOSE: The Global Humanitarian Team (GHT) supports, coordinates and
leads humanitarian response and policies to reduce the impact of, prepare for and respond to crises, harnessing
the resources of the whole Oxfam confederation to deliver support for Oxfam’s strategic plan.
The GHT works across Oxfam countries and regions and in close coordination with others to maximize the quality
and impact of Oxfam’s humanitarian program by:
 Delivering rapid, safe and high-quality emergency surge capacity
 Supporting program strategy, operational design, humanitarian preparedness and response.
 Promote greater local humanitarian leadership and collaborate on our approach to fragility and across
the nexus.
 Facilitate the development of humanitarian capacity across Oxfam and partner organizations through
building and brokering a cross confederation network and community.

 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 and women.
 Working closely with affiliates in their roles as EAs and PAs for the best interests of the humanitarian
program.
 Ensure connection with global and technical humanitarian system and coordination.
PERFORMANCE & INNOVATION TEAM PURPOSE: The Performance and Innovation Team (PIT) is composed of
experts in each Oxfam key programming and quality area, to provide strategic leadership, expertise and
support to the confederation’s humanitarian programme and global positioning. The PIT builds and brokers a
network of practitioners in key technical areas to improve coordination, coherence and learning across the
confederation. It sets and monitors programme standards, uses evidence to drive organisational learning and
innovation, gathers evidence, analyses performance and makes recommendations for internal change or
adaptation and to ensure Oxfam remains a key humanitarian actor able to influence the global sector. The PIT
leads innovation and collaborates with external partners and stakeholders to improve the humanitarian
system.
ADVOCACY, CAMPAIGNS & ENGAGEMENT TEAMS PURPOSE: Achieving systemic change and impact using
Oxfam’s presence at every level, from local to regional to global, aligned with the vision of the Oxfam global
strategic framework: influencing and engaging audiences around the world – through action and by generating
financial support – to fight inequality to end poverty and injustice.
JOB PURPOSE: Oxfam International Secretariat is looking for an IHL Advocacy Advisor (Europe) for Oxfam
International’s policy and advocacy on protection of civilians and compliance with international humanitarian
law at multilateral fora, particularly focused on the EU. The position will contribute to Rights in Crisis
humanitarian influencing and will support Oxfam’s and its partners to influence regional policy dialogues at EU
and Member States level on better protection outcomes for civilians in conflict areas. In addition, the
postholder will influence some global advocacy duties at the UN in Geneva. The role will develop policy and
advocacy on international humanitarian law.
JOB REPORTS TO: IHL Policy and Network Lead, with
matrix management with the Head
of EU Advocacy Office
JOBS REPORTING TO THIS JOB None
BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY None
GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPE Global, but with a focus on Europe
(EU, EU Member States, UK)
IMPACT Cross Confederation, EU institutions,
EU member states, UK – including
external representation
KEY STAKEHOLDERS Internally: Rights in Crisis Campaign
team, EU Advocacy office, Global
IHL Advocacy Advisor, February 2024
Humanitarian Team, EU affiliates,
Country offices.
Externally: humanitarian agencies –
INGOs, UN, National NGOs; EU
Institutions; EU Member States
officials.
DIMENSIONS of the Role
 Coordinates and delivers agreed plans or strategies over which the job holder has some strategic input.
 Represents Oxfam in coordination meetings and external relationships.
 Specific competencies and skills are required to achieve the job’s objectives e.g. geographical,
thematic, managerial.
 Provides specialist advice or specific skills to their team or programme unit. Their plans and objectives
are developed to contribute to country, region and broader programme strategy and can involve
collaboration with other programme units (e.g. other affiliates in-country or colleagues in different
country programmes) or departments.
 Tasks are complex and non-routine within their specialist unit or function. Requires the ability to
analyse and communicate complex information to a wide audience.
 Decision-making requires significant levels of judgement based on technical and management
experience, generally actively supported by line management or the programme team.
 The focus of the role can vary but has well-defined targets and/or minimum standards, and is both
proactive and reactive.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (Technical, Leadership, People and Resource management)
The position will:
 Lead Oxfam’s EU Advocacy Office work on international humanitarian law compliance, by devising and
delivering influencing strategies; coordinating inputs, and developing products for the relevant policy
process on Protection of Civilians at EU and UN level, targeting the relevant institutions and coordinating
the influencing of Member States.
 Undertake policy and political analysis aimed at strengthening Oxfam’s understanding of, and ability to
influence the EU, relevant EU Member States and inter-governmental institutions on IHL and
humanitarian policies and practices.
 Develop and maintain key relationships with the relevant European and UN institutions and policymakers
on issues related to conflicts and humanitarian crisis.
 Act as the liaison with Oxfam’s national and local partners (e.g. national and local humanitarian
responders /human rights defenders/ women’s rights activists) to influence European policy dialogues
and make sure they are open and accountable to communities living in conflict. This includes setting up
bilateral meetings with policymakers, organising events and roundtables, supporting the development
of talking points, policy briefs and other products.
 Represent Oxfam externally in policy discussions on humanitarian and human rights issues when
required.
 Provide technical advice and support to partners on how to engage in policy fora at the EU, and if relevant
UN, level.

PERSON SPECIFICATION
Most importantly, every individual in Oxfam needs to be able to:
 Live our values of INCLUSION, ACCOUNTABILITY, EMPOWERMENT, COURAGE, SOLIDARITY and
EQUALITY
 Ensure you commit to our ORGANIZATIONAL ATTRIBUTES (including adhering to the Code of Conduct):
1. Be committed to our feminist principles, and to
applying them in your day-to-day behaviour and
your work. Be ready to keep learning, with
accountability to those who experience oppression
as a result of their identities, such as their gender,
race/ethnicity, disability, class, or LGBTQIA identity.”
2. Be committed to undertaking Oxfam’s
safeguarding training and adhering to relevant
policies, to ensure all people who come into Oxfam
are as safe as possible.
EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & COMPETENCIES
ESSENTIAL
 Self-Awareness
 Influencing
 Relationship Building
In addition:
 Be a demonstrated influencer in policy and advocacy, with experience delivering change in policies and
processes affecting civilians in conflict, including in multilateral fora.
 Practical experience of humanitarian work with a good understanding of context, dilemmas, risk
management, challenges, and ways of working and how they relate to humanitarian and protection
advocacy.
 Strong understanding of key global humanitarian issues and institutions relevant to protection
mandates, particularly related to the EU.
 Strong analytical ability and ability to advise partners on effective influencing tactics in complex
situations (e.g., conflict outbreak and escalation, deterioration in protracted crises).
 Ability to think strategically and connect evidence emerging from country programmes, partners, and
communities with opportunities of international humanitarian diplomacy.
 Strong ability to build relationships, coalitions and coordinate positions across a range of partners.
 Understanding of gender issues in emergency settings and commitment to gender equity
 Experience representing an organisation in external policy forums (ideally at EU or UN level)
 Experience mobilising a diverse range of stakeholders, particularly local actors, and co-designing policy
and advocacy strategies.
 Strong communication skills (written and verbal) in English. Experience producing policy briefs, reports
and/ or case studies.
 Proven organizational skills and ability to project-manage events
Desirable
 Experience in a relevant language e.g., French, Spanish or Arabic.
 Background or familiarity with international humanitarian or human rights law, including associated
oversight mechanisms (e.g., UN Security Council, Human Rights Council, etc)

 Lived experience with intersecting systems of oppression, with knowledge and experience on how
power and privilege play out in the contexts in which Oxfam works.
SAFER RECRUITMENT
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 promoting the welfare of children,
young people and adults. 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. Offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate
screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.